Psychology Commons^™

"Think Of The Situation In A Positive Light": A Look At Cognitive Reappraisal, Affective Reactivity And Health, Jessica Chloe Maras

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

How individuals regulate their emotions is critical for maintaining health and well-being. For example, reframing a stressful situation in a positive light, a form of cognitive reappraisal, is beneficial for health and well-being outcomes. However, it is currently unclear why this relationship exists. One potential mechanism could be how one emotionally reacts to stressors in daily life, termed affective reactivity. The current study examined longitudinal associations that spanned 20 years between cognitive reappraisal and health outcomes and subjective well-being and if affective reactivity mediated this relationship. Participants completed waves 1-3 of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Survey series …

Self-Monitoring And The Dsm-5 Section Iii Alternative Model Of Personality Disorder, Gillian Mccabe

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

The Alternative Model of Personality Disorder (AMPD) was introduced in Section III (“Emerging Measures and Models”) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to address many of the challenges inherent to the categorical system of personality disorder diagnosis. According to the AMPD, personality disorders can be identified by the extent to which impairment in personality functioning (i.e., Criterion A) and pathological personality traits (Criterion B) are present. Researchers have divided over the distinction between Criterion A and Criterion B, with one side favoring the current AMPD conceptualization of personality traits and functioning as independent constructs and the …

Experiential-Based Feedback During Alcohol Intoxication And Its Effect On Drinkers’ Risk Awareness, Alexandra R. Kelly

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

The prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving injuries and fatalities has not decreased for over a decade despite strategies to reduce and prevent driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). In 2019, 10,142 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the United States, which totaled to 28% of all traffic fatalities for the year. DUI interventions have been found to have moderate effects on reducing DUI recidivism. Prevention research has identified a lack of risk awareness in DUI offenders and this could be a target to motivate behavioral change. However, the training to increase levels of risk awareness needs to occur in …

Effects Of An Online Insomnia Intervention On Sleep And Alcohol Consumption, Justin Verlinden

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and insomnia are highly comorbid, due in part to the use of alcohol as a sleep aid among individuals with insomnia. Initial studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), the first-line treatment for insomnia, is moderately successful at improving both sleep and drinking outcomes in heavy drinkers with insomnia. However, CBT-I is expensive and not widely available. Online CBT-I could be a more accessible alternative. One online CBT-I program, Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi), is especially promising due to its high efficacy in treating insomnia and its individualized and interactive platform. Here …

Latent Classes Of Symptom Trajectory In A Brief Treatment For Borderline Personality Disorder, Doug Terrill

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

It is likely that patients with BPD progress through treatment in different ways. Characterizing symptom trajectories during treatment can facilitate the identification of distinct treatment responses, which may be shared by subgroups of patients. Researchers have consistently identified multiple distinct symptom trajectories among individuals with common psychopathological conditions, but no research to date has attempted to do so among patients with BPD. This study used latent growth mixture modeling to identify and characterize distinct classes of symptom trajectories among patients receiving an 18-week cognitive-behavioral treatment for BPD. Two distinct BPD symptom trajectories were identified in this sample, which were primarily …

Examining The Impact Of Discrete And Contextual Stress Factors On Memory, Jillian Rae Silva-Jones

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Stress is a complex and multifaceted process which is often not perceived as such. Therefore, given the unidimensional conceptualization of stress in previous research the current understanding of the associations between stress and memory are not well understood. This study investigates the association between stress and memory by capturing the complexity of stress through discrete and contextual stress factors. The current study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and geocoded indices (i.e., zip codes) of population density (i.e., urbanicity) and deprivation (socioeconomic disadvantage) in a large and diverse sample of U.S. participants (N = 8817) to examine the relationship between …

Basic Behavioral Processes Involved In Procrastination, Thomas R. Zentall

Psychology Faculty Publications

Procrastination involves an irrational putting off of engaging in a course of action, in spite of expecting to be worse off for the delay. I suggest that to understand the processes underlying procrastination one should examine its relation to several behavioral procedures that have been studied in humans and other animals. For example, in delay discounting, smaller rewards that come sooner are often preferred over larger rewards that come later. In the context of delay discounting, procrastination can be viewed as the preference for an immediate competing activity over the delay to work on a required task. Another process similar …

A Preliminary Evaluation Of The Unified Protocol Among Trauma-Exposed Adults With And Without Ptsd, Caitlyn O. Hood, Matthew W. Southward, Christian Bugher, Shannon Sauer-Zavala

Psychology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the Unified Protocol (UP)—a mechanistically transdiagnostic psychological treatment—provides benefit to individuals with a range of trauma histories, psychological difficulties, and diagnostic comorbidity. Using data from a sequential multiple-assignment randomized trial (SMART), this exploratory analysis included a sample of 69 community-recruited adults seeking outpatient mental health treatment. We examined reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms and changes in aversive and avoidant reactions to intense emotions—the UP’s putative mechanism—first by comparing individuals with and without trauma histories and then specifically among participants with PTSD. Findings suggest that the UP may lead to similar …

Mitochondrial Phenotypes In Purified Human Immune Cell Subtypes And Cell Mixtures, Shannon Rausser, Caroline Trumpff, Marlon A. Mcgill, Alex Junker, Wei Wang, Siu-Hong Ho, Anika Mitchell, Kalpita R. Karan, Catherine Monk, Suzanne C. Segerstrom, Rebecca G. Reed, Martin Picard

Psychology Faculty Publications

Using a high-throughput mitochondrial phenotyping platform to quantify multiple mitochondrial features among molecularly defined immune cell subtypes, we quantify the natural variation in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), citrate synthase, and respiratory chain enzymatic activities in human neutrophils, monocytes, B cells, and naïve and memory T lymphocyte subtypes. In mixed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the same individuals, we show to what extent mitochondrial measures are confounded by both cell type distributions and contaminating platelets. Cell subtype-specific measures among women and men spanning four decades of life indicate potential age- and sex-related differences, including an age-related elevation in mtDNAcn, …

Improving The Methodology For Identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment In Intellectually High-Functioning Adults Using The Nih Toolbox Cognition Battery, Grant L. Iverson, Justin E. Karr

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: Low scores on neuropsychological tests are considered objective evidence of mild cognitive impairment. In clinical practice and research, it can be challenging to identify a cognitive deficit or mild cognitive impairment in high-functioning people because they are much less likely to obtain low test scores. This study was designed to improve the methodology for identifying mild cognitive impairment in adults who have above average or superior intellectual abilities.

Method: Participants completed the National Institutes of Health Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB). The sample included 384 adults between the ages of 20 and …

On Estimating Personality Traits Of Us Supreme Court Justices, Ryan C. Black, Ryan J. Owens, Justin Wedeking, Patrick C. Wohlfarth

Political Science Faculty Publications

Psychological scholarship on personality is uniting with political science to redefine existing theories. This is clearly the case with research on judicial behavior and the US Supreme Court. But if this new approach is to survive and thrive, it must employ measures equal to the task. We show that Supreme Court Individual Personality Estimates, which seek to estimate justices’ personalities by examining their concurring opinions, suffer from a number of important methodological deficits that critically limit their usefulness. We briefly discuss what kinds of improved personality measures scholars should use instead and offer an improved set of estimates for one …

Driving Habits, Cognition, And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Middle-Aged And Older Adults With Hiv, Josiah J. Robinson, Tess Walker, Cierra Hopkins, Brittany Bradley, Peggy Mckie, Jennifer S. Frank, Caitlin N. Pope, Pariya L. Fazeli, David E. Vance

Graduate Center for Gerontology Faculty Publications

Cognitive impairment is known to increase with aging in people living with HIV (PLWH). Impairment in cognitive domains required for safe driving may put PLWH at risk for poor driving outcomes, decreased mobility, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study described the driving behaviors of middle-aged and older PLWH and examined correlations between driving behaviors and cognitive functioning (Aim 1), and driving behaviors and HRQoL domains (Aim 2). A sample of 260 PLWH ages 40 and older completed a comprehensive assessment including a battery of cognitive tests, an HRQoL measure, and a measure of self-reported driving habits. Associations between …

Math Predictors Of Numeric Health And Non-Health Decision-Making Problems, Clarissa A. Thompson, Jennifer M. Taber, Charles J. Fitzsimmons, Pooja G. Sidney

Psychology Faculty Publications

People frequently encounter numeric information in medical and health contexts. In this paper, we investigated the math factors that are associated with decision-making accuracy in health and non-health contexts. This is an important endeavor given that there is relatively little cross-talk between math cognition researchers and those studying health decision making. Ninety adults (M = 37 years; 86% White; 51% male) answered hypothetical health decision-making problems, and 93 adults (M = 36 years; 75% White; 42% males) answered a non-health decision-making problem. All participants were recruited from an online panel. Each participant completed a battery of tasks involving objective math …

Perceived Psychosocial Impacts Of Legalized Same-Sex Marriage: A Scoping Review Of Sexual Minority Adults' Experiences, Laurie A. Drabble, Angie R. Wootton, Cindy B. Veldhuis, Ellen D. B. Riggle, Sharon S. Rostosky, Pamela J. Lannutti, Kimberly F. Balsam, Tonda L. Hughes

Political Science Faculty Publications

A growing body of literature provides important insights into the meaning and impact of the right to marry a same-sex partner among sexual minority people. We conducted a scoping review to 1) identify and describe the psychosocial impacts of equal marriage rights among sexual minority adults, and 2) explore sexual minority women (SMW) perceptions of equal marriage rights and whether psychosocial impacts differ by sex. Using Arksey and O'Malley's framework we reviewed peer-reviewed English-language publications from 2000 through 2019. We searched six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, JSTOR, and Sociological Abstracts) to identify English language, peer-reviewed journal articles …

Effect Of Environmental Enrichment On The Brain And On Learning And Cognition By Animals, Thomas R. Zentall

Psychology Faculty Publications

The humane treatment of animals suggests that they should be housed in an environment that is rich in stimulation and allows for varied activities. However, even if one’s main concern is an accurate assessment of their learning and cognitive abilities, housing them in an enriched environment can have an important effect on the assessment of those abilities. Research has found that the development of the brain of animals is significantly affected by the environment in which they live. Not surprisingly, their ability to learn both simple and complex tasks is affected by even modest time spent in an enriched environment. …

The Origins Of Religious Disbelief: A Dual Inheritance Approach, Will M. Gervais, Maxine B. Najle, Nava Caluori

Psychology Graduate Research

Widespread religious disbelief represents a key testing ground for theories of religion. We evaluated the predictions of three prominent theoretical approaches—secularization, cognitive byproduct, and dual inheritance—in a nationally representative (United States, N = 1,417) data set with preregistered analyses and found considerable support for the dual inheritance perspective. Of key predictors of religious disbelief, witnessing fewer credible cultural cues of religious commitment was the most potent, β = .28, followed distantly by reflective cognitive style, β = .13, and less advanced mentalizing, β = .05. Low cultural exposure predicted about 90% higher odds of atheism than did peak cognitive reflection, …

Putting The Self In Self-Correction: Findings From The Loss-Of-Confidence Project, Julia M. Rohrer, Warren Tierney, Eric L. Uhlmann, Lisa M. Debruine, Tom Heyman, Benedict Jones, Stefan C Schmukle, Raphael Silberzahn, Rebecca M. Willén, Rickard Carlsson, Richard E. Lucas, Julia Strand, Simine Vazire, Jessica K. Witt, Thomas R. Zentall, Christopher F. Chabris, Tal Yarkoni

Psychology Faculty Publications

Science is often perceived to be a self-correcting enterprise. In principle, the assessment of scientific claims is supposed to proceed in a cumulative fashion, with the reigning theories of the day progressively approximating truth more accurately over time. In practice, however, cumulative self-correction tends to proceed less efficiently than one might naively suppose. Far from evaluating new evidence dispassionately and infallibly, individual scientists often cling stubbornly to prior findings. Here we explore the dynamics of scientific self-correction at an individual rather than collective level. In 13 written statements, researchers from diverse branches of psychology share why and how they have …

Examining Criteria For Defining Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms In Children And Adolescents, Grant L. Iverson, Justin E. Karr, Bruce Maxwell, Ross Zafonte, Paul D. Berkner, Nathan E. Cook

Psychology Faculty Publications

Researchers operationalize persistent post-concussion symptoms in children and adolescents using varied definitions. Many pre-existing conditions, personal characteristics, and current health issues can affect symptom endorsement rates in the absence of, or in combination with, a recent concussion, and the use of varied definitions can lead to differences in conclusions about persistent symptoms and recovery across studies. This study examined how endorsement rates varied by 14 different operational definitions of persistent post-concussion symptoms for uninjured boys and girls with and without pre-existing or current health problems. This cross-sectional study included a large sample (age range: 11–18) of girls (n = …

The Comparative Psychology Of Intelligence: Macphail Revisited, Michael Colombo, Damian Scarf, Thomas R. Zentall

Psychology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Examining The Repeatable Battery For The Assessment Of Neuropsychological Status Validity Indices In People With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Rune Raudeberg, Justin E. Karr, Grant L. Iverson, Åsa Hammar

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: We examined the frequency of possible invalid test scores on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and whether there was an association between scores on the embedded RBANS performance validity tests (PVTs) and self-reported symptoms of apathy as measured by the Initiate Scale of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A). Methods: Participants included 250 patients (M = 24.4 years-old, SD = 5.7) with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Base rates of RBANS Effort Index (EI), Effort Scale (ES), and Performance Validity Index (PVI) test scores were computed. …

A Description Of Covid-19 Lifestyle Restrictions Among A Sample Of Rural Appalachian Women, Michele Staton, Martha Tillson, J. Matthew Webster

Journal of Appalachian Health

Background: COVID-19 has led to swift federal and state response to control virus transmission, which has resulted in unprecedented lifestyle changes for U.S. citizens including social distancing and isolation. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 lifestyle restrictions and related behavioral risks is important, particularly among individuals who may be more vulnerable (such as rural women with a history of substance use living in Appalachia).

Purpose: The overall purpose of this study was to better understand the perceptions of lifestyle changes due to COVID-19 restrictions among this vulnerable group.

Methods: The study included a mixed methods survey with a convenience sample of …

The Effects Of Kindergarten And First Grade Schooling On Executive Function And Academic Skill Development: Evidence From A School Cutoff Design, Matthew H. Kim, Sammy F. Ahmed, Frederick J. Morrison

Psychology Faculty Publications

Early executive function (EF) skills reliably predict school readiness and future academic success. While children’s skills undergo rapid development during the transition to formal schooling, it remains unclear the extent to which schooling exerts a unique influence on the accelerated development of EF and academic skills during the early years of schooling. In the present study, a quasi-experimental technique known as the school cutoff design was used to examine whether same-aged children who made vs. missed the age cutoff for school entry significantly differed on EF, reading, and math outcomes. Data from 166 pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade children (Range …

The Person Of The Therapist: Therapists’ Personal Characteristics As Predictors Of Working Alliance And Treatment Outcomes, Alyssa Laura Clements

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Recent years has seen an increase in studies examining the unique contribution that the therapist has on treatment outcomes, which is commonly referred to as “therapist effects” (Barkham et al., 2017). Therapist effects on outcomes are believed to occur primarily via how the therapist’s interpersonal and intrapersonal qualities influence the therapeutic relationship, which in turn influences outcomes (Wampold et al., 2017). The current study focused on professional self-doubt, counseling self-efficacy, and humility because of previous writings about their potential to influence therapists’ interpersonal behaviors. Data was collected from Southwest Behavioral and Health Services (SBHS), a non-profit, comprehensive community behavioral health …

Whiteness And Multiculutral Competence: Counseling Psychology Faculty As Gatekeepers To Understanding Whiteness, Blanka Angyal

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

The current phenomenological study aimed to explore how counseling psychology faculty’s understanding of whiteness informs their definition of multicultural competence and practice of psychology. The study presents a conceptual model for researching multicultural competence informed by critical race (Delgado & Stefancic, 2001), feminist standpoint (Smith, 1987, 1997), and intersectional (Collins, 1986; Chrenshaw, 1989) paradigms. Twelve counseling psychology faculty (N=12) teaching in APA-accredited programs were nominated by graduate trainees who deemed them multiculturally competent. Participants’ understanding and experiences of whiteness are described, including the dispositions, behaviors, and academic socialization that propagate whiteness. White faculty’s experience of whiteness and that of faculty …

A Within-Session Analysis Of The Interview Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis In A University Clinic Setting, Jenna M. Venuto

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In this study, a within-session analysis of the interview informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA) was conducted to determine if the function of challenging behavior could be determined within the first 5 min test session and the extent that results from the first 5 min test session aligned with results from the full IISCA. An alternating treatment design was used to evaluate differentiated rates of challenging behavior during a full IISCA and the within-session analysis for four clients in a clinic setting. Results indicated that contingencies maintaining challenging behavior could be identified within the first 5 min test session and align …

Rehabilitation Counseling Perceptions And Psychosocial Stressors Of Arab-Immigrant Caregivers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Maram Alfulayyih

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This research study provides important insights on the psychosocial stressors faced by U.S. Arab immigrants when raising a child with ASD, their perceptions of rehabilitation counseling, and the implications of rehabilitation counseling practice based on gender, age, education, and race. More specifically, this study has provided a detailed literature review as well as new insights into the challenges faced by the caregivers and recommendations that rehabilitation counselors should consider when helping these families overcome psychosocial issues and adjust to their circumstances. Using the DASS-21 questionnaire and a multi-factor analysis, it has identified specific groups of caregivers that may need help …

Mobile Technology Use During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Yi Lin

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

The COVID-19 pandemic led to quarantines and mandatory spatial distancing; people of all ages were encouraged to use technologies instead of actual human contact for COVID-19 prevention and daily activities. The special circumstances of living plus innovation and promotion of mobile applications (apps) during the pandemic influenced mobile technology use behavior. In this study we explored age differences in mobile technology use, the factors that influenced use behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, and proposed a research model that aimed to predict behavioral intention and mobile technology use behavior. A pilot-tested survey was distributed through online survey software. Participants were 35 …

The Effects Of A Strengths Based Faculty Coaching Intervention On First-Year Undergraduate Student Academic Confidence: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, Conrad Alfred Davies Sr.

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Deficiency remediation models of education imply that students may enter the university with deficiencies, problems, or needs that imply the student needs to be “fixed” before they can proceed in their academic studies. In contrast, strengths-based education models infer that students come to the university with inherent talents, natural propensities, and behaviors that can be leveraged to overcome their challenges. These differing perspectives can influence the effectiveness of university policies designed to improve student retention. This mixed methods action research study, undergirded by student development theories, examined the effects of a strengths-based, faculty-led coaching intervention on first-year undergraduate students’ academic …

Helping The Have-Nots: Examining The Relationship Between Rehabilitation Adherence And Self-Efficacy Beliefs In Acl Reconstructed Naia And Ncaa Dii And Diii Female Athletes, Myles Tutin Englis

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are among the most common and traumatic sport-related injuries, and often negatively impact one’s quality of life during and post-rehabilitation. For many NCAA Division I and professional female athletes, rehabilitation is streamlined with a multidisciplinary team, including sport psychology. For others (e.g., NAIA, NCAA Division II, III athletes) this may not always be the case, as many of these athletic programs may not have the resources to meet the various needs of injured and rehabilitating female student-athletes. In these instances, rehabilitation motivation, adherence, and success may be more dependent on the athletes’ individual resources and personalities, …

Important Attributes Of A Behaviorally-Based Coaching Culture, Sarah M. Eustice

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Professional coaching is still considered an emerging field. Over the past 30 years, professional coaches and researchers have worked to further this profession by developing coaching competencies, exploring the nuances between various coaching modalities, and developing models to explain the role of coaching in organizations. There remains, however, a dearth of literature on coaching culture, including limited agreement on what it is and how it should look in an organization.

This study aims to establish agreement by investigating the confluence of coaching culture definitions and models present in industry and scholarly literature, and garnering input from a sample of professionals …