Psychology Commons^™

Editorial: Insights In Neurocognitive Aging And Behavior: 2022, Kristy A. Nielson, Annalena Venneri, Shin Murakami

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Sexual Minority Behavioral Health Outcomes: The Role Of Identity Authenticity And Self-Regulation., Zane B. Ballard, Debra L. Oswald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Smaller Total And Subregional Cerebellar Volumes In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Mega-Analysis By The Enigma-Pgc Ptsd Workgroup, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Although the cerebellum contributes to higher-order cognitive and emotional functions relevant to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), prior research on cerebellar volume in PTSD is scant, particularly when considering subregions that differentially map on to motor, cognitive, and affective functions. In a sample of 4215 adults (PTSD n = 1642; Control n = 2573) across 40 sites from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group, we employed a new state-of-the-art deep-learning based approach for automatic cerebellar parcellation to obtain volumetric estimates for the total cerebellum and 28 subregions. Linear mixed effects models controlling for age, gender, intracranial volume, and site were used to …

Listening To Families: Qualitative Analysis Of Family Perspectives On The Impact Of Participating In A Complex Care Program, Jessica L. Schnell, Astrida S. Kaugars, Sarah Johaningsmeir, Sara K. Quates, K. Jane Lee

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Complex Care Programs (CCPs) provide care for children with medical complexity (CMC). The broad impact of CCP participation on families is unknown. This study sought to elucidate what families value about participation in a CCP and what additional benefit families hope CCPs will provide.

Methods

Surveys from families of CMC in a CCP were collected over the course of two years. Responses were summarized for two fixed response satisfaction questions. Qualitative responses to two open-ended questions exploring CCP value were analyzed using content analysis.

Results

Most families (95% and 97%) were somewhat or very satisfied with the CCP. All …

Cerebellar Eeg Source Localization Reveals Age-Related Compensatory Activity Moderated By Genetic Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Elizabeth Paitel, Kristy A. Nielson

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

The apolipoprotein-E (APOE) ε4 allele is the greatest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), but alone it is not sufficiently predictive. Because neuropathological changes associated with AD begin decades before cognitive symptoms, neuroimaging of healthy, cognitively intact ε4 carriers (ε4+) may enable early characterization of patterns associated with risk for future decline. Research in the cerebral cortex highlights a period of compensatory recruitment in elders and ε4+, which serves to maintain cognitive functioning. Yet, AD-related changes may occur even earlier in the cerebellum. Advances in electroencephalography (EEG) source localization now allow effective modeling of cerebellar activity. Importantly, healthy …

Neuroimaging-Based Classification Of Ptsd Using Data-Driven Computational Approaches: A Multisite Big Data Study From The Enigma-Pgc Ptsd Consortium, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Recent advances in data-driven computational approaches have been helpful in devising tools to objectively diagnose psychiatric disorders. However, current machine learning studies limited to small homogeneous samples, different methodologies, and different imaging collection protocols, limit the ability to directly compare and generalize their results. Here we aimed to classify individuals with PTSD versus controls and assess the generalizability using a large heterogeneous brain datasets from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD Working group.

Methods

We analyzed brain MRI data from 3,477 structural-MRI; 2,495 resting state-fMRI; and 1,952 diffusion-MRI. First, we identified the brain features that best distinguish individuals with PTSD from controls …

Moderate-To-Vigorous Intensity Cycling Exercise Immediately After Visual Learning Enhances Delayed Recognition Memory Performance, Andrew C. Venezia, Lauren R. Weiss, Kristy A. Nielson, J. Carson Smith

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

A single bout of acute aerobic exercise has been shown to improve long-term memory, though it is unclear if exercise before learning or after learning is optimal for memory enhancement. Although some research has demonstrated that exercise before learning is ideal, investigations have consistently shown that acute arousal post-learning is a powerful memory enhancer. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of self-perceived hard cycling before or after learning on recognition memory for emotional and neutral images, and examine the relationship between central noradrenergic activity and memory performance. Seventy-two males and females (18–35 years of age) …

More Than “Just A Friend”: Exploring The Therapeutic Needs Of Adult Survivors Of A Suicide Loss Of A Friend, Kat R. Mcconnell

Dissertations (1934 -)

Individuals who are bereaved by the suicide loss of a loved one (also known as “suicide survivors”) face high rates of complicated grief, mental illness, social isolation, experiences of stigma, and suicide attempts. While suicide loss therapy (or “postvention”) attracts many individuals grieving familial suicides, those impacted by the suicide loss of a close friend are underrepresented in both individual and group therapies, despite indications that friend suicide survivors are impacted at an equivalent level and frequency to family members. Using a constructivist grounded theory method, this study aimed to investigate the lived experiences and therapeutic needs of 8 adults …

Exemplar Trans-Affirmative Therapists: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study, Shannon Skaistis

Dissertations (1934 -)

The consensus approach for psychotherapy with transgender and nonbinary clients (TNB) has come to be known as trans-affirmative psychotherapy (TAP). TAP is influenced by a collection of guidelines and models (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2010; APA, 2015; Chang et al., 2017; Singh & dickey, 2017) and a small number of empirical studies related to psychotherapy with transgender clients (e.g., Elder, 2016; McCullough et al., 2017, Mizock & Lundquist, 2016, Morris et al., 2020). However, the limited empirical research and guidelines provide minimal direction to clinicians working in-session with TNB clients. This study sought to investigate the perceptions of exemplar clinicians’ …

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), …

The Vermont Family Based Approach In Primary Care Pediatrics: Effects On Children’S And Parents’ Emotional And Behavioral Problems And Parents’ Health-Related Quality Of Life, Masha Y. Ivanova, Allison Hall, Stanley Weinberger, Sara L. Buckingham, William E. Copeland, Phoenix Crockett, Justin Dainer-Best, Casey D'Alberto, Lauren Dewey, Deshan Foret, Maria Galano, Lisa Goodrich, Lindsay E. Holly, Nalini Lane, Maureen Leahey, Mathew Lerner, Jasime Marsh, Ellen Mcginnis, Melissa Paiva-Salisbury, Judith S. Shaw, Pamela Swift, Rebekah Tinker, James J. Hudziak

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This randomized controlled trial tested the Vermont Family Based Approach (VFBA) in primary care pediatrics. The VFBA is a model of healthcare delivery that shifts the focus from the individual to the family, emphasizes emotional and behavioral health, and uses evidence-based health promotion/prevention along with the treatment of emotional and behavioral problems. Participants were 81 families of 3–15-year-olds. For children, the VFBA was associated with greater reductions than the Control condition on the Child Behavior Checklist Emotionally Reactive, Withdrawn, Sleep Problems, Aggressive Behavior and Total Problems scales. For parents, the VFBA was associated with greater reductions than the Control condition …

Contribution Of Implicit Memory To Adaptation Of Movement Extent During Reaching Against Unpredictable Spring-Like Loads: Insensitivity To Intentional Suppression Of Kinematic Performance, Devon D. Lantagne, Leigh A. Mrotek, James B. Hoelzle, Danny G. Thomas, Robert A. Scheidt

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

We examined the extent to which intentionally underperforming a goal-directed reaching task impacts how memories of recent performance contribute to sensorimotor adaptation. Healthy human subjects performed computerized cognition testing and an assessment of sensorimotor adaptation, wherein they grasped the handle of a horizontal planar robot while making goal-directed out-and-back reaching movements. The robot exerted forces that resisted hand motion with a spring-like load that changed unpredictably between movements. The robotic test assessed how implicit and explicit memories of sensorimotor performance contribute to the compensation for the unpredictable changes in the hand-held load. After each movement, subjects were to recall and …

Efficacy Of, And Preference For, A Modification To Differential Reinforcement Procedures, Carissa Basile

Dissertations (1934 -)

Tic disorders, such as Tourette’s Syndrome, are chronic, childhood-onset neurological conditions that involve sudden, repetitive, and involuntary motor movements and/or vocalizations. Individuals with tics often experience a premonitory urge, which is an aversive sensation that occurs right before a tic that may functionally influence tics. Previous research has suggested reinforced tic suppression can effectively reduce tics. Although effective, it may be useful to better understand the behavioral contingencies that most effectively lead to suppression. The purpose of the current study was to compare standard reinforced tic suppression with reinforced tic suppression that included an option for participant-initiated breaks using an …

Latine Youth's Intersecting Identities And Mental Health Outcomes: Examining The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning, Anne Malkoff

Dissertations (1934 -)

In the existing literature base, the mechanisms by which a bicultural identity leads to more positive mental health outcomes among Latine youth are not yet clearly understood. The present study aimed to clarify these relationships by examining family functioning as a possible mediating variable between Latine youth’s cultural identity-related processes (i.e., bicultural identity integration, bicultural stress, ethnic identity, parent-child acculturation differences) and mental health outcomes (i.e., internalizing/externalizing symptoms and overall well-being). Participants included Latine youth (ages 9-12; n = 78) and their parents (n = 70) who were primarily recruited to participate in the study via Facebook over the course …

American Women’S Experiences With Intimate Partner Violence During The Start Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: Risk Factors And Mental Health Implications, Debra L. Oswald, Astrida S. Kaugars, Mary Tait

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

In an online survey, women self-reported high prevalence of intimate partner violence during the early days of the pandemic. Risk factors for experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) included having a child under the age of 18, being a sexual minority, living in a rural community, and stressors related to healthcare access, income/employment stress, and COVID-19 exposure or illness. Women who worked during the pandemic and were older were less likely to experience IPV. Women who reported IPV also reported increased anxiety and depression. The results are discussed in terms of clinical and policy implications for supporting women who are victims …

A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Pilot Trial Of Online-Delivered Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention For Tics-Enhanced, Jordan Stiede

Dissertations (1934 -)

Although studies demonstrate that comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT) is more effective than nonspecific supportive therapy in reducing tics and related impairment, there is room for improvement, as up to 47% of treatment seeking youth do not show adequate response to treatment. Accordingly, the current randomized, waitlist-controlled pilot trial examined the preliminary efficacy, acceptability, and durability of online-delivered CBIT-Enhanced (CBIT-E), which included the standard CBIT protocol, plus specific and targeted instrumental conditioning procedures focused on directly reinforcing the use of inhibitory competing responses. The present study also explored differences in tic severity outcomes between CBIT-E participants and waitlist control …

Latine Cultural Values And Ambivalent Sexism: Perceptions Of Sexism Through A Latine Lens, 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, …

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

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 …

Describing Parents' Beliefs About The Causes Of Mental Health Problems In Youth: Implications For Service Utilization, Madeline Buchanan

Dissertations (1934 -)

Parents have an important role in accessing mental health services for youth. Understanding what factors might enhance or impede this process is critical to engaging more children and adolescents in treatment. Evidence suggests parents’ beliefs about the causes of youth mental health problems likely influence mental health service utilization, though existing research is limited. The current study examined parents’ causal beliefs about youth mental health problems and their impact on factors related to help-seeking and service utilization. A diverse group of parents (N = 417; 36.9% non-Hispanic White; 33.3% Black/African American; 29.7% Hispanic/Latino) completed a series of questionnaires via an …

Editorial: Perspectives On Ptsd And Its Treatment, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald, Ashley A. Huggins

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Insights In Neurocognitive Aging And Behavior: 2021, Kristy A. Nielson, Ian M. Mcdonough, Anja Soldan

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

In recent years, exceptional scientific achievements have led to major advancements in the fast-growing field of neurocognitive aging and behavior. In this inaugural collection, Insights in Neurocognitive Aging and Behavior: 2021, we sought to highlight the latest advancements and challenges for the current state of knowledge and future directions in aging neuroscience in the neurocognitive arena. Here we outline the contributions and implications for future research of the 15 papers in this topic collection across four important research areas: (1) novel approaches to identifying and tracking brain aging and impending cognitive decline; (2) neurocognitive markers of risks for Alzheimer’s disease …

Large-Scale Network Connectivity And Cognitive Function Changes After Exercise Training In Older Adults With Intact Cognition And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Junyeon Won, Kristy A. Nielson, J. Carson Smith

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background:

Despite growing evidence regarding the association between exercise training (ET) and functional brain network connectivity, little is known about the effects of ET on large-scale within- and between-network functional connectivity (FC) of core brain networks.

Objective:

We investigated the effects of ET on within- and between-network functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), and salience network (SAL) in older adults with intact cognition (CN) and older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The association between ET-induced changes in FC and cognitive performance was examined.

Methods:

33 older adults (78.0±7.0 years; 16 MCI and 17 …

Machine Learning Prediction Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Trajectories Following Traumatic Injury: Identification And Validation In Two Independent Samples, Carissa W. Tomas, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald, Carisa Bergner, Cecilia J. Hillard, Christine L. Larson, Terri A. Deroon-Cassini

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Due to its heterogeneity, the prediction of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development after traumatic injury is difficult. Recent machine learning approaches have yielded insight into predicting PTSD symptom trajectories. Using data collected within 1 month of traumatic injury, we applied eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) to classify admitted and discharged patients (hospitalized, n = 192; nonhospitalized, n = 214), recruited from a Level 1 trauma center, according to PTSD symptom trajectories. Trajectories were identified using latent class mixed models on PCL-5 scores collected at baseline, 1–3 months posttrauma, and 6 months posttrauma. In both samples, nonremitting, remitting, and resilient PTSD symptom …

A Comparison Of Methods To Harmonize Cortical Thickness Measurements Across Scanners And Sites, Delin Sun, Gopalkumar Rakesh, Courtney C. Haswell, Mark Logue, C. Lexi Baird, Erin N. O'Learly, Andrew S. Cotton, Hong Xie, Marijo Tamburrino, Tian Chen, Emily L. Dennis, Neda Jahanshad, Lauren Salminen, Sophia I. Thomopoulos, Faisal Rashid, Christopher R.K. Ching, Saskia B.J. Koch, Jessie L. Frijling, Laura Nawijn, Mirjam Van Zuiden, Xi Zhu, Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez, Anika Sierk, Henrik Walter, Antje Manthey, Jennifer S. Stevens, Negar Fani, Sanne J.H. Van Rooij, Murray Stein, Jessica A. Bomyea, Inga K. Koerte, Kyle Choi, Steven J.A. Van Der Werff, Robert R.J.M. Vermeiren, Julia Herzog, Lauren A. M. Lebois, Justin T. Baker, Elizabeth A. Olson, Thomas Straube, Mayuresh S. Korgaonkar, Elpiniki Andrew, Ye Zhu, Gen Li, Jonathan Ipser, Anna R. Hudson, Matthew Peverill, Kelly Sambrook, Evan Gordon, Lee A. Baugh, Gina L. Forster, Raluca M. Simons, Jeffrey S. Simons, Vincent A. Magnotta, Adi Maron-Katz, Stefan Du Plessis, Seth Disner, Nicholas Davenport, Daniel W. Grupe, Jack B. Nitschke, Terri A. Deroon-Cassini, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald, John H. Krystal, Ifat Levy, Miranda Olff, Dick J. Veltman, Li Wang, Yuval Neria, Michael D. De Bellis, Tanja Jovanovic, Judith K. Daniels, Martha E. Shenton, Nic J.A. Van De Wee, Christian Schmahl, Milissa L. Kaufman, Isabelle M. Rosso, Scott R. Sponheim, David Hofmann, Richard A. Bryant, Kelene A. Fercho, Dan J. Stein, Sven C. Mueller, Bobak Hosseini, K. Luan Phan, Katie A. Mclaughlin, Richard J. Davidson, Christine L. Larson, Geoffrey May, Steven M. Nelson, Chadi G. Abdallah, Hassaan Gomaa, Amit Etkin, Soraya Seedat, Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, Israel Liberzon, Theo G.M. Van Erp, Yann Quidé, Xin Wang, Paul M. Thompson, Rajendra A. Morey

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Results of neuroimaging datasets aggregated from multiple sites may be biased by site-specific profiles in participants’ demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as MRI acquisition protocols and scanning platforms. We compared the impact of four different harmonization methods on results obtained from analyses of cortical thickness data: (1) linear mixed-effects model (LME) that models site-specific random intercepts (LMEINT), (2) LME that models both site-specific random intercepts and age-related random slopes (LMEINT+SLP), (3) ComBat, and (4) ComBat with a generalized additive model (ComBat-GAM). Our test case for comparing harmonization methods was cortical thickness data aggregated from 29 sites, which included 1,340 …

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

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 …

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 …

Nondisclosure Of Supervisee Disagreement To Supervisor Feedback: A Qualitative Study, Elizabeth A. Tinsley

Dissertations (1934 -)

Feedback has been described by researchers and supervisors as an important tool of clinical supervision contributing to supervisees’ development (Hein et al., 2011; Jaworski & Kohli, 1991; Nelson et al., 2008; O’Donovan et al., 2011; Sapyta et al., 2005; Worthington, 2006). Because feedback often comes from one perspective, generally the supervisor’s, it seems reasonable to expect supervisors and supervisees may see feedback differently. This difference in perspectives may foster disagreement between the supervisor and supervisee. Not everyone is comfortable discussing disagreement, nor even conflict, which can lead to larger difficulties in supervision. The act of censoring information provided to supervisors …

Strengthening The Procedural Fidelity Research-To-Practice Loop In Animal Behavior, Tiffany Kodak, Samantha Bergmann, Mindy Waite

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Procedural fidelity is the extent to which components of an intervention are implemented as designed. Procedural fidelity is measured as a dependent variable and manipulated as an independent variable. In research and practice, procedural-fidelity data should be collected, monitored, and reported. Procedural fidelity as an independent variable has been investigated in humans using parametric analyses, and the current article summarizes some of the research conducted on the effects of procedural-fidelity errors in behavior-reduction and skill-acquisition interventions. Connections were drawn to applied animal researchers and the work of animal behavior practitioners to produce implications for practice with human and animal clients …