Psychology Commons^™

The Effects Mental Health On Academic Success, Justin Patterson

Campus Research Month

My description for this presentation is to give an understanding on mental health and how it can affect student's academic success along with ways on to improve it.

Childcare Provider, Holly Majerus

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

This semester, I had the opportunity to conduct my cooperative education coursework at Prairie Lakes Church working as a childcare provider. PLC offers a childcare program to coincide with their weekday women’s ministries. This poster will describe my responsibilities as a caregiver to infants, and how I use research on separation anxiety and secure attachment in my work. It will also explain what I learned about developmental psychology, and how that can be applied to my future career.

Moral Values And Ideological Conclusions Influence Perceived Credibility For Headlines, Morning Baker, Nick Clark, Helen Harton

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

People prioritize moral values differently based on political ideology (Graham et al., 2009) and form ideological conclusions based on these values (Haidt, 2001). For example, conservatives have more positive perceptions of police compared to liberals (Stack & Cao, 1998), in part because of the centrality of law and order as a conservative value. People also justify maintaining their political affiliation by defining opposing conclusions as less credible (Bail et al., 2018; Haidt, 2001). In this study, we investigate how ideological values vs. conclusions affect perceived credibility of and interest in headlines. We hypothesize that conservatives and liberals will rate headlines …

Quality And Quantity Of Social Support In College Students With Adhd Symptomatology, Chloe Reeble

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Social support has been found to be a protective factor in some mental illnesses. College students with ADHD often have a hard time maintaining peer relationships. This study examines the relation between ADHD and social support in college students. I found that those who experienced increased social impairment and elevated ADHD symptoms experience reduced social support quality. These results suggest that college students with elevated ADHD symptomatology may experience a harder time cultivating and maintaining friendships. Clinical implications include better appraisal of social support in clients with ADHD, and treatment approaches that address social impairment.

The Effect Of Parenting Styles And Religiosity On Emerging Adults, Genesis Rivas

Campus Research Month

No abstract provided.

*Socioeconomic Status And Ethnicity: How Does It Affect Civic Engagement?, Jonathan R. Pinero

Campus Research Month

This presentation will cover the someone's civic engagement (voting, community outreach, etc.) and how it is effected by their socioeconomic status and ethnicity.

*The Impact Of Political Beliefs On Ethical Positions In Adults, Kiana Oliver

Campus Research Month

The purpose of this research study is to examine the differences between major political philosophies in the United States and how these beliefs influence ethical frameworks. A limitation found in the studies included the generalizability of the participants. The current research (Brandt et al., 2014; Everett, 2013; Graham et al., 2011; Haidt, 2012; Iyer et al., 2012; Thórisdóttir & Jost, 2011) selected adult participants but did not consider variations amongst younger generations. This research study could benefit people who are interested in American politics and ethical positions.

The Implications Of Family Structure On College Students, Jillian Roberts

Campus Research Month

This research study will explore the implications of family structure on college students. Family structure will be an umbrella term that covers four different types of families. College students will be given pre-made scales to determine their mental health levels, parent-child relationships, and attitudes toward marriage.

College Students' Views On Police, Eric Eiselstein

Campus Research Month

My presentation will analyze Adventist College students' views and opinions on Police. Many descriptors will be taken into account, including gender, ethnicity, class standing, major, and religion.

Adolescent Psychological Control And Assertiveness In College Students, Angie Luna

Campus Research Month

A study will be conducted to see if there is a relationship between past adolescent psychological control and assertiveness levels in college students.

The Ideal Vacation: How A Good Weekend Can Prevent Burnout, Ian Sayles

Campus Research Month

No abstract provided.

College Students' Anxiety Levels And Perceived Experience Of The Spotlight Effect, Bianca Gomez

Campus Research Month

This presentation will go over recent research that was performed on Southern Adventist University’s campus. In this presentation, we will discuss how the spotlight effect can make a negative impact on college students, such as increased anxiety levels. The spotlight effect is best defined as a belief when one overestimates the amount of attention she or he is receiving from peers. When one believes to be viewed in a negative way, it can ultimately make a negative impact on mental health. The purpose of this study is to provide an opportunity to become more educated on social psychology, and overall …

Associations Between College Students' Social Media Use And Psychological Well-Being During Covid-19: Is Gender A Moderator?, Allyson Marrinan

Arts & Sciences Student Symposium

This study's purpose was to examine to what extent social media use is associated with psychological well-being among undergraduates amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether gender moderates this relationship.

Suicide On College Campus: An Evidence-Based Practice Guide For College Professors Of Emerging Adults, Tyler Richardson

Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Guide Series

This guide is geared to educate college professors on how to recognize the signs and risks of suicide in their students, and to know specific steps that they can take to help students who may be at risk. There are five suggestions in the guide, that are taken from current research on protective measures that help prevent suicide in at risk populations.

Efficacy Of A Yfv-Specific Monoclonal Antibody In The Treatment Of Yf In A Hamster Model, Ryne Christiansen

Student Research Symposium

The yellow fever virus (YFV) is a flavivirus found mainly in South America and Africa. Infection may result in fever, chills, jaundice, nausea, and vomiting. Outbreaks may have up to 50% case mortality. Although Yellow Fever (YF) is a highly preventable disease through the use of an effective vaccine, there are no approved antivirals for this disease. An effective antiviral is necessary to treat infected individuals in areas where the YF vaccine was not used and an outbreak of YF occurs. In this study, female Syrian golden hamsters were infected with YFV and treated with YFV-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Weight …

Patch Clamps, Electrophysiology, And The Optimistic Future Of Neuroscience At Usu, Riley Conover-Elmer

Student Research Symposium

The Neuroscience department is a small, yet nonetheless rapidly growing field at Utah State University. While many students are encouraged to take classes from related fields such as psychology and biology, an official Bachelor's degree has not yet been published for the university. As one of those students, digging deeper into the world of neuroscience has yielded many discoveries on biology/behavior relations that go largely unnoticed by the general student population. However, in preparation for a coming Neuroscience Major, I was given the opportunity to assist Dr. Sara Freeman in preparing for a Neurophysiology Lab course in the Spring of …

Sugar Glider (Petaurus Breviceps) Behavior In Red Vs Blue Lighting, Elisa Hillman

Honors Thesis

Sugar gliders are an exotic pet that is increasing in popularity in households as well as in zoos. One challenge that caregivers have to manage is their nocturnal circadian rhythm. In order for people to view or interact with sugar gliders during their active time, many zoos will reverse their diurnal cycle with lights. The discovery of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) which seems to have an increased sensitivity to blue light and how these cells affect the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and circadian rhythm has led to an increase in awareness on the health effects of being exposed …

Assessing The Needs For Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Upon Return To School After Covid-19, Emily Kurland

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

School-based mental health consultation recognizes and understands the importance of children’s emotional and behavioral needs in conjunction with educator/caregiver competencies. In early childhood classrooms, mental health consultation utilizes a problem-solving approach, creating collaborative relationships with educators to build their skills and expertise (Duran et al., 2009). Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) works to maximize the social-emotional skills of all children while minimizing the vulnerabilities of children experiencing behavioral difficulties (Low & Shepard, 2010). As emotional and behavioral challenges are increasing in early childhood settings, it is evident that mental health consultation is becoming increasingly necessary and beneficial (Green, Everheart, …

The Influence Of A Mindfulness-Based Curriculum On Executive Function In Four-Year-Olds, Victoria Mccann

Honors Theses

Research on the effectiveness of mindfulness as a method for improving a variety of psychological, social, and emotional skills has grown throughout the last decade. Extensive literature reviews show promising results for the improvement of executive function skills utilizing mindfulness-based interventions, though the current literature is primarily focused on adults, adolescents, and older children. Preliminary work has suggested that training executive function skills using mindfulness-based interventions in early childhood would be beneficial, but few studies investigating mindfulness-based interventions for young children exist. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a 12-week mindfulness-based curriculum using yoga had an impact …

The Experience Of Dispositional Optimism Among Female African Americans, Hispanics/Latinas, And Caucasians In Generation Z: An Existential Phenomenological Investigation, Katie A. Kennedy

Honors College Theses

Mental health is becoming an increasingly important topic within Generation Z. 39% of college students in the United States reported experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety (Burwell, 2018). Conversely, researchers have shown an inverse relationship between high levels of optimism and depression, as well as optimism and suicide ideation (Chang, Martos, Sallay, Change, Wright, Najarian, & Lee, 2016). Additionally, Optimism has been negatively correlated with negative psychological outcomes (Chang, et al., 2016). The purpose of this study will be to examine dispositional optimism within female Generation Z university students. Researchers will use a qualitative interviewing process to capture the full …

Remembering Postpartum Depression In Later Life: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Walker Ladd Phd

The Qualitative Report

Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in as many as 1 in 7 women (Gavin et al., 2005). PPD remains underdiagnosed and largely untreated, contributing to high societal costs and increased maternal mortality. Despite the wealth of research reporting the adverse effects of PPD on childbearing women and their offspring, little is known about how women who have experienced PPD describe or interpret the meaning of the experience in later life. I conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 10 women self-identifying as having had PPD a minimum of 13 years in the past. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) I identified …

Exploring Research Methods Workshop Presentation Tu Dublin - An Investigation Of The Personality Traits That Could Identify Vulnerable Young People Who Will Be Susceptible To Undue Influence By Social Media Influencers (Smis), Charles Alves De Castro, Isobel O'Reilly Dr, Aiden Carthy Dr

Other Resources

This study aims to further the overall understanding of Social Media Influencers (SMIs) and to specifically predict who will be susceptible to influence by them. The main objective of this research relies on to determine whether there is a specific personality profile that predisposes young people to undue influence by social media influencers. Based on previous research published by the journal Frontiers in Psychology titled “The Role of Social Media Influencers in the Lives of Children and Adolescents ¹”, a list of potentially harmful content will be compiled. Participants (N=40) in phase one will then be given …

Workforce Scorecards, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

Workforce Analytics Resources

What Is a Child Welfare Workforce Scorecard?

A Workforce Scorecard is a tool that can be used to track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to workforce outcomes of interest. This approach is derived from the balanced scorecard (Kaplan & Norton, 1992) and HR scorecard (Becker, Huselid, & Ulrich, 2001) strategic planning tools. The process involves linking key strategic goals to workforce-related initiatives and KPIs to demonstrate the alignment between the outcomes being measured and overarching child welfare strategic goals. The scorecard allows agency leaders to monitor progress towards key HR and workforce objectives. The scope of the scorecard can be …

Understanding Perceptions Of Quality Among Early Childhood Education Stakeholders In Tanzania And Lesotho: A Multiple Qualitative Case Study, Dawn Davis, Debra Miller, Dorothy Mrema, Moikabi Matsoai, Ntsoaki Mapetla, Abbie Raikes, Anna Burton

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Recent global efforts around early childhood education (ECE) have led to increased investments and access, especially in low- and middle-income countries (UNESCO, 2019). As access grows, focus has shifted from enrollment to quality (Gove, 2017). This paper explores how ECE stakeholders in Tanzania and Lesotho define ECE quality. Findings show that stakeholders define quality in similar ways, highlighting the importance of trained teachers who implement specific teaching practices, strong partnerships with families and the community, critical infrastructure, and government support. However, review of the country contexts found that current conditions and support for these quality indicators were lacking.

"B-Ing Flexible" : Examining Creativity In Bisexual Employees, Megan Jane Snoeyink

Dissertations and Theses

Creativity is essential for organizations to remain competitive and profitable. Past evidence suggests diversity in organizations promotes creativity, however, the mechanisms through which diversity promotes creativity in the workplace are not yet understood. Diverse populations' unique experiences may promote creativity, particularly through cognitive flexibility. I investigate the potential for heightened creativity in diverse populations within the context of bisexuality. Specifically, I use the flexibility model of bisexuality to explain why bisexual employees may have greater cognitive flexibility and subsequent creativity than heterosexual employees. Additionally, I seek to understand the moderating role of supervisor support in this relationship. Participants were recruited …

Early Rearing Conditions Affect Monoamine Metabolite Levels During Baseline And Periods Of Social Separation Stress: A Non-Human Primate Model (Macaca Mulatta), Elizabeth K. Wood, Natalia Gabrielle, Jacob Hunter, Andrea N. Skowbo, Melanie L. Schwandt, Stephen G. Lindell, Christina S. Barr, Stephen J. Suomi, James Dee Higley

Faculty Publications

A variety of studies show that parental absence early in life leads to deleterious effects on the developing CNS. This is thought to be largely because evolutionary-dependent stimuli are necessary for the appropriate postnatal development of the young brain, an effect sometimes termed the “experience-expectant brain,” with parents providing the necessary input for normative synaptic connections to develop and appropriate neuronal survival to occur. Principal among CNS systems affected by parental input are the monoamine systems. In the present study, N = 434 rhesus monkeys (233 males, 201 females) were reared in one of two conditions: as mother-reared controls (MR; …

First Generation Students Sense Of Belonging In Higher Education, Abrea Ramadan

Research Days

The purpose of this poster presentation is to highlight the struggles faced by first-generation college students at their institution and identify where this support is needed. This poster presentation identifies the multiple learning curves and obstacles experienced by first-generation college students towards degree completion. It is recognized that first-generation college students and their paths through higher education are notably different compared to their continuing generation peers. The identity revolved around being a first-generation college student starts with the relationship with their family because they are the first in their family to obtain a bachelor's degree. With the appropriate support given …

Urbanization And Mental Health: The Power Of Green Space, Emma Rosenthal

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

In this presentation, I will review the negative impacts of urbanization on mental health and the positive role of green space on mental well-being. Moreover, I will provide examples of projects being conducted to increase the amount of green space in urban communities.

Drug Addiction & Mental Health, Tyler Burkholder

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Drugs have a serious effect on our mental health, and mental health has a major effect on drug abuse and addiction. There is a reason so many drug users usually need to keep going back to rehab. It is because drugs affect mental health to a point where you aren’t the same person during and even after drug addiction. Poor mental health also can be a major cause influencing people to start doing drugs. People with depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorders are more prone to drug use. That is why we need to make it a public policy to screen …

Social Media & Negative Effects On Body Image, Jack Fechter

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Since the beginning of the 2010’s, social media has grown to affect every aspect of our daily lives. With children using it earlier in their lives, they are getting mass exposure to societal ideals about what body type should be. This has negatively impacted adolescents’ view of body image, which has led to dissatisfaction with their own bodies. This leads to depressive symptoms and even in some cases suicide, which has gone up among adolescents in the past decade. The article that follows details how and why these issues occur, as well as solutions to fix them. These solutions discussed …