Psychology Commons^™

Correctional Officers’ Perceptions Of Punitive Force In Solitary Confinement, Megan Crista Oberholtzer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Solitary confinement in United States prisons is a common practice influenced by legal and human rights discussions. Physical conditions of the prison environment can cause somatic and psychological distress among correctional officers. The research problem is how lived experiences of solitary confinement correctional officers may influence punitive force perceptions. A positive outcome for inmates may be influenced by correctional officers who are unbiased in confinement, interventions, and treatment management. Positive inmate outcomes also rely on institutional functions. The purpose was to explore correctional officers’ lived experiences and perspectives. The supporting theoretical framework is Weiner’s attribution theory. The research question involved …

African American Experiences Of Racism When Operating A Small Business, Sheliza Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the racism that African Americans experienced when operating a small business. African Americans are more likely to start a business than members of other minority groups. However, African Americans are also less likely to succeed. Low success rates relate to the racial inequities that contribute to systemic racism. The racism that African Americans experience is deeply rooted in societal constructs that have been ingrained for many years. General racism and systemic racism are societal constructs that work against the socioeconomic status of African Americans and their communities. The purpose of this phenomenological study …

Interactive Association Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Apolipoprotein Ε4 Genotype, And Age On Cognitive Functioning, Karen A. Lawrence, Colton Rippey, Bianca Welikson, Robert H. Pietrzak, Thomas G. Adams Jr.

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein (APOE) gene and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with cognitive deficits. Both associations may vary depending on age. No previous study has examined a possible three‐way interaction between APOE ε4, PTSD, and age on cognitive functioning.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 1244 European‐American U.S. military veterans who participated in the 2011 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Analyses of covariance were used to examine the main effects and in- teractions of APOE ε4, PTSD, and age on learning/working memory (LWM) and attention/psychomotor (APM) performance.

Results: A significant three‐way interaction between …

Reasoning About Religion And The Effects Of Belief Bias, Erica Daniela Contreras Ochoa

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

The present study compares religious skeptics to believers, assessing both performance and response times on logical reasoning problems (syllogisms). Skepticism make fewer reasoning errors than did believers, while controlling for general cognitive ability, time spent on the problems, and various demographic variables. Comparison of response times indicated that skeptics also spent more time reasoning than did believers. This suggests that slower processing is an important component of analytic problem solving. Implications for using additional processing measures, such as response time, to investigate individual differences in cognitive style are discussed.

On-Line Behavior And Cognitive Development, Nunzio Joseph Crowley

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Parents of 128 children in a rural elementary school provided information on home Internet access and children’s online activities. Children were individually administered four measures of cognitive development (expressive language, metacognition, visual perception, and auditory memory) and were asked to define ten Internet terms (e.g., email, chat, website). The ability to define an Internet term was assumed to be indicative of experience with that application. Parent response to the open-ended item “what does your child do when he/she uses the Internet at home” was thematically organized into four types of Internet behavior: learn, play, browse, and communicate. Children’s ability to …

Sarah Olivia Thomas, Sarah Olivia Thomas

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between psilocybin use and mental health outcomes within the general population. During the last several decades, psychedelic use was banned in the United States due to various reasons. In more recent years, psychedelic therapy is making a comeback in the healthcare community and renewed interest in the field is creating demand for greater research in psychedelic therapy in order to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and its possible ability to treat various mental health conditions using psychedelic therapy. One of the psychedelics, known as “magic mushrooms” is of particular interest to researchers. The …

Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Drives Modest Neuroinflammation But Does Not Escalate Drinking In Male Rats, Jessica I. Wooden, Lauren E. Peacoe, Chinchusha Anasooya Shaji, Jennifer K. Melbourne, Cassie M. Chandler, Michael T. Bardo, Kimberly Nixon

Psychology Faculty Publications

During adolescence, the brain is highly susceptible to alcohol-induced damage and subsequent neuroimmune responses, effects which may enhance development of an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Neuroimmune reactions are implicated in adolescent alcohol exposure escalating adulthood drinking. Therefore, we investigated whether intermittent alcohol exposure in male, adolescent rats (AIE) escalated adult drinking via two-bottle choice (2BC). We also examined the influence of housing environment across three groups: standard (group-housed with enrichment during 2BC), impoverished (group-housed without enrichment during 2BC), or isolation (single-housed without bedding or enrichment throughout). In the standard group immediately after AIE/saline and after 2BC, we also examined the …

Prenatal Morphine Exposure Increases Cardiovascular Disease Risk And Programs Neurogenic Hypertension In The Adult Offspring, Nermin Hassan Mohamed Selim Ahmed, Alana Kassis, Jena Malone, Jodie Yang, Esraa Zamzami, An-Hsuan Lin, Scott M. Gordon, Ming C. Gong, Michael T. Bardo, Carolina Dalmasso, Analia S. Loria

Psychology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The opioid overdose and opioid use disorder epidemics are concomitant with increased metabolic and CVD risk. Although opioid use disorder causes adverse pregnancy outcomes, the offspring’s cardiovascular health is understudied. We hypothesized that offspring exposed to in utero morphine exposure (IUME) would show increased CVD risk factors and endogenous opioid system dysregulation.

METHODS: Sprague Dawley dams were treated with saline (vehicle, n=10) or escalating doses of morphine (5–20 mg/kg per day, SC, n=10) during gestation. Cardiovascular and metabolic parameters were assessed in adult offspring.

RESULTS: Litter size and pups’ birth weight were not different in response to IUME. Female …

Effect Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Pt150 On Acquisition And Escalation Of Fentanyl Self-Administration Following Early-Life Stress, Michael T. Bardo, Cassie M. Chandler, Emily D. Denehy, Benjamin A. Carper, Mark A. Prendergast, Tracy L. Nolen

Psychology Faculty Publications

There is comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder (OUD), perhaps because PTSD-like stressful experiences early in life alter the hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal stress axis to increase the risk for OUD. The present study determined if the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist PT150 reduces the escalation of fentanyl intake in rats exposed to a “two-hit” model of early-life stress (isolation rearing and acute stress). Male and female rats were raised during adolescence in either isolated or social housing and then were given either a single acute stress (restraint and cold-water swim) or control treatment in young adulthood. Rats were then treated …

The Impact Of Demographic And Background Information On Public Perceptions Of Sex Offenders, Rylee D. Perez

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Many studies have examined the public’s perception of crime in the United State of America. As a whole, the public tends to favor harsh punishments and longer sentences for most crimes. In addition, the public tends to feel even more negatively toward sex offenders, often supporting punitive measures and restrictions when sex offenders are released, such as lifetime registration on the national sex offender registry. Although perceptions of crime, and sex offenses in general, appear to be negative among the general public, more recent research indicates that these perceptions can be influenced if information about the crime and offender is …

The Association Of Burden And Social Engagement With Depression In Caregivers Of Adults By Age, Danielle Leigh Forbes

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

As life expectancy begins to increase, the need for familial caregivers is growing. The aging of care recipients often means that those providing care continue to get older as well. Previous studies focus little on the differences between older and younger caregivers and rather combine them all into one group. The purpose of this study is to understand whether the caregiving experience is related to the age of the caregiver. Depression, burden, and social engagement, based on the descriptors of leisure, work, and social relationships, were studied in conjunction with the age of the caregivers. This study consisted of 63 …

Understanding The Value Of Friendships: Exploring The Different Characteristics Of Virtual World Friendships Compared To Real World Friendships, Samantha Baires

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Research on video games, social media, and computer games has focused on specific social characteristics such as violence, communication, and social isolation. Most aspects of virtual world gaming and online relationships are considered inferior, if not damaging, to those who spend time on these platforms. Virtual relationships are often considered secondary to traditional relationships. Such relationships are seen as replacements for traditional friendships, leading to research focusing on replacement rather than value. Little research focuses on how a virtual world friendship compares to a traditional friendship and the value it may serve to individuals in the relationship. The present study …

Parents Perception Of Teletherapy Use In Children, Beenish Rashid

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Due to the demands of an ongoing pandemic, telehealth services have become increasingly popular particularly in the field of psychology. Teletherapy services are used on a regular basis by healthcare professionals and studies on teletherapy use in adults have shown that it is efficacious, convenient, and practical. However, prior to this study, there was a significant gap in literature about the use of teletherapy in children and adolescents. This study aimed to fill this gap in literature by providing data on how parents perceive teletherapy when compared to in-person therapy for their children. The data for this study was collected …

Closing The Gap: Culturally Competent Consultations In Schools, Kimmely Mechelle Williams

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Poor academic achievement among minority students has historically been identified as one of the most pressing challenges of public education (Dorvil, 2011). However, even before the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) adoption, there has been a focus on what should be done to improve the academic achievement of the nation’s children. With each of its subsequent incarnations and legislative renaming, policymakers, educators, and researchers alike have sought to ensure that all children are afforded the opportunity to receive a high-quality education delivered by competent educators enabling them to reach predetermined but vaguely defined levels of proficiency. Despite best efforts, …

Effects Of Light/Dark Cycle Shifts On Delay Discounting, Katya A. Nolder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Shift-work conditions are a necessity for the constant provision of certain medical, industrial, and commercial services in modern society. Shift work is associated with the increased risk of many negative health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, reproductive issues, and cancer. Shift workers experience multiple levels of circadian-rhythm disruption, which may increase maladaptive decision making, and this may mediate the relation between shift work and negative health outcomes. Circadian-rhythm disruptions can be systematically investigated in the basic laboratory, and one type of procedure involves changing the light/dark cycle in the animal vivarium. The current study investigated effects of light/dark …

Comparing The Efficacy Of Interventions Derived From Concurrent Operant Analysis And Indirect Assessment, Lane Marquardt

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In this study, a simultaneous treatments design was used to conduct a concurrent operant analysis (COA) to evaluate the choice making behavior of one elementary aged student. The COA results were used as a possible reinforcer for one of the conditions for the intervention to increase work completion. An indirect assessment, Questions about Behavioral Function (QABF), was used identify a hypothesized function to the student’s lack of task completion behavior. The results from thee QABD were used as a possible reinforcer for one of the conditions for the intervention to increase work completion. An alternating treatments design (ATD) was used …

Effects Of Video Modeling With Voice-Over Narration Versus No Voice-Over Narration, Kennedy Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In the current study, the effects of video modeling with voice-over narration (VMW) was compared to the effects of video modeling with no voice-over narration (VMN) when learning the acquisition of a vocational skill. Four high-school students within a public school who spent most of their school day in a special education classroom participated in the study. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the VMW and VMN conditions and then a best alone condition was conducted for each participant that used the video modeling procedure that demonstrated superiority during the comparison. A modification of the inclusion of …

Exploration Of The School Mindfulness Project On The Executive Functions Of Elementary School Students, Jessica Brooke Savaiano

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between The School Mindfulness Project and the executive functions of elementary school students. Participants were teachers from an urban elementary school. Dependent t-tests were used to examine changes in executive functioning from pretest to posttest. The results did not show significant improvements in executive functions for the intervention group. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

Mental Health Professionals’ Perception Of Medications For Opioid Use Disorder, Patrick M. Mullen

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Despite the widespread attention and resources allocated to the current opioid crisis, the public health problem persists. A major target in the efforts to combat the opioid crisis is increased accessibility and utilization of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). A robust body of evidence supports the effectiveness of medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in reducing overdose deaths and improving overall outcomes. Yet, MOUD continues to be underutilized at alarming rates. Studies have discovered that only one-third of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment sites offer any form of MOUD and approximately 30% of individuals with OUD receive any …

Attitudes Of Providers And Researchers Toward Harm Reduction Strategies, Portia Womer

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study utilized a mix methods approach to examine the relationship between professional role, years of experience, and support for harm reduction strategies to treat Opioid Use Disorder. There were 84 participants who completed the online survey. The survey included both quantitative and qualitative questions about their professional role, years of experience, age, use of cognitive behavioral therapy for opioid use disorder, and support for harm reduction strategies. There was no significant association among years of experience and support for harm reduction strategies (including safe injection sites). Additionally, there were no significant findings among age and support for harm …

The Relationship Between Adhd-Specific Cognitive Distortions And Adult Adhd After Accounting For Clinical Syndromes And Personality Pathology, Carly Gerbi

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience many difficulties in daily functioning. It is theorized that some of the difficulties experienced by adults with ADHD result from cognitive distortions. Although previous studies have identified a preliminary relationship between cognitive distortions and ADHD, which may be accounted for by comorbid disorders; these studies did not measure ADHD-specific cognitive distortions after accounting for these comorbidities. The purpose of the current study was to assess the relationship between the frequency of ADHD-specific cognitive distortions, operationalized as ADHD Cognition Scale (ACS) and the severity of adult ADHD, operationalized as the Brown Executive Function/Attention Scale (BEF/A), …

Association Between Trauma History And Body Image, Depression, Posttraumatic Stress, And Relationship Satisfaction In Postpartum Women, Kristen Hawk-Purcell

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The postpartum period can be a time of significant change and transition. Little is known about how a history of trauma may impact functioning during this critical time. English-speaking adult women (age ≥ 18 years, N = 61) who gave birth in the United States in the past year, but not in the last month, were in an intimate relationship, and did not use any assisted reproductive technology to conceive participated in the study. Participants were recruited through social media and online forums related to pregnancy and the postpartum period. They completed a demographic questionnaire, the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic …

The Impact Of Teacher’S Understanding Of Childhood Trauma And Trauma-Informed Classrooms On Perceived Barriers And Comfort In Implementing School-Based Trauma Informed Practice, Alyssa Henry

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The impact of trauma on children has become an area of increased awareness, as research has demonstrated the consequences of traumatic experiences on academic, behavioral, and emotional success. Teachers have a unique opportunity to support intervention and facilitate relationships with children, in order to reduce the impacts of trauma on later outcomes. Research has demonstrated positive outcomes of students when teachers are provided direct training in trauma-informed intervention; however, there is little research on the knowledge teachers have from their training programs and professional development related to trauma and trauma-informed educations and the impact on their attitudes and perceptions in …

Prevention In Schools: Examining School Personnel’S Attitudes And Knowledge Of Mandated Reporting, Aigner J. Allen

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study examined the factors that may affect school personnel’s implementation of mandated reporter procedures after student disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA), with a focus on how school personnel think, reason, and act after a student discloses suspected CSA. Children spend most of their time in school, therefore, school personnel have significant roles in protecting children by being mandated reporters of child abuse. This study used a quantitative research design to examine school personnel’s attitudes and knowledge regarding mandated reporting child sexual abuse after student disclosure. The study used a cross-sectional survey methodology that included a single survey instrument. …

The Impact Of Gender Minority Stress On Eating Pathology And Body Checking Behaviors In Transgender And Non-Binary Adults, Klaudia Bialy

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Transgender and gender non-binary (TNB) individuals commonly report diminished mental health when compared to cisgender individuals. TNB individuals experience unique stressors due to their gender identity such as gender-based discrimination and victimization, internalized transphobia, and non-affirmation of their gender. Due to these unique stressors, TNB individuals experience elevated rates of psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Additionally, TNB individuals report body image issues and disordered eating. This study examined if gender minority stress predicts the relationship between body checking behaviors and eating pathology amongst TNB individuals. Simple linear regression models were used to assess the possible impact gender …

A Qualitative Examination Of Satisfaction And Support In Weight-Loss Surgery Patients, Simone Sims-Reiley

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study investigated bariatric surgery patients’ perspectives about the factors associated with relationship success after surgery. Additionally, this study sought to recommend useful strategies to prepare partners for the postoperative changes that are required of bariatric patients. Female participants (N = 10) were chosen using voluntary response sampling to participate in semi-structured interviews before completing the Marital Adjustment Test to identify their level of relationship adjustment postoperatively. Participants reported changes to their relationship dynamic related to food choices, activities, varying levels of support from their significant others, and factors that impacted their relationship satisfaction throughout their bariatric surgery …

Improving Caregiver Implementation Of Communication Supports For Young Children With Autism, Heather Coleman, Selena J. Layden, Lynda Gayle Horner

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

The use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in the child's natural setting is critical for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to improve communication skills and promote generalization. Yet, to implement EBPs effectively, caregivers often require training. The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy of behavior skills training (BST) to teach a caregiver to implement a parent-implemented discrete trial training (DTT) intervention in their home. Using a multiple baseline design, one caregiver was taught to implement the intervention focused on three verbal behavior operants. Results demonstrated a functional relation between the BST and caregiver implementation. This study …

Utilizing The Alternative Model Of Personality Disorders (Ampd) To Identify Sexual Aggression In Men, Ryan Patrick Van Fossen

Dissertations and Theses

The current study examined the validity of the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) in predicting sexually aggressive cognitions in men. Specifically, this study examined the role of maladaptive personality traits and personality functioning’s relationship with sexually aggressive beliefs in comparison to the Five-Factor Model (FFM). This study recruited 300 male participants, aged 18 and older, who identified as male for both sex and gender, and identified as heterosexual. Participants completed measures of personality functioning, several personality traits, views about sexual entitlement, gender roles, rape myths, and token resistance to sex. Multiple regression and semipartial correlation analyses were used to …

How Capable Does That Make You Feel? Appraisal Dimensions Of Emotion And Health Behavior Judgments, Catherine Elizabeth Nylin

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Although self-efficacy is a central construct utilized in health behavior research, existing studies generally overlook the influence of affect (as mood states or specific emotions) on self-efficacy judgments. Those that have examined affect have focused on the influence of positive or negative valence on self-efficacy judgments and have not considered the effects of other appraisal dimensions of emotion. Research from other domains reports that conceptually relevant dimensions of emotion (i.e., that share a conceptual theme with the judgment) produce a dimension-congruent emotion carryover effect, providing information (e.g., control, certainty, responsibility) that is used in subsequent judgments. Although not in …

Camouflage Romance: Same-Gender Romantic Relationship Quality And Effects On Military Commitment, Karen Tannenbaum

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Military life comes with a host of challenges for romantic relationships. Romantic partners withstand the pressures of deployment and geographical relocations (i.e., military transitions) to support their service members’ careers and play a critical role in swaying service members’ decisions to remain committed to the military beyond contractual obligations. Prior work has primarily focused on experiences of heterosexual dyads, with scant literature elucidating experiences of sexual minority military personnel in same-gender romantic relationships. Informed by work-family conflict and stress spillover, this research effort used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory approach to explicate how military transition-related stress (TRS) affects romantic relationship quality, …