Psychology Commons^™

How Childhood Emotional And Verbal Abuse Influences Future Adult Relationships, Kinlee Meade

Student Research Symposium

Abuse is a societal issue all around the globe especially emotional and verbal abuse whereas it has the least amount of awareness and no clear definition. My research had the sole purpose of studying how childhood emotional and verbal abuse affects the victims' future adult relationships. My research looked into the long term effects abuse has on the psyche and behavior, including various primary source studies that applied the concepts into environmental situations, and how they influence relationships. It has been discovered that emotional and verbal abuse received during childhood create or worsen pre existing mental health conditions such as; …

Then And Now: The Evolution Of The Psychology Undergraduate Program At Utah State University, Abigail Hamblin, Amy Mackliet, River Mckinlay

Student Research Symposium

The history of Utah State University’s Psychology Department has significantly influenced the current activities and goals of the department, and this presentation will exemplify how that is so. Throughout the Psychology Department’s history, a common theme was focusing on research, teacher education programs, and instructing the individual undergraduate student to be more prepared for their life after graduation (USU Mission Statement, n.d.). This theme has continued on today through the department’s mission. For instance, the program strives to inspire scientific inquiry and critical thinking, which is done through various courses, including both undergraduate and graduate courses that focus on research …

Violence Experienced In Immigrant Communities, Katherine Flores

Student Research Symposium

Violence is sadly not a new concept to those in immigrant communities. Many immigrants leave their home country for the United States in hopes of finding a better life, not just for themselves but for their families as well. Sadly, what awaits them here, in many cases, is the same thing that they were running from. Violence takes many faces, such as street gangs and domestic violence, and immigrants experience more injustices such as racism and economic struggles. Through these narratives, one can see the struggles of what it means to be an immigrant in the United States and the …

The Effects Of Snapchat On Young Adults, Mckena Morrison

Student Research Symposium

In my research, I was trying to find out the good and bad effects of Snapchat on young adults. I wanted to know the effects it could have on me so I could reassess my daily use of this popular app. This research aims to show that the effects of Snapchat depend on how you use it. When used in a good way the benefits on young adults’ communication and other aspects in their life, outweigh the negative outcomes. In my research, I looked at articles from primary and secondary sources, interviewed some friends and family to get their opinion …

Upward Mobility And Affordable Housing, Amy Mackliet, Trevor Tarter

Student Research Symposium

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid rehousing can provide safe, stable housing for vulnerable homeless populations such as those experiencing substance abuse disorder, mental illness, and chronic homelessness (Aubry et al., 2020). We evaluated and analyzed research articles on supportive housing interventions and upward mobility. Literature was collected from online scholarly databases. Evidence supports Rapid Rehousing and PSH interventions in improving targeted outcomes such as mental health, substance abuse use, cost-effectiveness, housing stability, and quality of life (Aubry et al., 2020; (Miler et al., 2021). Further, the literature supports that PSH and Rapid Rehousing are cost-effective models when considering cost …

Heart2heart: Discrimination-Based Stress Reduction In Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color, Shari Linares

Student Research Symposium

Heart2Heart is a theoretically-grounded racial-healing intervention for people of color created by people of color to help reduce levels of discrimination-based stress they may be experiencing. H2H contains definitions on racial trauma and how it affects us, a Racism Recovery Plan, and allows for skills based learning on detecting Microaggressions, using Microinterventions, and learning mindfulness skills. H2H originally began as an in-person intervention using a multiple-baseline design with only Latinx students with promising results, however we had to move online through zoom due to the pandemic's effects. This called for an online delivery system, which is what H2H Online will …

The Well-Being Of Women Of Color During Covid-19, Shari Linares, Hannah Baxter

Student Research Symposium

Well-being for WOC is a media project that examined the differences in well-being for women of color throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. This project was based on the Household Pulse Survey that collected data each week throughout the pandemic. Well-being was defined through the variables mental health, physical health, and financial security, and we also polled our community through the Instagram page to understand the experiences of women of color in our community. We found that race is in fact a very large factor in well-being throughout the pandemic.

Detecting Accurate Emotions In Faces, Marisa Davis, Emma Greenwood

Student Research Symposium

Anger race bias is the tendency to misidentify expressions of emotion, specifically anger, in Black or racially ambiguous faces (Hutchings & Haddock, 2008). Hutchings & Haddock (2008) found that Black faces are more likely to be perceived as angry by people high in implicit bias. Since January 1st, 2015, 119 unarmed Black males have been shot and killed by police (Washington Post, 2020). When police officers perceive a threat, they are more likely to shoot, and mistaking expressions such as fear for anger causes the perception of increased threat that can lead to inaccurate responses such as excessive force (Correll …

School-Based Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Adolescents With Anxiety: A Pilot Trial, Julie M. Petersen, Carter H. Davis, Tyler L. Renshaw, Michael E. Levin, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Student Research

Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent diagnoses in youth, often resulting in impaired social and school functioning. Research on treatments for youth anxiety is primarily based in traditional clinical settings. However, integrating youth psychotherapies into the school environment improves access to evidence-based care. The present study is a pilot, randomized waitlist-controlled trial of a school-based, group acceptance and commitment therapy-based (ACT) intervention for adolescents with anxiety. Students at two separate schools (N = 26) with elevated anxiety were randomized to a 12-week waitlist or to immediate treatment. Participants in the immediate treatment condition reported statistically significant decreases …

Moderators And Predictors In A Parent Hearing Aid Management Ehealth Program, Guadalupe G. San Miguel, Karen F. Muñoz, Tyson Barrett, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Student Research

Objective: Consistent hearing-aid use is essential for spoken language development of children who are hard of hearing. A recent randomized controlled trial of an eHealth hearing aid management education program found the intervention increased knowledge, perceptions, confidence, and device monitoring among parents of young children. Yet, it is not known which variables can be a point of emphasis to improve treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential moderators and predictors in the eHealth program.

Design: Randomized controlled trial

Study Sample: Parents (N=78) of children (42 months or younger) were randomized to the intervention or treatment-as-usual (TAU) …

Event-Related Correlates Of Evolving Trust Evaluations, Ariel W. Snowden, Allison S. Hancock, Catalin V. Buhusi, Christopher M. Warren

Psychology Student Research

Accurate decisions about whether to trust someone are critical for adaptive social behavior. Previous research into trustworthiness decisions about face stimuli have focused on individuals. Here, decisions about groups of people are made cumulatively on the basis of sequences of faces. Participants chose to either increase or withdraw an initial investment in mock companies based on how trustworthy the company representatives (face stimuli) appeared. Companies were formed using participant trust ratings from the previous week, to create strong trustworthy, weak trustworthy, weak untrustworthy, and strong untrustworthy companies. Participants made faster, more accurate decisions for companies carrying stronger evidence (e.g., faces …

Does Emotion Training Reduce Implicit Racial Bias?, Marisa Davis, Emma Greenwood

Research on Capitol Hill

USU junior Marisa and senior Emma are Utah natives studying psychology. Both are Honors students and the team is leading this project through a student grant they received. Some people mistakenly perceive Black people as being angry when they are actually showing neutral or fearful expressions, which puts Black individuals at higher risk in police interactions. Marisa and Emma have been developing and testing trainings on emotion recognition to challenge this implicit bias, which they hope will be implemented in police forces in the future. The two see undergraduate research as a way to help other people. While they agree …

Examining A Mediation Model Of Body Image-Related Cognitive Fusion, Intuitive Eating, And Eating Disorder Symptom Severity In A Clinical Sample, Jennifer L. Barney, Tyson S. Barrett, Tera Lensegrav-Benson, Benita Quakenbush, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Student Research

Purpose: This study sought to explore the associations between Intuitive Eating (IE), eating disorder (ED) symptom severity, and body image-related cognitive fusion within a clinical sample. IE was also examined as a possible mediator in the relationship between body image-related fusion and ED symptoms.

Methods: This study includes cross-sectional analyses with data from 100 adult females and 75 adolescent females seeking residential treatment for an ED. Self-reported demographic information, ED symptoms, IE behaviors, and body image-related cognitive fusion were collected from participants within the first week of treatment following admission to the same residential ED treatment facility.

Results: …

What Happens After A Shark Incident? Behavioral Changes Among Australian Beachgoers, Ingrid Van Putten, Nick Mcclean, Andrew Chin, Sue Pillans, Carla Sbrocchi

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Sharks (Selachimorpha) have an important ecological function and are both valued and feared by people around the world. Shark bite incidents present a high consequence risk in terms of human health and safety. In Australia, shark interactions with humans are most frequently recorded for the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), and tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Human anxiety of encountering sharks may be elevated relative to the actual level of risk due to intensive media coverage, which typically emphasizes a narrative of highly abundant animals actively targeting human water users. This narrative …

Microaggressions Experienced By Lgbtq Individuals In Cjclds Contexts, Jane Bell

Fall Student Research Symposium 2021

Relative to heterosexual and cisgender individuals, sexual and gender minorities (SGM) have elevated rates of minority stress and heightened chances of health problems, including mental health disorders and suicidal ideation. This process can be exacerbated in a conservative Christian religious setting, such as in the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CJCLDS). Although CJCLDS doctrine embraces love for all, LGBTQ+ individuals experience discrimination, sometimes through subtle verbal/nonverbal barbs called microaggressions. There is limited research on this intersection of experience, which makes it difficult to understand how to help the individuals being adversely affected. This study seeks …

Trauma: Forced Sterilizations Of Latina Women In The United States, Lisset Delgado, Wystan Hampton

Fall Student Research Symposium 2021

The purpose of our research is to understand the history of how American society has viewed Latina women and the oppression they have faced mainly due to forced sterilizations. Between the 1930s and 1970s, Latinos in the United States were forced to undergo sterilizations which have been a large contributor to the cause of multiple underlying mental health issues. Although the book Taína, written by Ernesto Quiñónez, is considered fiction, we understand that many of Quiñónez's stories within the book are based on actual events that took place in his life. As a result, his literary work will be …

The Healing Landscapes Of Usu: Discovering Spaces Of Potential Mental Restorativeness: A Geospatial Analysis Of Usu Campus, Amelia H. Wilcken

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This project focuses on understanding an alternative resource that can be intentionally improved upon to help address the mental health crisis on university campuses. With ample research showing how nature and being outside can help improve, or be restorative for, the mental state of individuals, this project developed an analytical method for understanding the restorative potential within the campus landscape as a whole and within districts. The analysis uses nine separate elements that make up the campus landscape: (1) trees, (2) landscape plantings (grass, planters, etc.), (3) art pieces, (4) benches, (5) water features, (6) sidewalks, (7) roads, (8) parking …

Youth Mental Health Service Preferences And Utilization Patterns Among Latinx Caregivers, Alejandro L. Vázquez, María De La Caridad Alvarez, Cynthia M. Navarro Flores, José Manuel González Vera, Tyson S. Barrett, Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez

Psychology Faculty Publications

Latinx caregivers underutilize traditional youth mental health services (MHS) relative to their White counterparts. Disparities may be explained by barriers preventing engagement in traditional MHS. A potential mismatch between available services and preferred culturally appropriate healing practices may also contribute to treatment disparities. The current study examined Latinx caregivers’ perceived need for and utilization of support services in relation to family characteristics, youth problem-type, and barriers to care. Findings were contextualized by assessing caregiver preferences for addressing youth psychopathology. The study consisted of 598 Latinx caregivers from across the United States. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models were used …

Pottery Business Plan, Jessi Clark

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

BrickEarth Pottery sells quality homemade ceramic pieces. Specifically, we specialize in ceramics that have a simple, elegant, and functional design. The product line includes things like mugs, vases, tableware, pots for plants, berry bowls, nativity scenes among other things. A few things that set BrickEarth Pottery apart from other competitors include our commitment to sustainability, our fair prices, and our strong online presence. To explain these ideas a bit more at BrickEarth we value sustainability by working to keep minimal packaging when items are shipped and maintain this in mind when making our pieces, like always reusing clay and using …

Substance Use Initiation Among Mexican Children: An Examination Of Individual And Ecological Factors, Alejandro L. Vázquez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mexico is experiencing increased rates of substance use among children and adolescents. This is concerning as early substance use is associated with an increased risk for developing mental and physical health problems during adulthood. These outcomes may be prevented through early identification and intervention before individuals encounter the negative consequences of substance use/abuse. The current dissertation sought to improve our knowledge regarding factors associated with substance use and intention for first time use among Mexican children. Three manuscripts examined child individual characteristics and aspects of their environment. The first manuscript examined demographic characteristics to determine whether particular groups of children …

A Qualitative Review Of A Culturally Responsive Education Program For Native American Youth, Tamara Ellington

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research uses a qualitative case study approach and a culturally based framework to examine an educational program’s community for Native American youth. The purpose is to develop an in-depth understanding of an effective educational intervention’s community that increases graduation rates of Native American youth and how they incorporate culture. I use Tribal Critical Race Theory to describe the continuation of colonization and assimilation efforts Native youth face in education systems and to portray the indigenized efforts the Konaway program implements in educating from an Indigenous lens. The framework was constructed from the nine tenets of Tribal Critical Race Theory …

Everyday Positive Identity Experiences Of Spiritual And Religious Lgbtq+ Bipoc, Elizabeth Grace Wong, Renee V. Galliher, Hay Pradell, Tyus Roanhorse, Hanna Huenemann

Psychology Student Research

This study examines the everyday positive identity of spiritual/religious lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). By enriching our knowledge about the positive developmental processes (e.g., strengths, resilience, protective factors) that multiply marginalized and underrepresented populations employ to navigate their identity, we can better understand the impact and dynamics of systemic oppression on an individual’s expression and development of self. Ten individuals from Canada and the US provided diarized voice entries to a daily prompt in an experience sampling method (ESM). We analyzed voice clip entries collected over a period of two to four weeks …

The Impact Of Gender-Based Microaggressions And Internalized Sexism On Mental Health Outcomes: A Mother–Daughter Study, Nicole D. Feigt, Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez, Alejandro L. Vázquez

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Although research is emerging on the subtle slights that women experience, research is needed regarding the frequency with which gender-based microaggressions occur, their impact on mental health, and how views on gender roles may influence their impact. Objective: The current study examined how mothers and daughters experienced gender-based microaggressions, internalized sexism, and mental health symptoms. Methods: The sample included 102 predominantly White mother–daughter pairs. Adolescents were 14 to 18 years old, and mothers were 34 to 68 years old. Mothers and daughters answered surveys including a demographic questionnaire, the Gender-Microaggressions Scale, Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, the Patient Health Questionnaire—9 for …

Latinx Caregivers’ Perceived Need For And Utilization Of Youth Telepsychology Services During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Alejandro L. Vázquez, Cynthia M. Navarro Flores, María De La Caridad Alvarez, Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez

Psychology Faculty Publications

Telepsychology has the potential to provide a safe method of addressing mental health problems among Latinx youth during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the extent to which Latinx caregivers are accessing telepsychology services for their child and whether this format is perceived to be an appropriate method of addressing youth psychopathology is unknown. The present study examined indicators of youth psychopathology and external stressors in relation to Latinx caregivers’ perceived need for and utilization of youth telepsychology during the coronavirus pandemic. The sample consisted of 598 Latinx caregivers of school-age youths (MAge = 11.9, SD = 3.4) from across the United …

Theory Of Mind Acquisition In Children Who Are Deaf: The Importance Of Early Identification And Communication Access, Kimberly A. Peters, Jessica Beer, David Pisoni, Ethan Remmell

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare Theory of Mind (ToM) acquisition in typically-hearing preschool-age children (TH), and deaf children of hearing parents (DCHP) who received a cochlear implant by 18 months of age, to determine if early access to spoken language via a cochlear implant affected ToM acquisition.

Methods: Participants included 25 children with cochlear implants ages 3.0 to 6.5 years and 25 age-matched children with TH all of whom were enrolled in preschools with typical peer models. The test battery included measures of expressive and receptive language and ToM.

Results: There were no …

High Value Correlates Of Caregiver Reported Counseling Service Need And Utilization For Adolescents At-Risk For Childhood Maltreatment And Neglect, Alejandro L. Vázquez, Tommy Chou, Cynthia M. Navarro Flores, Tyson S. Barett, Miguel T. Villodas, Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez

Psychology Faculty Publications

Adolescents with a history of child maltreatment experience increased risk for psychopathology that sets them on a trajectory towards a range of difficulties in adulthood. Various factors influence caregivers’ decisions to seek mental health services (MHS) that could improve developmental outcomes. The present study applied a machine learning algorithm, elastic net, to a sample of 878 adolescent-caregiver dyads from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. Analyses simultaneously examined a large number of factors to determine their ability to discriminate between caregivers who perceived a need for MHS and those who did not, as well as caregivers who utilized …

Neurotrophic Factor Genetics Of Cognitive Progression And Neuropsychiatric Symptom Presentation In Alzheimer's Disease And Related Disorders, Joshua Matthew Matyi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Cache County Study on Memory in Aging (CCSMA) and subsequent Dementia Progression Study (DPS) were two research studies that took place in Cache County, Utah. These studies followed 5092 participants aged 65 or older for approximately 12 years and looked at risk and protective factors for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. One of the factors investigated was genes that are known to influence brain health, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein found in the brain that helps with the survival of brain cells.

BDNF genes have been shown to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) …

Risk Factors For Early And Late Onset Depression And Subsequent Risk For Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias In An Older Adult Population, Jordan Kugler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Cache County Study on Memory in Aging (CCSMA) was a research study that followed 5092 participants aged 65 or older over the course of 12 years, examining risk and protective factors for dementia. One of these factors was depression history, which has evidence for a connection with dementia, such that those with a history of depression are more likely to develop dementia later in life. However, the existing literature has yet to examine sex differences, genetic and psychosocial factors that contribute to earlier or later onset of depression and how these factors in turn might later increase risk for …

The Influence Of Culture On Behavior-Based Tasks Of Impulsivity, Byron H. Garcia

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Background: Among Latinx youth residing in the United States (U.S), the adoption of U.S cultural behaviors, values, and identity has been proposed to increase risk for negative outcomes, such as substance use. Research also suggests that the maintenance of Latinx cultural behaviors, values, and identity may be protective. Although there is an established link between impulsivity and substance use outcomes, very little research has sought to explore factors that influence impulsivity among Latinx groups. Furthermore, behavioral tasks have made substantial contributions as measures of impulsivity, yet few studies have examined cultural identity domains in relation to these behavioral tasks.

Objective: …

School-Based Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Adolescents With Anxiety, Julie M. Petersen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mental health problems, particularly anxiety, are a growing problem in adolescents. Some treatments (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy) have been shown effective for youth anxiety, but do not help all adolescents. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a treatment supported for anxiety in adults, has yet to be fully researched in adolescents. ACT is a flexible therapy that is understood to be appropriate, if not ideal, for younger populations and schools. The present study compares a school-based, group ACT for adolescents with anxiety to a waitlist.

Adolescents (N = 26) with anxiety were randomized to a 12 week waitlist or to participate …