Psychology Commons^™

A Reinvestigation Of The Source Dilemma Hypothesis, Douglas Allan Kowalewski

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In a recent article, Bonin, Trainor, Belyk, and Andrews (2016) proposed a novel way in which basic processes of auditory perception may influence affective responses to music. According to their source dilemma hypothesis (SDH), the relative fluency of a particular

A Comparison Of Nomothetic And Idiographic Approaches To Routine Measurement And Feedback : Clinician Perceptions And Decision Making, Matteo Bugatti

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Rates of treatment failures in psychotherapy are unsatisfactorily high. Patient-focused research addresses this issue by promoting the implementation of routine outcome monitoring (ROM) and measurement feedback systems (MFS) that support treatment personalization and clinical responsiveness. Nevertheless, ROM and MFS utilization rates in routine practice remain low and many clinicians report reservations regarding their integration, which may be a function of reliance on nomothetic measures. Research suggests that idiographic (i.e., individualized) measures may have the potential to overcome these obstacles. However, little is known regarding clinicians’ perceptions of idiographic ROM and MFS. The present study examined clinicians’ reasons for use and …

Harsh Parenting And Later Aggression Among Emerging Adults : Moderating Role Of Positive Parenting And Resting Skin Conductance Level, Li Shen Chong

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Parenting plays a crucial role in one’s development and well-being. The association between harsh parenting and later aggression problems is well established. However, harsh parenting may not occur in a vacuum. Harsh parenting may occur within a varying degree of positive parenting. Research has shown that positive parenting can act as a protective factor against the adverse effects of harsh parenting. Moreover, autonomic nervous system activation may moderate the effects of harsh parenting on aggressive behavior. The goal of this study was to examine whether sympathetic nervous system activity, as measured by skin conductance level (SCL), and positive parenting, moderate …

The Moderating Role Of Personality On Person-Organization Fit And Turnover, Jane Park

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Two studies were conducted to investigate whether personality traits serve as boundary conditions of the person-organization fit and turnover relationship, and whether continuous commitment may help explain why personality moderates the relationship between person-organization fit and turnover. The first study examines the effect of extraversion, neuroticism, and conscientiousness on the relationship between person-organization fit and turnover. The sample consisted of 1,251 office managers at a large, national organization. The second study follows up on the first study and examines the same relationships. In addition, the second study includes the effect of continuous commitment on the relationship between person-organization fit and …

Do Distractor Suppression And Learning Intentionality Contribute To The Attentional Boost Effect?, Stephanie C. Crocco

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the Attentional Boost Effect (ABE), a target-detection response enhances memory for simultaneously presented unrelated stimuli (Swallow & Jiang, 2010; see Swallow & Jiang, 2013 for a review). In two experiments, participants read aloud words simultaneously presented with a dot. Trials were presented every 1150 ms (Experiment 1) or every 2200 ms (Experiment 2). In a divided attention (DA) task, participants made a key-press to dots of a specific color. In a full attention (FA) task, they only read the words aloud while ignoring all dots. Under either intentional or incidental learning instructions, the DA task included Target words, and …

Understanding Latinas' Responses To Coercive Control : Marianismo Beliefs, Relationship Satisfaction, And Commitment, Nicole Da Silva

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Although substantial evidence indicates that Latinas are at high risk for experiencing negative consequences from intimate partner violence (IPV; Alvarez & Fedock, 2016), few studies have tested the applicability of theories of IPV in this population. The present study, which was based on the investment model of IPV (Rusbult, 1995), was designed to investigate how specific gender role beliefs (i.e., marianismo) for Latinas contribute to their responses to coercive control (a core aspect of IPV; Dutton & Goodman, 2009) by their male partners.

Knowledge And Use Of Cannabis Edibles In A College Sample, Stacey Farmer

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Cannabis use is a prevalent behavior among college students; however, less is known about edible cannabis use in this population. Available research indicates that college students are indeed using cannabis edibles, even in states where cannabis is not legalized for recreational use. The present study sought to assess the prevalence and knowledge of cannabis use in a college population and to assess the utility of a brief presentation on participant's knowledge and scores on an adopted measure of health literacy to assess the ability to read a manufactured cannabis edible label. Hypotheses predicted greater health literacy in experimental condition compared …

The Influence Of Ethnic Identity Commitment, Discrimination, And Sexism On Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Latina College Students, Melissa M. Ertl

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

According to intersectionality theory, exposure to experiences of oppression predispose individuals from disadvantaged groups to experience disparities in health. Such disparities are evident in the sexual health outcomes among college student-age Latina women living in the US, who tend to report significantly worse sexual health outcomes than their peers. Guided by intersectionality frameworks, the present study examined Latina college students’ sexual risk behaviors in relation to ethnic identity and experiences of discrimination and sexism. Commitment to ethnic identity was expected to negatively relate with sexual risk, and experiences of discrimination and sexism were hypothesized to moderate the association between commitment …

The Role Of Knowledge-Building Experience With Media Channels On Perceptions And Reactions To Performance Feedback, Kimberly Lepore Braddock

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In today’s workplace, managers are expected to provide ongoing informal performance feedback to their employees. This becomes a challenge when organizations are geographically dispersed and managers do not work in the same location as their subordinates. Managers must identify a media channel to use for hosting these informal employee performance discussions, and the traditional method of face-to-face is not always an option. This study evaluates the extent to which the communication channel used to host informal performance conversations influences employees’ perceptions of media richness, ease of use, channel usefulness, and feedback effectiveness. Results suggest that channel type influences employees’ perceptions …

The Reliability Of Single-Item Assessments, Sijun Zhang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Single-item assessments have become more popular recently in distinct areas, even though there is no consensus about whether they are sufficiently reliable. Researchers have developed methods to estimate the reliability of single-item assessments, some are based on factor analysis (method FA), correction for attenuation (method CA), and others employ Molenaar and Sijtsma’s theory (method MS), coefficient λ6 (method λ6), or latent class model (method LCRC). However, no empirical study has investigated which method estimates the reliability of single-item assessment most precisely. This study investigated this question via a simulation study. To represent assessments as found in practice, the simulation study …

Therapy Expectations And Preferences, The Role Of Identity, And Help-Seeking Attitudes Among Racially Diverse College Students : A Qualitative Study, Adela Scharff

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background. Racial/ethnic minority college students seek therapy at lower rates than their white peers (Hunt et al., 2015), and men seek therapy at lower rates than women (Morgan et al., 2003). Further research is needed to understand potential mechanisms of differential help-seeking. Current study. In order to explore help-seeking in college students, we assessed expectations and preferences for therapy, perceptions about the role of gender and race/ethnicity in therapy, and attitudes toward seeking mental healthcare. Method. We interviewed (N = 98) college students from racially diverse backgrounds about their perceptions, attitudes, and expectations for therapy and therapist selection. Interview results …

Reducing The Impact Of Exposure To Idealized Body Images Across Genders : An Experimental Investigation Of Policy And Media Literacy Interventions, Joseph M. Donahue

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Body image disturbances are associated with increased risk of depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders. Research has established that exposure to images of idealized bodies can negatively impact an individual’s body image. The digital modification of such images is a widespread practice used by publishers, advertisers, and the general public alike. Recent attention has been focused on the inclusion of disclaimers labels on enhanced images as a way of preserving individuals’ body image. To date, several studies have explored the effectiveness of this intervention in women which have yielded conflicting results. Although evidence suggests that males are increasingly exposed to …

Youth With Adhd : The Impact Of The Clinical Anxiety On Neuropsychological Functioning, Elisabeth Jeanne O'Rourke

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Children with ADHD demonstrate significant deficits in certain executive functions (EFs), including visual and verbal working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and sustained attention. Similar deficits have been observed in children with anxiety, however there is less evidence that inhibitory control is worse in these youth. More recently, research has examined the EF of children with comorbid ADHD and anxiety (ADHD + ANX). There is evidence that suggests that anxiety can play both a protective as well as harmful role for EF in these children. The current study sought to explore whether the performance of children with ADHD + ANX …

Does Testing Enhance Mediation In Paired-Associate Learning?, Deana Vitrano

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The testing effect (TE) is the robust finding that testing on previously studied material leads to better long-term retention as compared to restudying that material (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006b). Pyc and Rawson (2010) proposed the Mediator Effectiveness Hypothesis (MEH) as an explanation for the TE in paired-associate learning, The MEH states that review testing on cue-target word pairs strengthens semantic/associative mediators, which helps participants recall targets to their cues on a later test. Pyc and Rawson found support for the MEH with Swahili-English word pairs and explicit mediation instructions, using the most rigorous test of the MEH. Other researchers have …

Cross-Cultural Validation Of The Korean Version Of The Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale-Racial Diversity Form (K-Mcse-Rd) For Korean Counselors, Sung Yong Park

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Faced with growing racial and ethnic diversity in South Korea, the demand for culturally competent counseling services by multicultural clients has increased. The current study aims to contribute to the research of multicultural counseling and multicultural counselor training by examining psychometric properties of the culturally adapted Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale-Racial Diversity form for use in South Korea. The purposes of the study were threefold: (a) establish content validity during the translation and cross-cultural adaptation stage for the MCSE-RD to the context of multicultural counseling in South Korea; (b) test plausible underlying factor structures and report internal consistency reliability estimates of …

Maximization In Moderation : Finding The Optimal Level Of Maximizing Tendency, Shannon Pierce

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Maximizing tendency is a decision making style in which an individual keeps a high standard for decisions. Research has shown conflicting results regarding the nature of maximizing tendency and various subjective outcomes. Extant research has shown maximizing tendency to be linearly related, both negatively and positively, to depression, optimism, life satisfaction and decision regret. Although measurement issues have been routinely blamed for the inconsistencies in these findings, this study posits that maximizing tendency is curvilinearly related to the subjective outcomes of decision regret, optimism, and life satisfaction, based on the Too Much of a Good Thing effect. It was hypothesized …

Adjustment To College And Alcohol-Related Problems Among Student Veterans : Is Social Support A Buffer?, Lindsay Claire Buckner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

U.S. Military veterans are increasingly represented on college campuses nationwide and, like their civilian peers, appear to be at risk for heavy alcohol use and its related problems. Qualitative research indicates that the college experience is fraught for many student veterans, owing to difficulty with adjustment to the social, academic, or emotional challenges unique to a higher education setting. Adjustment to college appears to be a risk factor for alcohol-related problems in civilian college students, but the extent to which this relation generalizes to student veterans is unknown. The current study sought to (1) determine the unique effects of alcohol …

Statistical Fit And Factor Structure Of The Food-Life Questionnaire In Emerging Adult Undergraduate Students, Arielle Wolinsky

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Food-Life Questionnaire (FLQ) is a psychometrically sound measure of beliefs and attitudes towards food that was initially developed and validated for use with a general adult population; however, the psychometric properties of the measure have yet to be examined in an emerging adult population. The constructs captured by the FLQ are particularly relevant in emerging adulthood, because it is a time of increased risk for the development of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Using data from a large, demographically diverse sample of emerging adult undergraduate students (n = 679), the current study evaluated the fit of the original five-factor …

Developing A Clinician Self-Report Fidelity Measure For A Transdiagnostic, Evidence-Based Protocol At A Residential Eating Disorders Treatment Center, Jennifer M. Oswald

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Objective: Fidelity monitoring is a vital component of successful evidence-based practice implementation in routine treatment settings. However, resource-intensiveness and low clinician buy-in pose barriers to traditional observer-report monitoring, highlighting a need to explore the practical utility of self-report approaches. This study used a mixed-methods approach to (a) develop a self-report fidelity measure of a transdiagnostic evidence-based protocol in a residential eating disorders treatment center; (b) tailor the measure for optimal accuracy, acceptability, and ease of use; and (c) assess measure validity via convergence with observer ratings. Methods: N = 10 clinicians participated in cognitive interviewing to refine an initial draft …

Protective Behavioral Strategies For Cannabis Use : Findings From A Web-Based Intervention, Rachel Rose Luba

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Cannabis is one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances in the United States. Perceived risks of cannabis appear to be declining, while use rates continue to rise, especially for adolescents. Heavy, frequent cannabis use is associated with negative outcomes. Efforts have emerged to identify effective harm-reduction strategies, with a recent emphasis on protective behavioral strategies (PBS). PBS emphasize straightforward cognitive and behavioral strategies that can help cannabis users develop less heavy, more planful use of the plant. Previous findings suggest that PBS for marijuana (PBSM) are negatively associated with frequency of use, quantity of use, and cannabis-associated problems.

Traditional Latinx Gender Role Norms And Exposure To Sexual Health Programming For Latinx Men Who Have Sex With Men (Lmsm), Austin Connor Eklund

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Latinx men who have sex with men (LMSM) are at significantly greater risk for HIV infection than their non-Latinx peers. One important way of helping prevent the spread of HIV is exposing vulnerable populations to HIV prevention programming. Little is known about what factors predict exposure to HIV prevention programming for LMSM. Given extant links between traditional masculine gender role norms and health outcomes, this study sought to examine possible relations between constructs of machismo, caballerismo, and heterosexual self-presentation, along with demographic covariates, and exposure to HIV prevention programming among LMSM. Among the 530 LMSM in our sample, 89% reported …

The Influence Of Peer Group Racial Identity On The Relationship Between Individual Ethnic Identity And Eating Pathology In Black Females : A Path Analysis, Courtney Elizabeth Breiner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Objective: A strong ethnic identity has been identified as a protective factor against the development of eating pathology in Black women. Although research consistently supports this finding, little is known about factors that promote ethnic identity in this population and thus decrease risk for eating pathology. Studies have independently examined the influence of peer groups on ethnic identity, ethnic identity on body appreciation, and body appreciation on eating disorder symptoms in Black females; no study has linked all of these factors. The specific aim of the current study was to examine the influence of microsystem factors, such as peer groups, …

Big, Black, And Strong : Does Identification With The Strong Black Woman Archetype Strengthen The Association Between Racism-Related Stress And Emotional Eating?, Shantel Lorraine Powell

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Despite extensive research on the adverse impact of racism-related stressors on the health and well-being of people of color (Broman, Mavaddat, & Hsu, 2000; Carter, 2007; Klonoff, Landrine, & Ullman, 1999; Noh & Kaspar, 2003; Pieterse, Carter, & Ray, 2013; Utsey & Payne, 2000), little is known about the influence of racism-related stressors on the eating behaviors of Black women. The present study extended the limited literature on this topic by examining the possible contribution of cultural attitudes associated with the Strong Black Women archetype on the relation between racism-related stressors and emotional eating behaviors.

Families Belong Together: The Path To Family Sanctity In Public Housing, Mckayla Stokes

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

In its 2015 landmark civil rights decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court finally held that the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the United States Constitution guarantee same-sex couples’ marital equality. The Court’s unprecedented declaration that the right to marry is a fundamental right under the Due Process Clause strengthened married couples’ right to privacy because it subjects government actions infringing on marital unions to heightened scrutiny. The Supreme Court has the option to minimize the impact of Obergefell by interpreting the right to marriage very narrowly—as only encompassing the right to enter into a state-recognized union …

The Evocative Effects Of Child Temperament On Parenting Stress And Behaviors, Laura Welch

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Despite recognition that parents contribute to child development, much remains to be clarified about ways child characteristics shape parents’ behaviors. For example, temperamental characteristics such as negative affectivity elicit more parenting stress (Oddi, Murdock, Vadnais, Bridgett, & Gartstein, 2013) and less effective parenting behaviors (Laukkanen, Ojansuu, Tolvanen, Alatupa, & Aunola, 2014). On the other hand, children’s effortful control is known to reduce psychological risks associated with negative affectivity (Gartstein, Putnam, & Rothbart, 2012) yet no studies have investigated whether this may consequently reduce parenting stress. Furthermore, stressed parents are more likely to engage in harsh parenting strategies (Martorell & Bugental, …

Does Common-Sense Communication And The Interpersonal Relationship Predict Oral Health Self-Management?, Kieran J. Maestro

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study sought to understand how patients’ perceptions of the nature and manner of communication with dental health professionals may impact their health self-management quality and habits in the context of preventable illness. Specifically, this study investigated the distinct and overlapping impacts of (a) communication based in the Common Sense Self-Regulation Model (CSM; Leventhal et al., 1980), and (b) the interpersonal relationship between the patient and the dental health professional provider on patients’ oral hygiene quality and habits. It was hypothesized that the interpersonal relationship would positively moderate a positive relation between CSM-based communication and patients' oral health self-management and …

The Effects Of Parental Factors And Personal Attributes On Birth Control Use Under The Genetic Influences Of 5-Httlpr Among Adolescents, Hyun-Jin Cho

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of this study was (a) to examine relationships between parental influences and personal attributes on birth control use and (b) to identify genetic influences on such relationships by comparing the frequencies of common genetic variants—short allele vs. long allele—in 5-HTTLPR among adolescents (N = 5,852). Data from the Wave 1 and Wave 4 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to examine the birth control use of adolescents who were in 7th through 12th grade in 1994–1995. Multi-group Structural Equation Modeling analyses were used to identify the relationship among factors. Results did not find significant …

Family Features Of Social Withdrawal Syndrome (Hikikomori), Malagón-Amor, Luis Miguel Martín-López, David Corcoles, Anna González, Magda Bellsolà, Alan R. Teo, Antoni Bulbena, Victor Pérez, Daniel Bergé

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Family may play an important role in the origin, maintenance, and treatment of people with social withdrawal. The aim of this study is to analyze family factors related to social withdrawal syndrome.

Methods: Socio-demographic, clinical, and family data, including family psychiatric history, dysfunctional family dynamics, and history of family abuse were analyzed in 190 cases of social withdrawal with a minimum duration of 6 months that started an at-home treatment program. Data were analyzed at baseline and at 12 months.

Results: In 36 cases (18%) neither the patient nor the family allowed at home evaluation and treatment by the …

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Guided Self-Help For Overweight And Obese Adults High In Weight Self-Stigma, Sarah Ann Potts, Jennifer Krafft, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Student Research

Weight self-stigma, in which individuals internalize stigmatizing messages about weight, is a prevalent problem that contributes to poor quality of life and health. This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) guided self-help using The Diet Trap (Lillis, Dahl, & Weineland, 2014) for 55 overweight/obese adults high in weight self-stigma. Participants were randomized to the ACT self-help book plus phone coaching (GSH-P; n=17), self-help book plus email prompts only (GSH-E; n=20), or a waitlist condition (n=18), with online self-report assessments at baseline and posttreatment (8 weeks later). Participants reported high satisfaction ratings and engagement with the ACT …

Utilizing Act Daily As A Self-Guided App For Clients Waiting For Services At A College Counseling Center: A Pilot Study, Jack Haegar, Carter H. Davis, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: Considering increasing demands for mental health services at college counseling centers (CCCs), there is a need for cost-effective solutions that avoid depleting stressed CCC resources. This study examined if ACT Daily, a mobile application based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), could serve as an effective self-guided intervention.

Participants: 11 individuals on a CCC waitlist suffering from anxiety/depression participated in the study over 2 weeks.

Methods: This study implemented a pre-post, open trial design of ACT Daily. Assessments were completed at baseline and 2-week post assessment.

Results: Results indicated that ACT Daily was acceptable and that participants improved on …