Psychology Commons^™

Breathing New Life: Investigating Ways To Improve The Mental Health Of People Living With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease In Western Australia, Tina Phan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Anxiety and depression are common comorbidities in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), contributing to greater morbidity and mortality in an already vulnerable population. Despite the prevalence, few recommendations exist in global management guidelines for the detection and treatment of these comorbidities, reflecting the limited literature available on effective strategies for dealing with mental health issues in COPD populations. There is promising evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improves mental health outcomes in people with COPD. However, investigational studies have commonly reported participants’ lack of transport, lack of time and illness as barriers to recruitment and successful completion. This …

Impact Of Individual Differences On Faking Behavior, Norah Beverly Kerubo Orina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the widespread use of personality tests over the past decades for personnel selection, personality tests are known to be fakable by applicants. Professionals often design interventions during the selection process to reduce applicant faking. The current research examined the impact of individual differences faking behavior that are known to be associated with faking behavior in applicants. They included integrity, selfcontrol, self-monitoring, narcissism, impulsivity and external locus of control. This research tested hypotheses that applicants would fake differently on the various individual difference variables and whether the relationship between faking behavior and individual differences would be consistent across sex and …

Characterizing Reflective Practice In Psychotherapists' Practice And Its Relationship With Experiential Avoidance, Alison R. Thomas

Psychology Department Dissertations

Reflective practice (RP) is an essential element of all professional work, including psychotherapy. However, RP can also cause feelings of anxiety and discomfort that may be barriers to engaging in RP. This research aimed to 1) describe the relationship between between RP and experiential avoidance in a sample of independent licensed and experiential psychotherapists, 2) explore among psychotherapists the previous finding among physicians that greater years of practice (YOP) and age predict lower levels of RP (Mamede & Schmidt, 2005), and 3) describe reported barriers to and supports of engaging in RP. An online survey was used to collect data …

Effects Of Chemogenetic Inhibition Of Dopamine Transporter- Or A2a-Expressing Neurons On Spontaneous Activity And Motivation To Consume A Palatable Food Reward, James D. Wherry

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Dopamine (DA) transmission in the striatum influences the motivated pursuit of rewarding stimuli. Pharmacological and opto- and chemo-genetic studies have suggested that the release of DA onto D2+/A2A+-expressing striatopallidal neurons, plays a role in this process. To determine the potentially dissociable roles of DA-releasing ventral midbrain and striatopallidal neurons on motivational processes, we employed double transgenic mice that expressed inhibitory DREADDs—designer receptors that are activated only by otherwise inert ligands—only in dopamine transporter (DAT) or A2A adenosine receptor (A2A) expressing neurons, allowing us to transiently inhibit either DA-releasing neurons (DATcre/DREADD) or striatopallidal neurons (A2Acre/DREADD) during various tests. In the first …

The Development And Validation Of The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale–3 (Pacs-3), Lauren M. Schaefer, Joel Kevin Thompson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Appearance comparison processes are implicated in the development of body-image disturbance and disordered eating. The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale—Revised (PACS−R) assesses the simple frequency of appearance comparisons; however, research has suggested that other aspects of appearance comparisons (e.g., comparison direction) may moderate the association between comparisons and their negative outcomes. In the current study, the PACS−R was revised to examine aspects of comparisons with relevance to body-image and eating outcomes. Specifically, the measure was modified to examine (a) dimensions of physical appearance relevant to men and women (i.e., weight−shape, muscularity, and overall physical appearance), (b) comparisons with proximal and distal …

Effect Of Androgen Deprivation Therapy On Sexual Function And Bother In Men With Prostate Cancer: A Controlled Comparison, Kristine A. Donovan, Brian D. Gonzalez, Ashley M. Nelson, Mayer N. Fishman, Babu Zachariah, Paul B. Jacobsen

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objectives: The adverse sexual effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on men with prostate cancer have been well described. Less well known is the relative degree of sexual dysfunction and bother associated with ADT compared to other primary treatment modalities such as radical prostatectomy. We sought to describe the trajectory and relative magnitude of changes in sexual function and bother in men on ADT and to examine demographic and clinical predictors of ADT's adverse sexual effects.

Methods: Prostate cancer patients treated with ADT (n = 60) completed assessments of sexual function and sexual bother 3 times during a 1‐year period …

Marital Factors Associated With Weight-Related Behavior In Bariatric Surgery Patients, Jenna Ellison

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a major health concern in the United States. Whereas bariatric surgery is effective, 10-40% of post-operative patients struggle to reach or maintain their goal weight (Elder & Wolfe, 2007). The current study investigated the within-person relations between marital quality and weight-related behaviors using a daily diary design. Length of relationship, time since surgery, and participant sex were explored as moderators. Participants were 94 post-operative bariatric surgery patients. Eligible participants completed an online baseline questionnaire, followed by a one-week online daily diary in which they responded to questions about the quality of their marriage, whether they engaged in physical …

Zero Textbook Cost Syllabus For Psy 4185 (Psychology Of Training And Development), Michael Covell

Open Educational Resources

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of training and development as a tool for improving organizational performance. Topics include (a) understanding the components of a needs analysis; (b) designing training programs to capitalize on our current understanding of how adults learn; (c) understanding training and development within the context of the modern workplace; and (d) understanding how to evaluate the utility of training and development interventions.

Interaction Between Multiculturalism And Framing On Creative Task Performance, Lily Yang

Scripps Senior Theses

Research has consistently demonstrated the benefits of multicultural experiences for individual creativity (e.g. Çelik, Forthmann, & Storme, 2016; Saad, Damian, Martinez, Moons, & Robins, 2012). The present study will explore the interaction between framing and multiculturalism on creativity. Seven hundred and eighty eight participants who identify as multicultural will be randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups looking at framing (success/failure) and culture priming (present/not present). After being primed with an oral prompt, participants will complete the Alternative Uses Test to measure two aspects of creativity: originality and idea generation. Success framing is expected to be associated with higher …

Induced Moods, Warning Messages, And Gambling Behavior, Lindsey Bradley

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Gambling behavior is maintained by cognitive biases (Ladouceur & Walker, 1996; Sharpe, 2002) which stem from an automatic level of thinking, referred to as System 1 (Kahneman, 2011). System 2 thinking is more deliberative than System 1, but requires more cognitive effort. System 2 is only activated when necessary. Positive affect increases reliance on System 1, often leading to an increase in risky behavior. Negative affect increases reliance on System 2, often leading to a decrease in risky behavior. Researchers argue that mandatory warning messages should be implemented in gambling venues to caution patrons against the dangers of problem gambling …

Leadership And Identity Disruption, Lily Syfers

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Given that leaders have the ability to create, modify and reinforce group identity, it is important to understand the effect of leader prototype violation on the group identity, and subsequent leader preferences. An experiment (N = 191), examined the effect of leader prototype violation and self-conceptual uncertainty on evaluations of subsequent leadership. Although results did not support the primary hypotheses that the leader who was removed would be evaluated more harshly than the leader who completed term, and that under high uncertainty support for the non-prototypical candidate would increase the most when the previous leader was removed, exploratory analyses …

Assessment Of Peripheral Bdnf Levels Over 30 Days, Sally Hang

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Brain health, and the benefits of exercise have been linked to the biological signaling molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Animal and human studies have provided some support for physical exercise as a mechanism for increasing BDNF levels. However, results have been inconsistent, which may be attributed in part to incomplete information about normal variation in circulating peripheral BDNF levels. This investigation examined capillary-drawn whole blood samples from nine healthy adult participants over 30 days with the goal of documenting variability in resting BDNF levels and changes that may be attributed to physical exercise. It was hypothesized that BDNF concentrations …

Using Functional Infrared Thermal Imaging To Measure Stress Responses, Julia Tenaya Kandus

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The stress response reflects a coordinated pattern of physiological changes that serves the adaptive function of increasing an organism’s ability to cope with situations that require action or defense. The changes in blood flow associated with the stress response may be detectable using the relatively new research technique of functional infrared thermal imaging (fITI). The present study was designed to determine the time-course and topography of temperature changes in human faces during the experience of a stressor. Infrared images were taken from 29 female participants while they completed the mental arithmetic component of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Continuously …

Physical Attractiveness As A Threat In Intragroup Dynamics, Olivia R. Kuljian

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This experiment focuses on an area not heavily touched on within social psychology—physical attractiveness and intragroup dynamics. When joining a group, a physically attractive individual may cause existing group members to feel unsure about their own attractiveness, prompting potentially negative perceptions and actions towards the new member. This work addresses physical attractiveness in the context of a small group with a 2 (self-prototypicality: prototypical vs. peripheral) x 2 (target status: newcomer vs. old-timer) x 2 (target attractiveness: attractive vs. non-attractive) experimental design. Participants (N = 147) played online game, “Speedy Ball”, which is designed to simulate a small group …

License To Ill: Slang And Uncertainty As Motivational Accounts For Group Identification, Benny Chu

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

People use verbal communication with other group members as unique social identity markers. Individual’s word choices adjust and change based on the group to which the individual belongs. For example, regional slang allows for people to view themselves as a distinct group represented in a particular geographic location (e.g., Northern Californians and the term “hella”). As a result, when individuals recognize the informal language (slang) of their fellow group members, they should feel confident and included in their group. However, when individuals hear their peers communicate norms by using slang with which they are unfamiliar, it should create …

Test Of Bpa's Estrogenic Effects On Brain Aromatase Expression, Neural Activity, And Locomotive Behavior In Zebrafish Larvae, Ryan J. Mcauley

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine disrupting chemical that mimics the effects of estrogens. Aromatase B (Cyp19a1b) is a brain-specific enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen and is highly upregulated in response to estrogen receptor activation localized to radial glial cells. During embryonic zebrafish development, there is a small window of time denoted by an increase in neurogenesis and estrogen receptor activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that a low dose BPA exposure (0.1µM) during this window causes hyperlocomotion in larval zebrafish, yet no further explanation for this behavior change has been described. The purpose of this study was to …

Attachment, Stress, And Self-Efficacy While Parenting Children On The Autism Spectrum, Angela Maire Galioto

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The current study explored the relationship between parental perceptions of stress, self-efficacy, attachment, and child functioning level. Participants were parents of children with ASD enrolled in The Special Beginnings Program (SBP, N = 44) or receiving treatment as usual (TAU, N = 39). Hypotheses included that parental perceptions of child functioning level will be negatively correlated with stress and positively correlated with self-efficacy and attachment. In addition, that parental perceptions of stress will decrease and perceptions of attachment and self-efficacy would increase after Project ImPACT training and at follow-up more so for the parents in the SBP group compared to …

Differential Predictors Of Opposition To Same-Sex Marriage And Sexual Prejudice, Latishia E Y Jett-Dias

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study investigated attitudes toward same-sex marriage and its beneficiaries from the frameworks of social dominance orientation (SDO) and political conservatism. Unlike past research that focused mainly on sexual prejudice, the current paper explicitly examined both opposition to same-sex marriage and sexual prejudice. Additionally, the current study explored subcomponents of SDO (i.e., opposition to equality [OEQ] and group-based dominance [GBD]). Study One examined relationships and predictive difference between attitudes toward same-sex marriage and its beneficiaries before California legalized same-sex marriage. Study Two addressed attitudes before and recently after California legalized same-sex marriage. OEQ, GBD, and conservatism predicted opposition to same-sex …

Promoting Harmonious Work Passion Among Unmotivated Employees: A Two-Nation Investigation Of The Compensatory Function Of Cooperative Psychological Climate, Violet T. Ho, Dejun Tony Kong, Chay-Hoon Lee, Phillippe Dubreuil, Jacques Forest

Management Faculty Publications

This research draws on self-determination theory to investigate (a) the role of cooperative psychological climate in promoting harmonious work passion among employees with low intrinsic motivation; and (b) the mediating role of harmonious passion in linking cooperative psychological climate to behavioral outcomes. We propose that cooperative psychological climate facilitates harmonious passion and, in particular, plays a compensatory role among employees with low intrinsic motivation. In turn, harmonious passion is expected to facilitate both task performance and interpersonal helping, thereby linking cooperative psychological climate to these employee behaviors. We test the model using data from employees and their supervisors across two …

Community College Students' Deep Learning Approaches In Oer Courses, Kim Ellen Grewe

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Open Educational Resources (OER) have the potential to bridge the gap for community college students not only because they are more affordable or provide access but also because they have the potential to make learning more meaningful for these same students. Although issues related to access and affordability have been extensively researched, less is known about the ways in which OER use may impact community college students’ deep approaches to learning. More qualitative research around OER efficacy from the student perspective is needed. The purpose of this study was to describe the ways students use OER and how students’ OER …

A Single Campus Study Of The Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program, Brittany F. Hollis

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Sexual assault is a serious public health issue that is especially problematic on college campuses. To combat sexual violence on college campuses prevention programs have been instituted by many universities. One such prevention program, the Green Dot program, works to teach students what constitutes sexual violence and how to prevent it by increasing bystander intervention. The current study examined the effectiveness of Green Dot at a large southeastern university. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used as the theoretical framework. TPB examines how efficacy, attitudes, and norms influence behavior. Students were recruited to participate in the Green Dot program …

From Blacker The Berry To Darker The Flesh: Gendered Racial Microaggressions, Ethnic Identity, And Black Women’S Sexual Behaviors, Chelsie E. Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

Race- and gender-related contextual factors influence Black women’s sexual behaviors, attitudes, and outcomes. Contextual factors of Black women’s sexual behaviors include stereotypes, microaggressions, ethnic identity, and self-concept. Little to no research has examined race- and gender-specific microaggressions (i.e., gendered racial microaggressions; GRM) impact on Black women's sexual health. Responsively, using an intersectional approach, this study hypothesized that ethnic identity’s influence on the relationship between GRM and sexual behavior (i.e., condom use, lifetime sexual partners) is conditional on self-conceptualization moderated effect on ethnic identity and sexual behavior. Participants included 124 unmarried Black women, recruited from mTurk, a southeastern university and community. …

Art Majors' Perceptions Of Their Self-Concept, Academic Self-Efficacy, And Social Identity, Sara E. Triplett

Masters Theses

This study utilized a qualitative approach was used to provide insight into students' perspectives on their self-concept, academic self-efficacy, and social identity in relation to their majors at a mid-size Midwestern university. Two undergraduate students majoring in 2D Studio Art and three undergraduate students majoring in Theater Performance were interviewed. Through individual interviews several themes emerged such as: 1) using art to have a meaningful impact on the audience, communicating a message, and clarifying their understanding of the world was important; 2) clear professional support strengthened art majors' self-efficacy; and 3) peer groups play a large part in art majors' …

The Development Of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study, Meher Sharma

Masters Theses

The worldview that portrays a serial killer as being a white male, an evil monster with unusual appearance, having dysfunctional relationships (Yaksic, 2015), engaging in animal torture or being sexually or physical abused in childhood, and therefore, sadistically killing for sexual gratification should be challenged (Beasley, 2004). Leyton (1996) and Skrapec (2001) suggested researchers should approach with open minds while searching for knowledge relating to this phenomenon without preconceived assumptions or hypotheses. Furthermore, every serial killers' drive to kill multiple victims may be unique, dependent on his/her history and experiences, and is therefore difficult to quantify (Yaksic, 2015). The current …

The Effects Of Music Therapy Techniques On Clients In A Substance Abuse Group, Moyosore Fabiyi

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on clients with substance abuse history attending group sessions in a behavioral health facility. Specifically, the mechanism by which lyric analysis or the musical component may lead to positive therapeutic outcomes was examined. In order to assess the effectiveness of music therapy techniques, a comparison was made between conditions of music alone, lyric analysis alone and music with lyric analysis. One may be able to argue that the mechanism by which music therapy affects clients may lay within the music itself and clients listening to that music. …

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Prevalence And Correlates, Sarah Wood

Masters Theses

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is a behavior done with the intent of harming oneself without the intent to commit suicide. NSSI includes many different behaviors including cutting, hitting, and burning oneself. NSSI has been associated with anxiety, depression, and emotion focused coping styles. This study aimed to learn more about the prevalence of NSSI among adults and to learn more about the relationship between NSSI, locus of control, anxiety, depression, and coping styles. Results found that lifetime prevalence of NSSI was high (54.8%). This is significantly larger than previous studies have found. Possible reasons for this discrepancy include: an increase in …

Students Perspective Of Healthy Living In College, Andrea Coxey

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology, the researcher studied what participants definition of a healthy lifestyle as compared to how they actually live. Through conducting six one on one interviews with participants, it was found that physical health was the most widely recognized aspect of health, and that each participant had a unique definition of health. Mental health was not initially recognized by participants but was shown to be an important connection to all aspects of health including physical health, emotional health, sleep and nutrition. Participants recognized the importance of involvement and their transition to college as impacting their definition of health and …

Factors Influencing Teacher And Adminstrators' Knowledge And Attitudes About Adolescent Depression, Suicide, And Prevention, Kayla N. Quick

Masters Theses

To date, research has yet to be conducted that examines U.S. secondary school teachers' and administrators' attitudes toward intervening with potentially depressed and/or suicidal students. Additionally, research is needed to identify the demographic characteristics of educators that are associated with general knowledge of adolescent suicide and the risk factors and warning signs that often accompany it. The purpose of the present study was to examine the following hypotheses: 1) certain characteristics (e.g. gender, years of experience with educating children, the amount of training received on adolescent depression/suicide, and knowledge of adolescent suicide and depression) are better predictors of attitudes toward …

Predictors Of Bulimia Nervosa Symptoms, Paulina A. Zdanowicz

Masters Theses

Bulimia nervosa (BN) symptoms involve binge eating, compensatory behaviors, and preoccupation with food and body image. A wealth of research has linked factors such as impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive behaviors to BN. In contrast, social appearance anxiety has not been frequently studied, as it is a new concept, especially as it relates to BN symptoms. This study will examine the links of BN symptoms to social appearance anxiety, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Specifically, it was predicted that social appearance anxiety, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors will positively predict symptoms of BN. The main model in this study found that social appearance anxiety …

The Relationship Between Resilience, Coping, And Social Media, Lillian N. Hurley

Masters Theses

This study was designed to explore relationships between measures of resilience, coping strategies, social media usage, and depression. Resilience refers to one's ability to endure and recover from adversity. Many theories about what contributes to the development resilience have been explored without a clear consensus. Taormina (2015) argued that adult personal resilience is comprised of four dimensions - determination, endurance, adapatability, and recuperability. Coping, a construct related to resilience, is the process of regulating emotions, cognition, behavior, physiological responses, and the environment in response to stressful events. Past research indicated those with poorer mental health have the tendency to use …