Psychology Commons^™

Training Psychologists In The Ethical Use Of Language Interpreters: An Evaluation Of Current Practices, Potential Barriers, And Proposed Competencies, Clay A. Frandsen

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that general and mental healthcare services have been, and continue to be, underutilized by racial and ethnic minorities. Studies point to the language gap between limited English proficiency (LEP) individuals and mental-health clinicians as one of the factors in perpetuating that gap. Despite the legal and professional mandates that require professionals in healthcare to provide and use language interpreters in giving care, psychologists rarely make use of professional interpreters when conducting psychotherapy. Most clinicians have little experience providing mental-health treatment across differences in language, and it is supposed that clinicians usually receive little or no training on how …

Outcomes From In-Person Interdisciplinary Continuing Education For Autism And Online Delivery Of The Same Content, Rachel Ann Trayner

Theses and Dissertations

Because of the growing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), there is an increased need for effective professional training models for autism treatment and education. Individuals with ASD receive care and therapy across multiple disciplines, so such training models should also be interdisciplinary in nature. In the medical field, pediatricians, nurses, psychiatrists, and many others work with individuals with ASD. In the education field, teachers, speech language pathologists, school psychologists, and others work with children with ASD. Some therapists work in both systems. Thus far, there has been little research done considering training delivery models (i.e., in-person and online training) …

Insomnia Is Associated With Suicide Attempt In Middle-Aged And Older Adults With Depression, Daniel Kay, Alexandre Y. Dombrovski, Daniel J. Buysse, Charles F. Reynolds Iii, Amy Begley, Katalin Szanto

Faculty Publications

Background—Insomnia increases in prevalence with age, is strongly associated with depression, and has been identified as a risk factor for suicide in several studies. The aim of this study was to determine whether insomnia severity varies between those who have attempted suicide (n = 72), those who only contemplate suicide (n = 28), and those who are depressed but have no suicidal ideation or attempt history (n = 35).

Methods—Participants were middle-aged and older adults (Age 44–87, M = 66 years) with depression. Insomnia severity was measured as the sum of the early, middle, and late insomnia items from the …

Landmark Vs. Manual Tracing: A Novel Method For Hippocampal Segmentation, Bryce Owen, Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Calculating hippocampal volume from MR images is an essential task in many studies of neurocognition in healthy and diseased populations. The “gold standard” method involves hand tracing, which is accurate but laborious, requiring expertly trained researchers and significant amounts of time. As such, segmenting large datasets with the standard method is impractical. Current automated pipelines are inaccurate at hippocampal demarcation and volumetry. We developed a semi-automated hippocampal segmentation pipeline based on the Advanced Normalization Tools (ANTs) suite of programs to segment the hippocampus. We applied the semi-automated segmentation pipeline to 172 scans (59 female) from groups that included participants diagnosed …

Alcohol And Nicotine Co-Dependence Iii, Scott C. Steffensen, Jeffery G. Edwards, Sterling N. Sudweeks

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alcoholism and nicotine (NIC) addiction are chronic relapsing disorders that have enormous impact on society. Alcohol and NIC are the most commonly abused drugs, and a large body of evidence indicates that there is a positive correlation between their consumption. Today, smoking NIC-containing tobacco products is recognized as one of the greatest risk factors in the development of alcoholism. A major goal of addiction research is to characterize the critical neural substrates that are most sensitive to these drugs, adapt in association with chronic consumption and drive subsequent drug-seeking behavior. The long-term objective of our research program is to advance …

An Examination Of Relationship Processes On Cancer Screening Decisions In Married Couples, Wendy Birmingham

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. A family history of CRC is one of the strongest risk factors for the disease; those with a first-degree relative (i.e., a parent, sibling or child) with CRC have a two- to four-fold increased risk of CRC compared to the general population. A large literature indicates CRC screening can significantly reduce risk of CRC, yet screening rates remain less than optimal in those at increased risk. Some literature suggests that social influence and greater family support for screening and lower …

Impact Of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback On Fmri Measures Of Cognitive Functioning In Depressed And Non-Depressed Individuals, Patrick Steffen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met The primary objectives of this project was to examine neurological changes in depressed individuals who were randomized to either a psychotherapy plus Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback training or to a treatment as usual group. A control group with no history of depression was also studied. In the past two years, we were able to collect psychological, physiological, and imaging data from 30 participants (10 in an experimental group, 10 in a treatment as usual group, and the other 10 in a healthy control group) at baseline and …

Refining A Leaders Use Of The Therapeutic Relationship In Small Group Treatments: The Impact Of Group Questionnaire And Outcome Questionnaire Feedback, Gary Burlingame

Journal of Undergraduate Research

What follows is brief summary of how we used the MEG funding to support a 3-year multi-site randomized clinical trial involving students in group treatment at three Utah counseling centers—BYU, SUU & USU. We’ve organized the summary using the five report guidelines listed on the ORCA website.

Multimodal Testing Of Neural Interhemispheric Transfer After Concussion: A Cutting-Edge Mentored Experience, Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mild traumatic brain injury, also known as concussion, is a public health concern that is receiving considerable attention in the media and scientific literature. Individuals who experience long-term deficits after concussion show cognitive and emotional dysfunction that can persist or worsen for several years post injury. These deficits can be associated with an increase of fifty percent in medical costs following injury and result in damage to family relationships, employment, and school performance. Currently, there are inadequate numbers of health professionals trained in the accurate diagnosis and identification of predictors of longterm problems following concussion. Furthermore, techniques to identify individuals …

Pre-Service Interdisciplinary Training In Autism Spectrum Disorders, Terisa P. Gabrielsen, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was designed to give mentoring experience to students across disciplines who were seeking additional knowledge and training in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participation in the project was intended to benefit students by giving them more knowledge within their field and across disciplines, helping future patients and clients with ASD and to enhance applications to specialty and graduate programs in related fields. Students produced a large (attendance=150) interdisciplinary training workshop for the community and developed a website collection of autism resources for clinicians and families.

Parents Of College Graduates With Learning Disabilities: Practices And Factors Attributing To Their Children's Preparation For Postsecondary Education, Alexander Johnston Hale

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate and describe parenting practices that parents believe were effective in helping prepare their children with LD for college enrollment. Participants were chosen from among the parents of students interviewed by Cook (2010). Six parents (three couples) volunteered to be interviewed by phone. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. Under the category of Parent Practices, themes emerged in the areas of early identification, self-advocacy training, and home accommodations, and under the category of Family Factors, themes emerged in the areas reading, expectation, and normalization. Findings are discussed …

Chinese International Students Attending American Universities: How Can We Help You? A Qualitative Study On Chinese International Students' Acculturation Experiences, Zhen Li

Theses and Dissertations

Given the increasing number of Chinese international students attending American universities, an important study would be to consider problems arising during these students' initial transition period, as they acculturate into the American culture and educational system. Taking this information into account, university counseling centers, campus services, and those who interact with and support these students would be better able to assist in easing the initial and ongoing stress of living in a foreign country and adapting to a new way of life. Thirteen Chinese international students participated in qualitative interviews conducted in Mandarin Chinese, each participant's native language. Each participant …

Parenting Self-Efficacy In Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Larene K. Smart

Theses and Dissertations

Parenting self-efficacy is one factor identified as relevant to parent distress and child therapy outcomes. Theories for parenting self-efficacy suggest parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may be at risk for lower parenting self-efficacy than other parents. Parents who have low parenting self-efficacy may then have higher risk for poor treatment outcomes. Previous researchers found inconsistent results related to parenting self-efficacy rates for parents of children with ASD. They suggested the results were due to sample sizes, measurement insensitivitiy, comparison groups, and the limited range of children's ages (Fields, 2006; Meirsschaut, Roeyers, and Warreyn, 2010; Palafox, 2004; and …

Resilience And Internalizing Symptoms Among Adolescent Girls In Residential Treatment: An Evaluation Of Strong Teens, Luke Andrew Marvin

Theses and Dissertations

Strong Teens is an evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed to target internalizing disorders by promoting emotional resilience and social competence. In this study, Strong Teens was implemented among 36 adolescent girls during group therapy in a residential treatment center (RTC). A non-equivalent, quasi-experimental wait-list control group design was used. The curriculum was evaluated by tracking the girls' social and emotional knowledge, internalizing symptoms, and resilience from the perspectives of the girls, group therapists, and a supervisor who was blind to the study. Although the results indicated that exposure to Strong Teens was not effective in increasing the …

Benefits Of Peer Tutoring Students With Disabilities In A Secondary School Setting, Kristi Louise Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits peer tutoring provides to the tutee. However, studies measuring the benefits peer tutoring provides to the tutor are limited in quantity, detail, participant numbers and breadth. This study measured the benefits 151 peer tutors reported after peer tutoring for a semester in a special education class for students with severe disabilities. Peer tutors reported benefits in an essay response to the prompt: "What do you feel you have gained as a result of being a peer tutor?" The study identified the most common benefits obtained by peer tutors as measured by peer tutor generated …

Sleep In The Context Of Healthy Aging And Psychiatric Syndromes, Daniel Kay, Joseph M. Dzierzewski

Faculty Publications

Humans spend approximately 1/3 of their lives asleep. Whether due to evolutionary or ontogenetic factors, sleep and psychiatric disorders change with age. While much of sleep remains an enigma, the field of sleep research is experiencing an exponential increase in its understanding of the causes, correlates, and consequences of sleep disturbances. Although the relationship between age-related sleep and psychiatric conditions is a common clinical observation, empirical investigations into these associations remain scarce. Thus, treating patients with symptoms of sleep disorders in the context of psychiatric conditions remains a major challenge. This chapter reviews the state-of-the-science of sleep disorders in the …

Who Is Helpful?: Examining The Relationship Between Personality Factors And Supportive Responses And Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence Victims, Christina Elisabeth Riley

Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence perpetrated by men against women persists as a major human rights issue in the United States and around the world with some estimates showing that one in four women will be victimized in their lifetimes. Victims face many obstacles when they try to leave their abusive partners. A major barrier faced by victims is secondary victimization. Secondary victimization is the process in which informal (e.g., family, friends, etc.) and formal (e.g., police officer, judges, etc.) supporters re-victimize the victim by questioning the validity of the abuse, excusing the perpetrator, and blaming the victim. Because most victims seek help …

Using Disability Awareness Instruction To Promote Peer Acceptance And Positive Attitudes Toward Students With Disabilities, Margot Caroline Gardiner

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the experiences and attitudes of elementary school students regarding individuals with disabilities, following five weeks of disability awareness instruction. It also evaluates the social validity of disability awareness instruction as an intervention tool based on student perceptions, and compares the use of a didactic teaching approach with one that also incorporates the use of bibliotherapy techniques. The current study is part of a larger study using a pre-test, post-test experimental group design (Teerlink, 2012). Participants included 322 elementary school students. Each class of first through sixth grade students was randomly assigned to one of three conditions: …

Towards Dimensionality In Psychosis: A Conceptual Analysis Of The Dimensions Of Psychosis Symptom Severity, Jessica Abigail Carmona

Theses and Dissertations

Given the heterogeneity of symptoms allowed in the diagnosis of psychotic disorders, as well as other challenges of categorical diagnosis (e.g., First et al., 2002; Krueger, 1999), the increased specificity brought by dimensional ratings of underlying features is often important. Models using the factorial structure of psychotic symptoms perform as good as or better than traditional categorical models (Allardyce, Suppes, & Van Os, 2007). DSM-5 has provided such a system of ratings to aid clinicians, the Clinician Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity Scale (PSS; APA, 2013). In this approach, the clinician rates symptom severity in eight domains which emphasize …

Association Between Polymorphisms Associated With Major Depression, Cognitive Function, And Stress Regulation And Telomere Length In Older Community-Dwelling Adults And In Older Competitive Athletes, Cynthia Elizabeth Perry

Theses and Dissertations

Many factors detrimental to healthy aging have been proposed including depression, stress, cognitive decline, and telomere shortening. Of specific interest are the genetic factors that may contribute to these factors and subsequently lead to accelerated telomere shortening and aging, namely the Bcl1, 5-HT, DRD2, and ApoE polymorphisms. We sought to: 1) further clarify the role of depression, stress tolerance, and cognitive decline in aging by examining the effect of associated polymorphisms (Bcl1, 5-HT, DRD2, and ApoE) on telomere length in two samples of older adults and 2) determine the difference in absolute telomere length between the two groups. We examined …

Evaluating The Effects Of Strong Teens On High School Student Levels Of Internalizing Symptoms And Resilience, Austin J. Millet

Theses and Dissertations

Many adults suffering from mental health problems often report that the onset of these concerns began in adolescence, highlighting the importance of identifying and treating mental health concerns from an early age. In high schools, some students are identified as having externalizing or internalizing disorders. The majority of these students, especially those with internalizing symptoms, go untreated. One potential reason may be that limited school resources are used to correct behavior problems, leaving those with internalizing disorders to silently suffer, which often exacerbates the issues. Recent research suggests many individuals have high levels of resilience which can be taught, and …

An Assessment Of The Effects Of Spiritual And Relational Teaching On Student Learning, Matthew Alan Hiatt

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that students are more interested than faculty in addressing spirituality in the classroom. This study tested the extent to which professors could meet student demand for greater attention to spirituality in their classes without sacrificing rigor and student learning. Previous research done at Brigham Young University (BYU) identified three areas of focus that are important to implementing spirituality into the classroom: 1) Professor Self-Disclosure, 2) Intellectual Connections, and 3) Interpersonal Connections. Research on the integration of faith and learning also supports these focus areas. Two BYU professors from different colleges were recruited for participation in this study. After …

A Qualitative Study Of Women’S Attitudes And Experiences Regarding Body Image And Disordered Eating Behaviors, Natalie Ann Kirtley

Theses and Dissertations

The current research study is responding to recent findings wherein, Fischer et al. (2013) report a risk rate based on EAT-26 scores in the range of 9.2% to 10.8% at BYU in comparison to the 15% they found reported in the literature using samples from other college campuses. Risk rates based on BSQ scores were reported in the 27.2% to 31.1% range, which was on par with a risk rate of 28.7% reported at a comparable university (Fischer et al., 2013). Fischer et al. (2013) conclude that while body shape concerns were estimated to be equal to or lower than …

Alcohol And Nicotine Co-Dependence, Taylor Woodward, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Addiction is a diabolical neurochemical trap that robs people of their agency and catastrophically affects virtually every aspect of an addict’s life. Alcohol is one of the most statistically widespread and harmful addictive substances in our society (Nutt, King et al. 2010). Through physiological means, it destroys an addict’s dignity, disrupts the ability to maintain healthy relationships, and often results in premature death of the addict and those around him or her. M. Russell Ballard recently spoke about the spiritual implications of the pleasure center of the brain, stating that “when activated by certain drugs or behaviors, it overpowers the …

The Efficacy Of Neurofeedback Training In Enhancing High-Order Processing In Addicts, Ian Armstrong, Scott C. Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Biofeedback is a process by which a person learns to control physiological functions of their body that they would otherwise not be conscously aware of. This is accomplished by relaying real-time information back to the user in the form of data or a game. The user then modifies their physiological activity in order to achieve set goals through a process of operant conditioning. Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that utilizes EEG monitoring to collect a person’s electrical brainwave activity and display it back to them. In this experiment, the method in which that feedback is displayed to the subject …

Identification Of Location And Timing Of Ros Production In Response To Meth Exposure, Andrew Lamprecht, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive drug that acts on the pleasure center of the brain. It causes an increase in the release of dopamine (DA) into the synaptic cleft. This rapid release of DA causes the “rush” felt by drug users. It also causes severe malfunctions in the brain such as anxiety, mood disorders, increased violence, reduced motor skills, impaired verbal learning, and psychosis. Among other things, the cause for these harmful effects could be related to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and their resulting oxidative damage. Oxidative damage has been suggested to constitute early signaling events in programmed cell death, …

Measuring Metamphetamine’S Effects On Dopamine Production During Exposure To Glutathione, Eli Schriever, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

One of the primary focuses of much addiction research involves finding methods to alleviate methamphetamine (METH) addiction. METH is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the United States. Estimates by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Statistics are that 5.5% of all adults ages 26 and above have at tried METH at least one time. Given its high addictive potential, the chance for entering damaging addiction cycles among these individuals is very high, and can have great societal and economic consequences in addition to physical and mental problems on the individual level. While the need for better …

Gene X Environment Interactions In Rhesus Macaques: A Test Of The Orchid-¬‐Dandelion Hypothesis, S. Andrew Aston, J. Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Aston, S. Andrew Gene x Environment Interactions in Rhesus Macaques: A test of the Orchid-­‐Dandelion Hypothesis Faculty Mentor: J. Dee Higley, Department of Psychology Numerous studies have shown that certain gene variants produce distinct phenotypes based on the environment in which an individual develops. Many of these so called gene-­‐by-­‐environment (GxE) interactions lead to an increased risk of developing psychopathology. The Orchid-­‐ Dandelion Hypothesis posits that risk alleles have been conserved to the present day, suggesting that although risk alleles may prove deleterious in many environments, under the right conditions, such variants may bestow an evolutionary advantage. For my ORCA …

Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species On Chronic Methamphetamine- Induced Dopamine Transmission In The Nucleus Accumbens, Devin Bradshaw, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance with many negative effects on the user. These effects include detriments to physical health such as “…extreme weight loss, severe dental problems (“meth mouth”), and skin sores caused by scratching. Methamphetamine use also raises the risk of contracting infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis B and C.” (“DrugFacts: Methamphetamine”, 2014). Negative health effects like this come from long term abuse of methamphetamine due to addiction to the substance. Reducing the cause of the addictive behavior (dopamine (DA) overstimulation causing neuronal damage) can help to prevent these negative effects of METH abuse. As the effects …

Effect Of Methamphetamine On Basal And Phasic Dopamine Release In The Striatum, Krisana Finlay, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the action mechanism of the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH) on basal and phasic dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens. We investigated METH and its method of action. This was done to better understand the detailed mechanism behind METH and to provide better addiction-solving tools. Previous METH research provided a great starting point, showing a reduction in DA transmission and tyrosine hydroxylase, and increased DA axon and terminal damage, apoptosis (cell death) and axon degeneration.