Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Mindfulness And Empathy In Pre-Nursing Students Exposed To A Four-Week Mindfulness Training, Debra L. Klich

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To investigate the effects of a four-week mindfulness program on levels of mindfulness, empathy, and anxiety in a group of pre-nursing students.

Methods: This study utilized a multiple-baseline across subjects design. Results from nine study participants were examined.

Results: Data demonstrates that a detectable decrease in anxiety levels can result from participation in self-directed mindfulness program as short as four weeks. Results regarding mindfulness and empathy levels were less conclusive. A specific relationship between empathy and mindfulness cannot be determined from this study.

Conclusions: Because previous studies have demonstrated a persistence of skills, practice, and benefits acquired through mindfulness …

Cholesterol: A Possible Mediator Of Apoe Risk For Alzheimer's Disease, Michelle Marie Dunk

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the well-established link between the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and AD, the underlying mechanisms that mediate the risk of developing AD remain elusive. Literature on the role of APOE in cholesterol metabolism suggests that blood cholesterol may be a key factor in the development of AD pathology. Current study aims to investigate whether total cholesterol differs by APOE status and whether this relationship is predictive of AD diagnosis and its biomarkers. Baseline total cholesterol, APOE status, AD diagnosis, global cognitive function, brain Aβ, plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ, tau, and phosphorylated …

Reexamining Object-Based Visual Attention: Understanding The Nature Of Direction-Dependent Attention Shifts, Adam Joseph Barnas

Theses and Dissertations

Attentional selection is a process by which relevant sensory stimuli are afforded enhanced priority for processing over and above irrelevant sensory stimuli. Object-based attention is a form of selection that leads to preferential processing of visual information contained in/on an attended object versus an unattended object. Observers typically exhibit enhanced performance to a target at an invalidly cued same object location compared to a different-object location, which results in a same object advantage as measured by the response time (RT) difference between these two target locations. A growing body of research has shown that object-based effects are small, inconsistent, and …

Motivation Is Deficient In The Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (Shr), A Rodent Model Of Adhd: Evidence From An Operant Breakpoint Paradigm, Amanda S. Nazario

Theses and Dissertations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood neurobehavioral disorders. ADHD is characterized by three core behavioral deficits (hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity) that significantly hinder the daily functioning of those diagnosed. Furthermore, children with ADHD have problems with motivation and often require larger, more frequent rewards in order to complete a task. In this study, we used the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR), a rodent model of ADHD that exhibits all the core deficits of the disorder. The goal of the current study was to further validate the SHR as a model of ADHD by training …

Investigating The Contribution Of Instance-Reliant Learning In Visuomotor Adaptation And Its Generalization, Shancheng Bao

Theses and Dissertations

Motor adaptation has been of great interest in the past two decades as it reflects how movement skills are acquired and consolidated by the nervous system. In our recent studies, instance-reliant learning is considered as an essential component of visuomotor adaptation, since it plays a unique role in fast and automatized control of movement output. The goal of this dissertation is to investigate the nature of instance-reliant learning on two aspects: to determine the differential contributions of algorithmic learning and instance-reliant learning to visuomotor adaptation; and to determine the nature of movement instance involved in visuomotor adaptation and its generalization …

Evaluation Of Cognitive Control Using Non-Gaussian Reaction Time Distributions In Fractionated Executive Function Tasks, Dmitriy Kazakov

Theses and Dissertations

The present study seeks to further investigate and refine the three-factor model of executive function (EF; Inhibition, Shifting, and Monitoring/Updating) known as the unity/diversity framework (Miyake et al., 2000). Past work in this area utilized “power” tasks that prioritize accuracy and difficulty, but real-world problem-solving incentivizes quick and efficient solutions. Ten computerized reaction time (RT) tasks: four elementary cognitive tasks (ECTs; Jensen, 1987; Santos, 2016) with progressively increasing task demands and six EF tasks. The ratio scale of RT necessitated the use of non-Gaussian statistics to better describe distribution shape, while diffusion modeling (DM; Ratcliff, 1978) was used to interpret …

When Children Hurt You: Examining The Experiences Of Clinicians Who Work With Aggressive Young Children, Melisa Madsen

Theses and Dissertations

This grounded theory qualitative research study examined the experiences of mental health staff who work with aggressive young children under the age of 9. Through the use of semi-structured interviews, participants were asked about individual and organizational aspects that affect the care they provide to young children and their decision to stay with the organization. 14 mental health professionals from five different intensive outpatient programs for youth with behavioral concerns were interviewed. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) three-step data analysis process of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. In answer to the question “What experiences do …

The Influence Of Proximal Processes In Recruitment And Participation Of Monolingual Spanish-Speaking Latinos/As Living With Hiv In Neuropsychological Research In Milwaukee: An Ecological Theory Analysis From A Chicano Cultural Perspective., Enrique Ignacio Gracian

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of the original study was to examine the relationships among neuropsychological measures, laboratory measures of medication management ability, self-report and pharmacy refill records, and biometric information in monolingual Spanish-speaking Latinos/as living with HIV. The researcher experienced difficulties with recruitment and collecting valid and complete data from patients who enrolled in the study. After a one-year recruitment period and with the support of the dissertation committee and advisor, the researcher changed the focus of the dissertation to examine the data that were collected using a case study framework (Berk, 2000; Bronfenbrenner, 1977, 1979). The researcher used Bronfenbrenner Ecological Systems …

Intersecting Realities: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Experiences Of Stress And Coping Among Transgender Latinx Immigrants, Silvia P. Salas

Theses and Dissertations

Research on Trans immigrant communities of Latinx descent is underdeveloped, with even less emphasis on how this community experiences and copes with the stressors associated with their membership in multiple oppressed social groups (e.g., ethnicity, gender identity, and immigration status). Nativism, ethnocentrism, and cissexism all impact Trans Latinx immigrants, heightening their risk of being targets of community violence, hate crimes, and discrimination associated with their ethnicity, gender identity, and immigration status. These stressors and violence may be experienced by this community from within and outside their respective communities (e.g., Trans Community, Latinx Community, and Broader U.S. Community). The few available …

A Longitudinal Investigation Of Social Functioning In Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Danielle Glad

Theses and Dissertations

Social difficulties are commonly reported by parents and teachers of children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and can impact a child’s social relationships. Investigations of social functioning in children with NF1 during early childhood are scarce, with most studies focusing on school age. This study aims to characterize the emergence of social skills challenges for children with NF1, with a special focus on the stability of social skills longitudinally and the interrelations of social skills with ADHD symptomatology and cognitive function. Participants included children with NF1 who were assessed longitudinally during early childhood from the ages of 3-6 years (T1; …

Deaf Cultural Socialization: Exploring The Role Of Parents In Deaf Cultural Identity Development, Macrae Husting

Theses and Dissertations

There is an assumption in the Deaf identity literature that suggests that parents’ hearing status determines the cultural identity and well-being of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. This dissertation challenges that assumption. It does so by proffering an alternative explanation of the role that parents play by introducing two forms of socialization as mechanisms through which parents influence their child’s cultural identity development and well-being. Deaf cultural socialization is the process by which parents transmit messages to children regarding the importance and meaning of Deaf culture and membership in the Deaf community. Minority status socialization is the process by …

A Distributional And Theoretical Analysis Of Reaction Time In The Reversal Task Across Adulthood, Kaitlynne N. Leclaire

Theses and Dissertations

The frontal lobes are known to atrophy with age (Lockhart & DeCarli, 2014) and integrity of this region has been implicated in maintaining executive functioning (Chayer & Freedman, 2001). Reversal learning tasks are frequently used in experimental paradigms to assess components of executive function. Extant reversal learning literature has largely assessed measures of accuracy, but reaction time (RT) has not yet been well characterized. The current study examines the empirical RT distribution of the reversal task by utilizing distributional and theoretical analyses to better characterize performance and how it changes with age. Participants included 43 young (ages 18-30; M = …

Psychosocial Characteristics Of Children With And Without Toileting Dysfunction, Ellen Sejkora

Theses and Dissertations

Toilet training is a stressful time for parents and families; however, pediatric providers are often uncertain of how to guide parents through this period because of limited systematic research in this area. The current study investigated the role of timing and method of toilet training, use of physician and community resources, and parent and child psychosocial variables to better understand normative toilet training and clarify the role of family, parent, and child characteristics in the toilet training process. The literature regarding early childhood development and normative toileting was reviewed, followed by a discussion of voiding dysfunction and relevant psychosocial and …

Examining Interpretation Training For Thought-Action Fusion: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Experimental Trial, Stephan Siwiec

Theses and Dissertations

Found in many emotional disorders, thought-action fusion (TAF) is a distorted cognitive belief that simply having an upsetting intrusive thought can increase the chance of the associated event occurring (TAF Likelihood) or represents a person’s morality (TAF Morality). Challenging these beliefs through cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I) has been shown to modify negative interpretations, reduce TAF belief, and reduce associated distress. Our previous study (Siwiec, Davine, Kresser, Rohde, & Lee, 2017) showed that an active CBM-I developed to challenge TAF beliefs (TAF-INC) outperformed a control condition (TAF-CON) in reducing TAF belief, distress, and associated symptoms. The current study examined …

Cannabis-Using Youth Demonstrated Blunted Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex Activation, But Normal Functional Connectivity, During An Emotional Go/No-Go Task, Kristin Elizabeth Maple

Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis use has been associated with deficits in self-regulation, including inhibitory control. Cannabis users have previously exhibited both structural and functional deficits in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), a region involved in self-regulation of emotional response and inhibitory control. The present study aimed to examine whether abstinent cannabis users demonstrated abnormal functional activation and connectivity of the bilateral rACC during an emotional inhibitory processing task, and whether gender moderated these relationships. The study also aimed to examine whether bilateral rACC activation and connectivity in cannabis users was related to perceived stress. It was hypothesized that cannabis users would exhibit …

Evaluating The Effect Of Approach-Avoidance Training On Action Tendencies For Individuals With Skin Picking Disorder, Abel Steven Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

Pathological skin picking (PSP) or excoriation disorder is a destructive behavior that affects 1-2% of the general population. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a computerized behavior modification task on action tendencies (i.e., approach or avoidance) in adults with PSP. We aimed to reduce these action tendencies by having participants with PSP complete the Approach-Avoidance Training (AAT) task. Thirty-two participants with PSP were placed in one of three training conditions: (1) Avoidance Training (AvT) (2) Approach Training (ApT) (3) Placebo Training (PT). Using a joystick to simulate an approach (=pull) or avoidance (=push) response, …

White Matter Integrity In Individuals At-Risk For Ptsd Development: A Longitudinal Investigation, Carissa Weis

Theses and Dissertations

Trauma exposure is prevalent and while most are resilient, some go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—an anxiety-related disorder that results from traumatic experience. The brain changes that result from traumatic experience and PTSD are not well understood. Further, little is known about what distinguishes those who are resilient after trauma from those at risk for developing PTSD. Previous work indicates white matter integrity may be a useful biomarker in predicting PTSD and researchers have found changes in the integrity of three white matter tracts—the cingulum bundle, corpus callosum (CC), and uncinate fasciculus (UF)—in the aftermath of trauma. However, …

Memory-Based Viewing: A Potential Marker Of Pathological Aging, Jenna Blujus

Theses and Dissertations

Markers of cognitive impairment are needed to distinguish normal from pathological aging prior to the onset of clinical symptomology to improve Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment or prevention efforts. AD pathology is believed to develop years or even decades prior to diagnosis in medial temporal lobe subregions that provide input to the hippocampus (Braak & Braak, 1991), disrupting the ability of the hippocampus to bind individual elements of an experience to form cohesive memory representations. Eye movement behavior is a sensitive index of learning and effects of memory on eye movements have been shown to emerge rapidly (within 500-750ms of stimuli …

Evaluating The Effect Of Approach-Avoidance Training On Action Tendencies For Individuals With Skin Picking Disorder, Abel Steven Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

Pathological skin picking (PSP) or excoriation disorder is a destructive behavior that affects 1-2% of the general population. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a computerized behavior modification task on action tendencies (i.e., approach or avoidance) in adults with PSP. We aimed to reduce these action tendencies by having participants with PSP complete the Approach-Avoidance Training (AAT) task. Thirty-two participants with PSP were placed in one of three training conditions: (1) Avoidance Training (AvT) (2) Approach Training (ApT) (3) Placebo Training (PT). Using a joystick to simulate an approach (=pull) or avoidance (=push) response, …

Buffering Of Physiological And Affective Reactivity By A Single Proactive 5-Minute Stress Management Technique, Kayla Talia Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

A plethora of recent research highlights the long-term chronic disease risks of elevated blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and affective and cognitive responses to mental stressors and how traditional forms of mindfulness meditation (MM) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) may help offset these long-term risks. On top of that, briefer forms of MM (e.g., 3-day training sessions) have shown benefits for emotional and physical health. Further, perseverative cognitions, or the tendency to worry and rumination about stressful events, is linked with heightened CV reactivity, and may impede the success of stress management techniques. The purpose of this study was …

Bold Responses To Inhibition In Cannabis Using Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Alexander L. Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis use has been associated with increased blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses absent of behavioral deficits during a response inhibition task compared to controls. We investigated whether gender and cannabis use result in differences in BOLD responses and behavioral performance during a Go-NoGo task. Participants included eighty-three 16-26 year olds (MJ=36, Controls=46). An emotion based Go-NoGo task required participants to inhibit their response during a “neutral” face. A whole-brain analysis looked at differences between cannabis group, gender, and their interaction. Significant increased BOLD responses were observed in cannabis users compared to controls in the left frontal cortex, left cingulate …

Buffering Of Physiological And Affective Reactivity By A Single Proactive 5-Minute Stress Management Technique, Kayla Talia Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

A plethora of recent research highlights the long-term chronic disease risks of elevated blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and affective and cognitive responses to mental stressors and how traditional forms of mindfulness meditation (MM) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) may help offset these long-term risks. On top of that, briefer forms of MM (e.g., 3-day training sessions) have shown benefits for emotional and physical health. Further, perseverative cognitions, or the tendency to worry and rumination about stressful events, is linked with heightened CV reactivity, and may impede the success of stress management techniques. The purpose of this study was …

Relationship Between Women's Goals And Pregnancy Risk Behaviors, Sarah Elizabeth Kienzler

Theses and Dissertations

Among adult women, ages of 18 and 24 years old, a high percentage of the pregnancies that occur are unplanned (Finer & Zolna, 2016; Guttmacher Institute, 2016) and unplanned pregnancies have been linked to a greater risk of negative health outcomes for mothers and their infants (Dott, Rasmussen, Hogue, & Reefhuis, 2010; Hellerstedt, Pirie, Lando, Curry, McBride, Grothaus, & Clark Nelson, 1998; Kost, Landry, & Darroch, 1998; Mosher, Jones, & Abma, 2012; Pulley, Klerman, Tang, & Baker, 2002; Sharma, Synkewecz, Raggio, & Mattison, 1994; Weller, Eberstein, & Bailey, 1987). Work among adolescents has found a link between adolescents’ perception of …

Bold Responses To Inhibition In Cannabis Using Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Alexander L. Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis use has been associated with increased blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses absent of behavioral deficits during a response inhibition task compared to controls. We investigated whether gender and cannabis use result in differences in BOLD responses and behavioral performance during a Go-NoGo task. Participants included eighty-three 16-26 year olds (MJ=36, Controls=46). An emotion based Go-NoGo task required participants to inhibit their response during a “neutral” face. A whole-brain analysis looked at differences between cannabis group, gender, and their interaction. Significant increased BOLD responses were observed in cannabis users compared to controls in the left frontal cortex, left cingulate …

Memory-Based Viewing: A Potential Marker Of Pathological Aging, Jenna Blujus

Theses and Dissertations

Markers of cognitive impairment are needed to distinguish normal from pathological aging prior to the onset of clinical symptomology to improve Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment or prevention efforts. AD pathology is believed to develop years or even decades prior to diagnosis in medial temporal lobe subregions that provide input to the hippocampus (Braak & Braak, 1991), disrupting the ability of the hippocampus to bind individual elements of an experience to form cohesive memory representations. Eye movement behavior is a sensitive index of learning and effects of memory on eye movements have been shown to emerge rapidly (within 500-750ms of stimuli …

White Matter Integrity In Individuals At-Risk For Ptsd Development: A Longitudinal Investigation, Carissa Weis

Theses and Dissertations

Trauma exposure is prevalent and while most are resilient, some go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—an anxiety-related disorder that results from traumatic experience. The brain changes that result from traumatic experience and PTSD are not well understood. Further, little is known about what distinguishes those who are resilient after trauma from those at risk for developing PTSD. Previous work indicates white matter integrity may be a useful biomarker in predicting PTSD and researchers have found changes in the integrity of three white matter tracts—the cingulum bundle, corpus callosum (CC), and uncinate fasciculus (UF)—in the aftermath of trauma. However, …