Psychology Commons^™

Securing A Successful Future For Children With Developmental Disabilities In Ghana And Zambia: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Parental And Service Provider Expectations, Princess-Melissa T. Washington-Nortey

Theses and Dissertations

Studies suggest that parental expectations can influence the developmental trajectory of a growing child. However, the role of parental expectations in the lives of children with disabilities such as intellectual disabilities or autism, and children in Africa in general, to date, has received little attention. Using a cultural psychology framework, the current study examined parental and service provider expectations for children with intellectual disabilities or autism in two African countries: Ghana and Zambia. A mixed-method approach involving the use of concept mapping and quantitative strategies was used. A total of 20 parents and 16 service providers participated in four separate …

An Intuitive Eating Intervention For College Women With Disordered Eating: Evaluating Two Accessible And Affordable Approaches, Carolyn B. Burnette

Theses and Dissertations

Undergraduate women of all racial and ethnic groups engage in disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) at alarming rates. Most women do not receive treatment, with the largest disparities observed in women of color and those at higher weights. Prevailing interventions have limitations that could exacerbate these disparities, such as an emphasis on the thin ideal, which is often considered less relevant for some women of color. This is concerning, as disordered eating is often chronic and symptom crossover is common. Thus, a transdiagnostic, inclusive secondary prevention approach could enhance outcomes by addressing the spectrum of DEBs in diverse women. The purpose …

An Evaluation Of A Brief Mindfulness And Values Training On Cyber Bullying Behavior In College Students, Emily M. Boduch

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Cyber bullying is associated with many negative outcomes for both the bully and the victim (Fahy et al., 2016; Kowalski et al., 2014; Merrell et al., 2008; Quintana-Orts & Rey, 2018). There has been a large research focus on the causes (Barlett & Gentile, 2012; Mehari & Farrell, 2018) and consequences (Fahy et al., 2016) of cyber aggression, but there has not been as much focus on the evaluation of prevention and intervention strategies (Gaffney et al., 2018). While cyber bullying is primarily targeted in adolescence, Tynes, Rose, and Markoe (2013) showed that online aggression occurs amongst university students as …

Results From A Pre-Post, Uncontrolled Pilot Study Of A Mindfulness-Based Program For Early Elementary School Teachers, Summer S. Braun, Robert W. Roeser, Andrew Mashburn

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Mindfulness-based programs are a novel and promising approach for supporting teachers’ occupational health and well-being. Although rationales for mindfulness programs for teachers have been offered, the empirical research base evaluating approaches for educating teachers in mindfulness is still developing. This study reports the findings of a pilot study of a mindfulness-based program. This study is unique in that it is one of the only studies of the Mindfulness-Based Emotional Balance (MBEB) program to focus on early elementary teachers, to be implemented by a new instructor, and to recruit teachers via extrinsic motivators.

Methods: A pre-post, uncontrolled pilot study of …

Diverse Autonomic Nervous System Stress Response Patterns In Childhood Sensory Modulation, Jacquelyn Christensen, Heather Wild, Erin S. Kenzie, Wayne Wakeland, Deborah Budding, Connie Lillas

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

The specific role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in emotional and behavioral regulation—particularly in relation to automatic processes—has gained increased attention in the sensory modulation literature. This mini-review article summarizes current knowledge about the role of the ANS in sensory modulation, with a focus on the integrated functions of the ANS and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and their measurement. Research from the past decade illustrates that sympathetic and parasympathetic interactions are more complex than previously assumed. Patterns of ANS activation vary across individuals, with distinct physiological response profiles influencing the reactivity underlying automatic behavioral responses. This review article advances …

Effects Of Latinx Parental English Proficiency On Stress, Maria Alvarez Pineda

Global Public Health | Senior Theses

Background

In the United States, patients who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP) report having more problems communicating with their children’s doctor which leads to these children having worse health care access than those who have parents with a High English Proficiency (HEP). Parents with LEP also experience discrimination in this setting which can lead to increased psychological distress. The goal of this study was to determine if the level of English Proficiency is associated to stress levels and discrimination among Latinx parents when they take their chidlren to the doctor.

Methods

Participants consisted of 22 Latinx parents (86.4% Mexican and …

Do These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends? Social Norms, Alcohol, & Sexual Cyberbullying, Anandi C. Ehman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexually aggressive behavior is well-documented among college students. However, little is known about the role technology may play in facilitating this behavior. Given that social norms have been established as a useful framework for understanding problematic and risky behavior in college students, the current authors sought to determine whether this theory might also provide insight into the use of technology to facilitate sexually aggressive behavior. Thus, this work sought to determine whether sexually aggressive behavior which occurs through the use of technology and social media, henceforth known as sexual cyberbullying, mediated the relationship between perceived social norms of sexually aggressive …

One Door Opening Is Another Person’S Insult: Examining Benevolently Sexist Behaviors And Attitudes In American Males, Rachael Turner, Rachael Turner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explores Ambivalent Sexism Theory and takes a closer look at the correlation between the behaviors and attitudes that surround it. In this study 133 male participants completed surveys questioning their acceptance and engagement in certain benevolent behaviors, as well as measuring their level of being considered sexist and kind. Results indicate that men who endorsed benevolently sexist ideology more frequently engaged in benevolent behaviors with women as well as believed this behavior was appropriate. However, regression analysis show kindness had a higher predictability in determining whether the men would in engage in these behaviors and consider it appropriate.

No Regrets? A Study Of Sex Shame, Guilt, And Embarrassment, Lauren Castor

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between sexual regret and shame, guilt, and embarrassment in college students. Specifically, the current study examined which emotion (shame, guilt, or embarrassment) was the biggest predictor of sexual regret through an online survey. The results showed that shame, guilt, and embarrassment were all highly correlated. However, the relationships between regret and guilt and shame were more powerful than the relationship between regret and embarrassment. The findings were unable to distinguish which emotion (e.g. shame, guilt, embarrassment) was the greater predictor of regret. However further support is provided that shows shame, guilt, embarrassment, and regret are …

Attachment And Perceived Infidelity Of Military Spouses During Active-Duty Members’ Deployment, Heather Ann Alvarado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Frequent military deployments have been associated with relationship issues for active-duty members, such as marital conflict and infidelity. Previous research has indicated that attachment, communication, and mental health are associated with military marriages’ stability during deployment. However, there remains an important gap in the current literature on military marriages regarding perceptions of infidelity (emotional and sexual). Proponents of attachment theory postulate that early attachment experiences facilitate the development of self-perception as well as perceptions of others. From this perspective, the attachment of military spouses is associated with their perceptions of their active-duty spouses engaging in infidelity. The purpose of this …

Suicide Attempt Impact On United States Coast Guard Career Retention, James Woodrow Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide is of great concern nationally and has become a significant social problem within the last 10years. One group of growing concern is those who served in the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the impact of a suicide attempt on their career retention. Previous studies had focused on potential risk factors that may lead an individual to attempt suicide, but there was limited research on the impact of a suicide attempt on an individual's career retention. It was unknown if the desire of USCG veterans to retain their career can primarily influence their decision not to attempt suicide. The …

Gratitude Among Mothers Raising A Child With Special Health Care Needs, Keli Jean Kleindorfer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For a mother raising a child with special health care needs (CSHCN), maintaining positive feelings of gratitude can become challenging because of the stress associated with caregiving, as well as the consequences of unmanaged stress, which include decreases in both physical and psychological health and well-being. Chronic, unmanaged stress has been associated with various health issues that can be severe and potentially life-threatening. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how mothers raising a CSHCN experience gratitude. A secondary purpose was to identify possible barriers to experiencing gratitude, which, when implemented as a coping style, may decrease the …

Relationships Among Patterns Of Criminal Thinking Styles And Recidivism In Non-Violent Offenders On Probation, Dr. Louise Mitsianis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 3-year rate of recidivism in the United States is around 43%, costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between criminal thinking styles and self-reported recidivism, which included crimes committed that were not reported to authorities. According to Ellis' Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy theory, behavior is a direct result of cognitive activity. The research question asked what relationship existed between criminal thinking styles and recidivism for post-release non-violent offenders on probation. Using the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles, this study used a non-experimental survey approach, correlating scores from this measure …

The Impact Of Instagram Usage And Other Social Factors On Self-Esteem Scores, Yael Treitel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instagram has more than 400 million monthly active users and 80 million shared photos with 3.5 billion likes daily. On Instagram, many people post their entire lives for others to see and comment on. This leads to people judging, commenting, and even trying to emulate others they see on social media. This constant comparing to others can lead to a host of psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. As social media becomes more of a staple in people's lives, it is important to study and understand the possible pitfalls to the culture it perpetuates. The purpose of …

Constructs Of Coping For Adult Victims Of Bullying, Gillian Harris-Dale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bullying is a pervasive event that affects individuals in a variety of ways. For example, bullied individuals display an array of psychological and related psychosocial problems associated with victimization. There is a push for a transformation in the bullying paradigm to include the psychological and psychosocial symptomologies of both the perpetrator and victim. This study addressed the lack of qualitative research on coping mechanisms for adult victims of bullying. Due to the pervasive nature of the phenomena, the following was explored: (a) descriptions of bullying as expressed by adult victims, (b) adult victims' coping processes and methods, and (c) adult …

Prayer As A Predictor For Burnout Among Psychiatric Nursing Assistants, James Michael Rose Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The psychiatric nursing assistants who care for psychiatric patients in inpatient hospitals, like others who work in the human service field, experience some degree of burnout during their careers. This research used Pargament’s theory of religious coping to examine prayer as a predictor variable for a decrease in burnout experienced by psychiatric nursing assistants. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Prayer Functions Scale were used to examine the predictor variables of prayer, gender, and years of service in correlation to the 3 dimensions of burnout. An N = 97 was obtained from the psychiatric nursing assistant population from …

Evidence-Based Diagnosis Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Quantitative Electroencephalography, Roger Yoder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is challenging and is currently, diagnosis through self-administered checklists. Because a diagnosis of PTSD can open up significant benefits to compensation, education, and medical care, people can tailor their responses to the checklist to help ensure a diagnosis of PTSD. The purpose of the study was to examine the utility of the quantitative electroencephalograph for diagnosing PTSD. Frequency and presence of biomarkers and alpha brain wave symmetry in the frontal and parietal lobes were examined. Research questions involved examining the presence of alpha wave imbalance across the frontal lobe and between the right and left …

Social Mindfulness: Prosocial The Active Way, Niels Van Doesum, Reinout De Vries, Arjan Blokland, Jessica Hill, Adam W. Stivers

Psychology Faculty Scholarship

Prosociality is a central topic in positive psychology. An important but under-studied distinction can be made between active and reactive expressions. We suggest that the novel construct of social mindfulness represents active rather than reactive prosociality. Across four studies (N = 2,594), including a multi-wave representative sample spanning six years, social mindfulness is found to correlate with personality traits associated with prosocial and/or antisocial behavior. We find positive associations with empathy, social value orientation, and general prosocial behavior, and negative associations with moral disengagement and narcissism. Importantly, social mindfulness emerges as an active rather than a reactive characteristic that is …

Policy And Procedure Recommendations For The Collection And Preservation Of Eyewitness Identification Evidence, Gary L. Wells, Margaret Bull Kovera, Amy Bradfield Douglass, Neil Brewer, Christian A. Meissner, John T. Wixted

Publications and Research

Objective: The Executive Committee of the American Psychology-Law Society (Division 41 of the American Psychological Association) appointed a subcommittee to update the influential 1998 scientific review paper on guidelines for eyewitness identification procedures. Method: This was a collaborative effort by six senior eyewitness researchers, who all participated in the writing process. Feedback from members of AP-LS and the legal communities was solicited over an 18-month period. Results: The results yielded nine recommendations for planning, designing, and conducting eyewitness identification procedures. Four of the recommendations were from the 1998 article and concerned the selection of lineup fillers, prelineup …

Fatigue Identification And Management In Flight Training Among Collegiate Aviation Pilots, Flavio Mendonca Ph.D., Julius Keller Ph.D., Michael Robertson Ph.D., Matt Romero

Publications

Objective: The purpose of this study was fivefold: to investigate the symptoms that would prompt collegiate aviation pilots perceive they are fatigued; to investigate the time of the day they are most fatigued; to investigate their academic and personal schedules; to investigate the methods collegiate aviation pilots utilize to ensure they are fit to fly; and to investigate whether they have received any academic and/or flight fatigue identification and management training.

Background: Fatigue is a pervasive safety hazard in aviation affecting several aspects of flight crew members’ ability to perform their job. Fatigue in aviation and its consequences has been …

The Relationship Between Developmental Opportunities, Burnout, And Turnover Intentions: An Exploration Of Potential Moderating Effects, Derek Gravholt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through the lens of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, potential moderating effects of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) needs were investigated for the relationships between developmental opportunities and both turnover intentions and burnout in a sample of healthcare employees. SDT needs include the need for competence, the need for relatedness, and the need for autonomy, which are all theorized to be important pieces of optimal psychological functioning. Results indicated that developmental opportunities were negatively related to both turnover intentions and burnout, and these effects were moderated by the employee’s sense of relatedness, such that those with low relatedness appreciated even more reduction …

Remember That Party Last Night? Examining The Effects Of Binge-Like Alcohol On Memory, Anna Thomas

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Alcohol is a widely available drug that is often abused. Studies have shown alcohol-induced memory loss in humans and animals; however, the large amount of alcohol often necessary to observe such loss and use of involuntary drinking paradigms in animals makes translation difficult. The current study was designed to look at voluntary binge-like drinking behavior and memory in rodents. We anticipated decreases in working memory function following consumption of binge-like alcohol in mice and expected a greater deficit in mice experiencing acute withdrawal during the memory task. The present study explored drinking behaviors in adult C57BL/6J mice (18 male, 18 …

Do Differences In Teaching Evaluations Really Matter? An Investigation Into What Constitutes A Meaningful Difference In Evaluations Of Professors, Catherine Bain

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study sought to determine what constitutes a minimally meaningful difference in student evaluations of their professors, when students are asked to rate their professors on the traditional 5-point teaching effectiveness item commonly used in higher education. A minimally meaningful difference is the smallest difference between two ratings that: 1) exceeds chance variation and 2) corresponds to a difference deemed meaningful using some external anchor or standard. Data was obtained through a series of surveys given to students at Butler University and to an online nationwide sample. Analysis occurred through both an anchor-based approach, using data obtained from a single …

The Effect Of Color, Preference, And The Interaction Of Color And Preference On Short-Term Memory, Shreya Patel

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The link between color and memory has sparked a lot of curiosity over the past few years. Previous research suggests that color can affect short term recall of word lists (Singg, 2017). Other studies have shown that color can generally help increase object memory (Lloyd-Jones & Nakabayashi, 2009). Color increases attention and emotional arousal, which can lead to better memory of certain objects, words, and ideas (Dzulkifli & Mustafar, 2013). This study aimed to determine if there was a relationship between color, color preference, and short-term recall of a list of words. A total of forty participants were randomly selected. …

The Effect Of Threatened Masculinity On Men's Perceptions Of Women's Refusals And Their Willingness To Continue An Unwanted Sexual Advance, Mollie Colleen Mcdaniel

Wayne State University Theses

Men’s sexual aggression against women is distressingly common. Some men use sexual aggression as a way to reassert their masculinity when they have been rejected by a woman (Malamuth, 1995). Some men who perpetrate aggression may not intentionally overlook women’s refusals to unwanted sexual advances, rather they might not perceive a refusal as resistance at all. Social perception research has shown that people’s perceptions are influenced by their motivations, allowing them to only perceive what they wish to see. Masculinity threat may be one such motivation. A sample of 106 men completed an experimental survey with a 2 (threatened masculinity …

Feelings Of Incompleteness As Linking Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder And Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Examination Using A Computerized Approach-Avoidance Task, Sarah R. Lee

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the construct of incompleteness as it relates to both Obsessive-

Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Incompleteness is a

construct which was developed to describe symptoms of OCD which are not accounted for using

a traditional, harm-avoidance and fear-based conceptualization. Unlike harm-avoidance based

OCD, in which an individual engages in compulsions to prevent some feared outcome,

individuals with incompleteness-based OCD engage in compulsions to resolve an internal feeling

that their experience is uneven, asymmetrical, incomplete, or not-just-right.

Recently, researchers have begun to examine feelings of incompleteness in the context of

other disorders, such as ASD. …

The Relationship Between Social Media Engagement And Psychological Well-Being In College Students At The University Of New Hampshire, Emily G. D'Antonio

Honors Theses and Capstones

Social media use has increased substantially in recent years, and for the college-aged population, social media is often the leading method of communication. Research indicates this reliance on digital connection could have a negative impact on the health of young adults (Bagroy et al., 2017). The college years are a time of personal growth and defining actions, yet can also be burdened by mental health issues related to stress, anxiety, and depression (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Acknowledging these trends, the current study explores how college students’ specific frequency and intentionality while interacting on social media relates to their psychological well-being. …

Unh Students’ Attitudes Toward University Of New Hampshire Police, Angela R. Hurley

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study examines undergraduate students from the University of New Hampshire attitudes towards campus police, specifically how student experience with campus police affects their attitudes toward them. There were a total of 113 respondents from the University of New Hampshire that answered an online survey. The survey looked specifically at the relationship between students' experience and attitudes towards UNH police, hypothesizing that students who had perceived fair encounters with campus police would be more likely to contact them in an emergency and have more positive attitudes toward them . Multivariate analysis shows perceptions of witnessing an interaction and being approached …

Adiposity And Arterial Stiffness: Associations With Prefrontal Cortex Hemodynamic Response And Response Inhibition, John William Capps

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Obesity is a global health crisis associated with increased arterial stiffness, diminished brain reactivity, and diminished executive functioning. Inhibitory control, a specific domain of executive functioning, is known to be especially important to behaviors influencing health. The current study aimed to determine if increased adiposity and arterial stiffness were associated with performance and brain activation for two inhibitory control subtypes, response restraint, and response cancellation. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, the Cued Go/No-go Task, the Stop Signal Task, and functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) were used to investigate these relationships. Pearson correlations indicated that slower stop-signal reaction time was associated with a …

Introduction To Criminal Justice Sample Syllabus, Angelica Alejo Gil

Whittier Scholars Program

It has attracted more students from year to year at Whittier College that an Introduction to a Criminal Justice course is implemented as part of the university. It is my major concern and firm belief that the Criminal Justice System must secure a sufficient share of the better education of not only Whittier College, but Universities nationwide. Based on my experience as a Criminal Justice/Criminology major, it is my job to put together a feasible Introduction to Criminal Justice course for students who wish to pursue public policy or simply would like to inquire a general understanding about the American …