Psychology Commons^™

An Examination Of The Relative Accuracy Of Family Cancer History Knowledge And Perceptions Of Spousal Influence In A Younger Population, Emily Hartung, Wendy Birmingham

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, yet many people are not aware of their own personal familial risk. This may be especially true in younger individuals in the population. According to the American Cancer Society, over 1.5 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and over 500,000 cancer deaths will occur this year. Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly 1 in every 4 deaths. Survival rates vary by type and stage at diagnosis but early detection through screening improves survival odds and healthier behaviors …

Identifying Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy In Prenatal Care Settings, Tifani R. Fletcher, Andrea D. Clements, Beth Bailey

International Journal of Health Sciences Education

More than 324,000 women each year are estimated as having experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy. Correctly identifying women experiencing all forms and severity of IPV is necessary to inform the implementation of interventions to prevent and treat IPV. This can optimally be accomplished with data from accurate screening instruments. The United States Preventative Services Task force has recently recommended that all women who are pregnant should be screened for IPV over the course of their pregnancy and postnatal visits. Currently, clinical practice and research are hindered by the lack of validated IPV screening measurements for a pregnant population. …

An Online Treatment Program To Treat Compulsive Pornography Use: A Pilot Study, Devin Petersen, Tyler Pedersen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Online pornography use among college students is frequent and extensive. Studies indicate that roughly 90% of male college students access online pornography with nearly half doing so weekly or daily (Carroll, 2008). Although there is debate about the ultimate effects that frequent pornography viewing may have, some studies have found that heavy users (roughly 10% of viewers) can spend more than one hour per day accessing pornography with negative effects on mental health (depression, anxiety), social relationships, and work performance among others. Data available through BYU CAPS indicate that approximately 10% of all clients seeking mental health counseling at CAPS …

Counseling Attitudes And Stigma Among Polynesian Americans, Timothy B. Smith, G. E. Kawika Allen, Ofa Hafoka

Faculty Publications

There is a paucity of research on the mental health of Pacific Islanders living in the U.S., including those of Polynesian descent. This study examined coping strategies, attitudes towards seeking mental health counseling, public and self-stigma towards seeking professional help, and psychological adjustment among 638 Polynesian Americans. On average, participants held neither favorable nor unfavorable attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help, but Polynesian American men endorsed moderate self-stigma about mental illness and Polynesian American women endorsed high levels of public stigma about mental illness. Women showed relatively more favorable attitudes than men about seeking help from professional mental health providers. …

Prospective Memory And Pregnancy, Storm Atwood, C. Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Memory is separated into two parts; one is procedural memory in which processes such as riding a bike are stored, the second is declarative memory or factual memory (Mickes, Wixted Shapiro, & Scarff, 2009, p.754). Many soon-to-be mothers report difficulty with their declarative memory and find that they are unable to recall facts or information, even things they have recently learned. Previous studies have found that pregnant women’s recall is impaired but recognition is the same as non-pregnant controls (Sharp, Brindle, Brown, & Turner, 1993, p. 209; Brett, & Baxendale, 2001, p. 345). This project will be a follow-up study …

Rhesus Macaque Scar Tissue As It Relates To Aggression Rates And The Oxytocin Receptor Gene, Riley Barrington, Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This research project originally started out with the purpose of correlating aggression rates in rhesus macaque monkeys with the level and type of oxytocin receptor that that monkey possessed. Blood samples were to be taken, level of scarring and wounds analyzed, and observations done to predict their average level of aggressive activity. Oxytocin has been implicated in a number of pro-attachment behaviors, including bonding with pair-mates and offspring, but has conversely been shown to increase aggressive behaviors toward those who pose a threat to either of the afore mentioned. Because Rhesus macaques are notoriously aggressive, I was interested in seeing …

The Impact Of Physical Activity On Memory: Recognition Differentiation Between Stimuli, Seth Spencer, C. Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many studies have shown a correlation between physical exercise and healthy cognitive processing. It has been shown extensively that regular exercise has a positive impact on brain health. One example is a study that linked increased exercise with greater performance on as shown via a Stroop Color-Word test [1]. Similarly, regular exercise has been shown to be related to improved memory and object recognition [2]. Another study has shown that even a single session of exercise can alter functional connectivity in the brain as measured by the resting-state fMRI [3]. The problem with this literature is an utter lack of …

Psychotherapy Utilization And Presenting Concerns Among Polynesian American College Students, G. E. Kawika Allen, Timothy B. Smith, Jon Cox, Ofa Hafoka, Derek Griner, Mark Beecher

Faculty Publications

This study examined psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, reported distress levels, and psychotherapy outcomes among Polynesian American students presenting for services at a counseling center at a large inter-mountain university on the mainland U.S. We collected data at intake, during therapy sessions, and at termination for 415 Polynesian American students over a 17-year period. Utilization results indicate no difference, but Polynesian American students were equally likely to utilize counseling services as European American students but were more likely to drop out earlier than European American students. At intake these students presented with shared higher numbers of presenting concerns and greater levels …

Exploring The Effects Of Contextual Elements On Memory Specificity, Cassie Widdison, Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Regions of the brain, such as the medial temporal lobe (MTL), including the hippocampus and the adjacent MTL cortex, facilitate recognition memory performance (Squire, Stark, & Clark, 2004). The hippocampus is known for its ability to encode and retrieve memories through two processes called pattern separation and pattern completion (Mcclelland, Mcnaughton, & Oreilly, 1995). Pattern separation is a computational process in which the memory representations of similar stimuli are made as dissimilar as possible. This allows one to recall differences between old stimuli and similar, but novel stimuli. Pattern completion is a computational process where a memory representation is retrieved …

Phase Of Spontaneous Slow Oscillations During Sleep Influences Memory-Related Processing Of Auditory Cues., Laura J Batterink, Jessica D Creery, Ken A Paller

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

UNLABELLED: Slow oscillations during slow-wave sleep (SWS) may facilitate memory consolidation by regulating interactions between hippocampal and cortical networks. Slow oscillations appear as high-amplitude, synchronized EEG activity, corresponding to upstates of neuronal depolarization and downstates of hyperpolarization. Memory reactivations occur spontaneously during SWS, and can also be induced by presenting learning-related cues associated with a prior learning episode during sleep. This technique, targeted memory reactivation (TMR), selectively enhances memory consolidation. Given that memory reactivation is thought to occur preferentially during the slow-oscillation upstate, we hypothesized that TMR stimulation effects would depend on the phase of the slow oscillation. Participants learned …

Infant Aggression In Rhesus Macaques, Stephen Anderson, Dr. James Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Temperament is defined as a pattern of behaviors that remain stable and show continuity over time and across different contexts (Clarke & Boinski, 1995). These behavioral patterns can be observed early in life, and can serve as a predictor of future behaviors (Weinstein & Capitanio, 2008). Temperamental differences are largely a result of interaction effects between genetic and environmental factors. These interactions can be complex, and there is a great need to better understand the nature of those interactions (Clarke & Boinski, 1995). The purpose of this project (which is still ongoing) is to better understand the features of early …

Prereaders And Eyetracking, Anna Banks, Steven Luke

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Reading to children has long been considered a critical factor in the development of their reading skill¹. However, very little research has been done on prereader children and their eye movements. Studies that have been performed show that children tend to fixate more on the illustrations in books than on the words in the books (looking at the words only 7% of the time)². Moreover, children tend to look more at illustrations of objects that are mentioned in the story³. To date there is very little research investigating whether children’s eye movements are so …

Interest In Genomic Testing Among Individuals At Increased Risk For Colorectal Cancer, Jordan Sgro, Wendy Birmingham

Journal of Undergraduate Research

CRC is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Despite the fact that screening can detect CRC earlier and lead to better outcomes, screening adherence remains less than optimal in individuals with increased family risk. Identifying the genetic causes of moderate increases in CRC risk may allow individuals to be aware of their risk through genomic testing, rather than relying solely on family history analysis and may facilitate further tailoring of screening and risk reduction recommendations. This research also has implications for clinical practice by informing providers about the broader context of decision-making, which may be important …

Impact On Self-Esteem By Cultural Differences In Educational And Interpersonal Contexts, Naoko Oura, Terry Chi

Northwestern Review

The current study investigated the effects of cultural self-construal, interpersonal relationship harmony, and high school environment on self-esteem. One-hundred and one American participants and 99 Japanese participants completed self-report surveys to assess each construct. Results showed that self-esteem of students who value harmonious relationships was protected from controlling teaching in both American and Japanese students, whereas self-esteem of students who value personal interests over harmonious relationships was protected in the same context, but only among Japanese and not American students.

Perceived Social Support Mediates The Association Between Optimism And Active Coping, Tracy Chapman, Terry Chi

Northwestern Review

The current study investigated two mediation models that may partially explain the association between optimism and active coping. One-hundred fifty-three participants completed self-report surveys to assess each construct. Results showed that while high perceived social support completely mediated the association between optimism and active coping, internal locus of control was not a mediator of the association. Implications from this study suggest that perceived social support plays a significant role in the relationship between optimistic personality type and active coping style.

Alzheimer’S Risk: Middle-Age-Lifestyle Changes Improve Motivation And Memory, Michelle Decker

Research on Capitol Hill

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects nearly 5.4 million individuals in the U.S. every year. With an increasing number of AD patients and no known cure, understanding genetic and environmental risk factors is key to prevention.

Although genetics is a key risk factor for AD, 50-60% of risk factors are environmental. This means that lifestyle/behavioral changes are the best approach to preventing early on-set Alzheimer's disease (due to non-genetic risks).

An online database and smartphone app were created that provide users with an easy source of information about AD prevention behaviors. Two benchmark results of this study were the effect on intrinsic …

Link Between Cognitive Status And Motivation To Make Lifestyle Changes To Prevent Alzheimer’S Disease: The Gray Matters Study, Randi Hovey, Austin Dopp

Research on Capitol Hill

Research on prevention strategies have shown promising results for delaying onset of Alzheimer's disease with simple lifestyle changes.

Preventable medical conditions linked to increase risk for AD include:

• high blood pressure
• sedentary lifestyle
• poorly managed diabetes

Several behavioral factors have been associated with risk of developing the disease. These include:

• sleep quality
• stress-management
• social engagement
• cognitive activity

Although there are known genetic factors, current estimates attribute less than 35% of all diagnoses to heredity alone.

Impact Of Military Sexual Trauma On Ptsd And Relationship Quality, Danielle Christensen

Research on Capitol Hill

• 25% of women Veterans report military sexual trauma (MST)
• MST includes contact (e.g., rape) and non-contact (e.g., harassment) assault
• MST is highly correlated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• PTSD symptoms include nightmares, family problems, insomnia, irritability, depression, and hypervigilence
• MST is more likely to cause PTSD than deadly combat experiences

• PTSD severity is negatively associated with relationship quality

• Problematic as relationship quality is a protective factor against PTSD-related dysfunction

• Physical touch and intimacy are integral in romantic relationships

• However, touch apprehension following sexual trauma has not been studied in those with MST

• To promote well-being and buffer against distress, we …

The Experiences Of Siblings Of Individuals With Disabilities: A Holistic View, Ashley Mc Adams

Educational Studies Dissertations

The research on siblings of individuals with disabilities has rarely addressed the perceived benefits of having a sibling with a disability. The existing research on the experience of siblings of persons with disabilities is also limited to European American families (Sage & Jegatheesan, 2010). With families from different cultures, I sought to capture the experiences of brothers and sisters who have siblings with disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationships of siblings with disabilities and typical developing siblings, and present a holistic picture from the perspective of the typical developing siblings. These gaps in the literature …

Patient- And Family-Identified Problems Of Traumatic Brain Injury: Value And Utility Of A Target Outcome Approach To Identifying The Worst Problems, Laraine Winter, Helene J. Moriarty, Catherine V. Piersol, Tracey Vause-Earland, Keith Robinson, Brian Newhart

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that are most troubling to veterans with TBI and their families and identify veteran-family differences in content and ranking. Instead of standardized measures of symptom frequency or severity, which may be insensitive to change or intervention effects, we used a target outcome measure for veterans with TBI and their key family members, which elicited open-ended reports concerning the three most serious TBI-related problems. This was followed by Likert-scaled ratings of difficulty in managing the problem.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, interviews were conducted in veterans’ homes. Participants …

Passive RGe Or Developmental Gene-Environment Cascade? An Investigation Of The Role Of Xenobiotic Metabolism Genes In The Association Between Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy And Child Birth Weight, Kristine Marceau, Rohan H.C. Palmer, Jenae M. Neiderhiser, Taylor F. Smith, John E. Mcgeary, Valerie S. Knopik

Psychology and Child Development

There is considerable evidence that smoke exposure during pregnancy (SDP) environmentally influences birth weight after controlling for genetic influences and maternal characteristics. However, maternal smoking during pregnancy—the behavior that leads to smoke exposure during pregnancy—is also genetically-influenced, indicating the potential role of passive gene-environment correlation. An alternative to passive gene-SDP correlation is a cascading effect whereby maternal and child genetic influences are causally linked to prenatal exposures, which then have an ‘environmental’ effect on the development of the child’s biology and behavior. We describe and demonstrate a conceptual framework for disentangling passive rGE from this cascading GE effect using …

A Person-Centered Approach To Commitment Research: Theory, Research, And Methodology, John P. Meyer, Alexandre J. S. Morin

Psychology Publications

There has been a recent increase in the application of person-centered research strategies in the investigation of workplace commitments. To date, research has focused primarily on the identification, within a population, of subgroups presenting different cross-sectional or longitudinal configurations of commitment mindsets (affective, normative, continuance) and/or targets (e.g., organization, occupation, supervisor), but other applications are possible. In an effort to promote a substantive-methodological synergy, we begin by explaining why some aspects of commitment theory are best tested using a person-centered approach. We then summarize the result of existing research and suggest applications to other research questions. Next, we turn our …

Training For Research And Teaching In Geropsychology: Preparing The Next Generation Of Scholars And Educators, Brian D. Carpenter, Erin Sakai, Michele J. Karel, Victor A. Molinari

Aging Studies Faculty Publications

For geropsychology to flourish in the years ahead, we need scientists to advance knowledge and teachers to draw new professionals into the field. In this project the authors surveyed 100 geropsychologists who completed a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology about their experience with training for research and teaching. The majority were currently conducting some degree of research (38%) and some form of teaching (45%). The majority of ratings for components of research training were in the “very good to excellent” range, whereas elements of teacher training were rated in the “poor to good” range, though there was variability …

Depression, Suicide, And Performance Monitoring: Identifying Neuroelectric Markers Of Suicidal Behavior, Kaylie Carbine, Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

From 2000-2009, suicide mortality rates increased by 15% (Rockett, et al., 2012) and 98% of individuals who complete suicide have diagnosable psychopathology (Bertolote, Fleischmann, De Leo, & Wasserman, 2003). Individuals at risk for suicide exhibit cognitive impairments in decision-making and problem-solving abilities (Pollock & Williams, 2004; Jollant, et al., 2005). These cognitive deficits may be related to deficits in performance monitoring. Performance monitoring is the ability to continually assess behavior in order to make adjustments and improve performance. Performance monitoring is mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is related to cognitive control abilities. Furthermore, suicidal thoughts and behaviors …

Meet Me For Coffee, Jasmin Tahmaseb-Mcconatha

Psychology Faculty Publications

Are the cold days of winter making you feel disconnected? Has it been weeks since you met with your coffee and conversation group? You are not alone. New research indicates that loneliness in later life is on the rise.

Choosing Priorities For Young Children, Nancy Balaban

Thought and Practice: (1987-1991) the Journal of the Graduate School of Bank Street College of Education

Discusses the way childhood has changed and the way adults, including teachers, are reacting.

Symptom Patterns Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Deaf Trauma Survivors, Melissa L. Anderson, Amanda Sortwell, Kelly S. Wolf Craig, Douglas M. Ziedonis

JADARA

Details about Deaf people’s pattern of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms remain relatively unknown due to inaccessible methods used in most epidemiological research. We conducted semi-structured American Sign Language interviews with 16 trauma-exposed Deaf individuals to explore their PTSD symptom patterns. Half met criteria for current PTSD, a rate higher than the general population. Underlying this disparity may be heightened rates of dissociation and psychogenic amnesia reported by many Deaf trauma survivors. Future research with large samples of Deaf survivors is needed to clarify this hypothesis, and to inform interventions that more accurately target Deaf people’s pattern of trauma symptoms.

Modeling Postpartum Depression In Rats: Theoretic And Methodological Issues, Ming Li, Shinn-Yi Chou

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The postpartum period is when a host of changes occur at molecular, cellular, physiological and behavioral levels to prepare female humans for the challenge of maternity. Alteration or prevention of these normal adaptions is thought to contribute to disruptions of emotion regulation, motivation and cognitive abilities that underlie postpartum mental disorders, such as postpartum depression. Despite the high incidence of this disorder, and the detrimental consequences for both mother and child, its etiology and related neurobiological mechanisms remain poorly understood, partially due to the lack of appropriate animal models. In recent decades, there have been a number of attempts to …

Psychopathology And Crime Causation: Insanity Or Excuse?, Meagan Cline

Fidei et Veritatis: The Liberty University Journal of Graduate Research

One of the most controversial topics in the criminal justice industry is the "insanity defense" and its applicability or validity in prosecuting criminal cases. The purpose of this assignment is to identify and discuss psychopathology and crime causation in terms of mental illness, research, and the insanity defense. For this evaluation, information was gathered from scholarly research, textbooks, dictionaries, and published literature. These sources were then carefully reviewed and applied to the evaluation in a concise, yet informative, manner. This assignment also addresses some of the key terms in psychopathology and crime causation, including various theories, definitions, and less commonly …

Skill Acquisition In The Identification Of Symptoms Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorders Among Three Pre-Professional Groups, Kristi Hoover, Blake Hansen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this study was to train three groups of pre-professional students on identification of behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders. Johnson (2008) emphasized that “an increased awareness of early signs of autism can facilitate surveillance and enable [Professionals] to play a key role in early recognition that, when coupled with earlier access to appropriate interventions, could improve outcomes markedly” (p. 86). The study taught undergraduate students from nursing, early childhood education, and special education how to identify some of these behaviors that are red flags for autism.