Psychology Commons^™

Attitudes And Intentions: Exploring How Imaginary Interactions And Social Justice Education Impact Perceptions Of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, Shianne Heeraman, Kylie Jones, Deanna Smit, Catherine Zheng, Brittany Tausen

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The current study (N = 139) explored how contact valence and social justice education impacted attitudes about and the treatment of individuals experiencing homelessness. Participants imagined either a positive or negative interaction with a homeless man and read a vignette describing the man’s situation as either a social justice issue (driven by systemic factors) or a personal issue (driven by individual factors). Dehumanizing perceptions about and intentions to help/harm individuals experiencing homelessness were then assessed. Results demonstrated that positive contact and social justice education had significant effects on dehumanization, but not on behavioral intentions to help or harm homeless individuals.

Implications Of Borderline Personality Disorder Cluster Symptoms For Suicide Risk, Eve Sudberry, Erin Mcmeekin, Keyne Law

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

We explored the relationship between borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptom clusters and the likelihood of a history of suicidal ideation (SI). Those with BPD are at a significantly higher risk for suicide. Many symptom clusters such as negative relationships and affective instability have been implicated in suicide risk. Undergraduates (n=126; Mage=20.85, SD=5.29) completed self-report measures assessing BPD symptoms and suicide history. We plan to run a logistic regression to accomplish our aim of uncovering the risk for SI associated with different BPD symptom clusters. We hope our findings will provide clarity on the mechanisms behind SI in those with BPD.

Employment Role Change And Resilient Coping On Affective Well-Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Hatun Almuhanna, Penelope Seminario, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of employment related role change directly upon affective well-being and indirectly through resilient coping in the first year-and-a-half of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 197; age M=48.85, SD = 15.28) completed up to 24 waves. Results suggested that the direct effect of role change on affective well-being was statistically significant (B = 0.037, p < 0.024). Although there was a significant effect of resilient coping on affective well-being (B = 0.227, p < 0.001), the indirect effect passing from employment role change through resilience coping to affective well-being was not (B = 0.002, 95CI -0.006, 0.010, p 0.574). The results speak to the centrality of the employment role.

Factors Influencing Shelter Dog Retention And Return, Hallie Anselmi

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Adopting a dog from a shelter is an impactful decision for both dog and owner. To better understand adoption outcomes, I explore the influences of a dog’s age, time spent in the shelter (SLOS), and time in foster care. Data from a Washington shelter (n = 224) were analyzed using a logistic regression and correlations. The regression indicated no significant results between the variables, however, there was a significant correlation between age and SLOS. The data was limited by a small return sample. Overall, this study helps add to the narrative for how shelters can increase adoptions and decrease returns.

"I Don't Have White Privilege Because I Worked Hard For What I Have", Jenna Sanders, Piljoo Kang, Adrianna Mceachern

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Despite being an important research topic, there is a dearth of empirical studies on how White individuals understand White privilege and their identity. We have conducted qualitative research by interviewing 36 White young adults attending a Southern United States liberal arts college. The interviewees' responses were qualitatively analyzed using keywords and thematic categories and ranged from denial to acceptance of White privilege. White privilege means their successes would no longer be the reward of hard work but the result of an uncontrollable factor: race. In this case, they clarify that their parents or themselves started with nothing and had to …

A Quantitative Study Examining The Mental Health Needs Of African American Students Compared To Their Counterparts In Higher Education, Luxury Bryant

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

African American students are entering into higher education institutions at higher rates. This population has specific needs and faces various challenges entering college at predominantly white institutions compared to their counterparts of different races. While college is already a stressful time with academic pressures as well as navigating a new setting, African American students also face unique experiences that can impact their mental health. It has been found that African American students are less likely to seek out mental health services especially those that are attending predominantly White institutions (Anderson, 2018). This study will highlight African American undergraduate students' perceptions …

The Lived Experience Of Parents With Newborns In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu): A Heuristic Inquiry, Abigail Bilyk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents with newborns who require medical care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) immediately following birth are at an increased risk of experiencing psychological distress. While quantitative research studies have determined that a NICU admission can have detrimental effects on parents, a better understanding of the lived experience for both mothers and fathers is necessary to ensure adequacy in the standard of care given to parents while their newborn is admitted to the NICU. The phenomenon has not previously been explored using the phenomenological approach of heuristic inquiry. Constructivism, social constructivism, and the transactional model of stress and coping …

Social Identity Comparison Of Black And White Students Of Attend Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Korliss Hall Datcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Throughout college, social identity and belonging to social groups significantly shape an individual’s identity. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have become more diverse as more White students, faculty, staff, and administrators have begun to learn and work in this environment. This mixed-methods study aimed to contrast self-reported measures and experiences between Black and White students attending historically HBCUs. Social identity theory guided the study, as the theory suggests that groups, such as family, culture, and academic class, play a significant part in establishing pride and self-esteem. The qualitative component of the study explored the perceptions of social identity among …

Impact Of Workplace Racial Discrimination On The Health Of Black Men, Denise Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived racially discriminatory experiences of Black men in the workplace in New York City and how those incidents affected their overall health. The study used Critical Race Theory as the theoretical framework and analyzed data gathered through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants. Findings from coding analysis indicated that Black men routinely engaged in acts of John Henryism to receive positive recognition as they navigated negative societal stereotyping, namely proving that they, as individuals, were not negative stereotypes. Additionally, the study revealed that exposure to racial discrimination in the workplace …

Effects Of Personality On The Relationship Between Hybrid Work Characteristics And Employee Engagement, Cassandra J. Brewer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need for remote work has sparked a global discussion about the prospects of adopting home, office, remote, and hybrid work patterns. There are opportunities and challenges with the adoption of remote and hybrid work from individual, group, and leadership perspectives. In a post-COVID-19 world where changes to the way individuals work have been impacted, this study addresses the effect of the built environment on employee engagement and whether personality impacts the relationship between hybrid work characteristics and employee engagement in the modern workplace. A quantitative non-experimental, correlational multiple regression research design was used to analyze the relationships between variables. …

Ripl: Recursive Inference For Policy Learning, Kunal Jha, Jeremy R. Manning, Alberto Quattrini Li

Computer Science Senior Theses

Humans excel at understanding the thoughts and intentions of others (theory of mind) and leverage this ability to learn and adapt in social environments. However, replicating this capability in artificial agents remains a challenge. This paper explores the gap between fast, efficient learning often achieved by Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms and the interpretability and adaptability desired in agents interacting with humans. We propose a novel approach that integrates an inference network within existing RL frameworks. This allows agents to reason about the beliefs of others (nested reasoning) while learning optimal actions. Our method leverages approximate solutions to the I-POMDP framework, …

Consciousness And The Reality Of Monsters In Horror Movies: Dehumanization And What Monsters In Horror Films Say About Us, Leila Kincaid

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This essay responds to Carroll’s The Nature of Horror from the perspective of transdisciplinary phenomenological film theory, largely developed by Edgar Morin in the 1950s. It argues that Carrolls’s reduction of the phenomenological value of horror films to an unreal category minimizes and even dismisses the inherent value of horror films. Morin, Allan Combs, and others offer more integral and transdisciplinary methods for art interpretation and functionality. They help us understand how monsters in horror films can stand as mirrors and reflections of the monstrous in ourselves and society. Thus, the transformational function and value of film is revealed and …

Du Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, August Alexander, Kevin Summers, E. Paige Lloyd, Alyssa Aragon, Lauren Wols, Erica Larson, Colton Arciniaga, Lily Baeza, Ellie Barnett-Cashman, Sidney Barbier, Maverick Bartholomew, Ryan Bell, Trevor Briggs, Amanda Brown, Cory Marchi, Maddy Pontius, Jennifer Gallagher, Claire Kwok, Channing Bullock, Alex Mccollister, Kim Gorgens, Daniela Chavez, Yamilet Espinoza Nuñez, Giovanni Valladares Giron, William Christensen, Olivia Kachulis, Daniel Cierasynski, Brandon Cohen, Spenser Dobbs, Lindsay Goolsby, Noah Craver, Nyah Cubbison, Liam Doherty, Nicole Doris, Yan Qin, Alexander Nguyen, Lily Harmon, Shubh Todi, Naichen Zhao, Noah Fagello, Stacia Fritz, Paola Gascot-Chinea, Alex Volkova, Janelyn Geronimo, Elsie Harrington, Shane Simmons, Clarice Hise, Laura Moreno Palmer, Henry Xu, Yesu Leela Pasupula, Emily Fisher, Zachary Hogan, Colin Kleckner, Alyssa Knaus, Erin Kubat, Sam Werkema, Katie Lamberton, Lilliya Larson, Allie Leary, Vanessa Leon-Gamez, James H. Gallagher, E. Dale Broder, Robin M. Tinghitella, Emma Loeber, Alina Mali, Ixchel Marquez, Lauren Mcgrath, Ella Matthews, Grace Naegelen, Audrey Ng, Megan Lucyshyn, Rachel Brough, Alexandra Norman, Joe Ontiveros Rodriguez, Ben Dossett, Ori Miller, Janamejay Sharma, Christopher Reardon, Vincent Pandey, Regan Parish, Ren Pratt, Alisha Pravasi, Sanchari Das, Cari Reichel, Emma Robson, Victoria Rockwell, Jayce Rumsey, Steven Said, Norah Schroder, Alaina Smith, Shannon Murphy, Shujan A. Sharafeldeen, Stanley M. Kanai, James T. Nichols, David E. Clouthier, Macalia R. Augustus, Daniel Silva Rios, Scott Simpson, Anna Sparling, Chase Spurbeck, Kimberly Chiew, Christine Stadnik-Poteroba, Jacqueline Stephenson, Evelyn Stovin, Mia Supan, Lauren Tapper, Will Thrush, Anna Vogt, Michaela Walheim, Jon Weber, Hunter Whitehouse, Kansas Wood, Hayley Sayre, Lydia Mccann, Maread Mclaughlin, Kelly Krumrie, Olivia Wuttke

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Research Showcase.

Teacher Beliefs And Experiences Addressing Healthy Racial And Ethnic Identity Instructionally Through Social Emotional Learning, Juliana Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations

Children and youth develop within an ecological context that includes family, peers, and broader social environments including school. Children’s understanding of their ethnic or racial group and the meaning they attribute to belonging in that group is also shaped by interactions in their school environment. Most research on school-based social-emotional learning (SEL) programs has focused on student behavioral and academic outcomes. However, as SEL spreads across U.S. K-12 schools, questions have emerged surrounding how children from diverse racial and cultural groups and unequal opportunity can benefit from universal SEL programs. Using a mixed-methods design, this study explores teachers’ understanding and …

Gender Diversity In The Workplace: Pronouns, Gender-Stereotyped Job Listings, And Perceptions Of Hireability, Elise B. Charette, Sarah E. Nemanick, Paige C. Keim, Sarah M. Ledoux, Lindsay A. Goolsby, E. Paige Lloyd

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Past research has investigated the impact of gender and gender biases on hiring decisions for cisgender individuals. However, there is a lack of research on how perceptions of gender diverse individuals impact hiring decisions. The current work explores how a job applicant’s gender pronouns may impact the likelihood of the applicant getting hired. We also investigated whether this likelihood varied depending on the job description—specifically whether it included content related to gender stereotypes (e.g., “nurturing” versus “leadership capabilities” as a desired trait in job applicants). Ninety-six participants were randomly assigned to view an application package including she/her, he/him, or they/them …

Understanding Parasocial Relationships And The Mental Health Impact, Leslee Lynae Bennett

Master's Theses

Parasocial relationships have recently become a topic of discussion in our society. This is because individuals are still looking for something to connect with after the COVID-19 pandemic. These relationships originally were more common among young people, but due to the constant usage of media, individuals have become more attached to popularity which results in an unrealistic online connection. Parasocial relationships are both a fascination and a danger due to the mental connections an individual makes within themselves. This research is a qualitative study of previous research done on parasocial relationships. Topics discussed in this thesis will cover multiple facets …

Demands At Work: The Moderating Influence Of Motivation On The Relationship Between Challenge Demands And Employee Work Engagement, Lauren R. Dinnat

Doctoral Dissertations

Work engagement is a popular topic due to the positive outcomes linked to it. For example, engaged workers are shown to be more productive workers and better organizational citizens. The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Theory has been the most widely accepted explanatory model for work engagement due to its flexibility to be applied to all work environments. While the JD-R does not argue that motivation is fixed, it does not account for moment-to-moment changes in motivation. A state theory of motivation that examines how motivation may impact the relationships between demands and work engagement has yet to be examined. This study …

The Impact Of Irrational Beliefs On Dysfunctional Decision-Making In B2b Salespeople, Barron W. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations

The complexity of the contemporary business-to-business (B2B) sales landscape requires salespeople to respond faster, be more knowledgeable, and add more value to buyer interactions than ever before. As such, B2B salespeople must carefully consider the impact of their decisions since they have the potential to directly impact organizational revenue and bottom-line outcomes. The present research utilizes rational-emotive behavior theory to examine judgment and decision-making in B2B salespeople. Research questions are presented and tested with a sample of 306 B2B salespeople using structural equation modeling. The results of the analysis reveal that irrational beliefs lead to dysfunctional emotions, and in turn, …

Comparison Of Vivitrol And Suboxone In Terms Of Lowering Relapse Among Opioid Addicts, Nicolle Tourdot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug overdoses are increasing, and the heroin epidemic is becoming more evident. There are ways to get these individuals’ help. Medically assisted treatments (MATs) involve use of medications alongside counseling and therapies to treat individuals with a substance abuse disorder. This subject is important to the human services administration field, more specifically those who focus on addiction. As the epidemic of opioid use continues, so does the need for treatment. Without that treatment, the problem will get worse and inevitably have negatives effects on the entire world. Those effects involve crime, increasing costs to the public, overall health, and child …

Exploring The Relationships Between Motivations, Beliefs, Emotions, And Behaviors In The Context Of Organizational Change Readiness, Sidney Taylor Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations

Organizational change is an inevitable and key feature of an organization’s lifecycle, especially in today’s constantly shifting technological, cultural, and corporate landscapes. However, organizations often struggle to adapt, and change initiatives rarely succeed. Because of this, organizational change readiness has become a popular area of study in the field of industrial-organization psychology. Change readiness in the organizational context has been redefined several times over the past four decades, with recent efforts focused on developing a comprehensive definition and corresponding instrument of measurement for the concept. Change readiness at the individual level is intended to evaluate the psychological state in which …

Social Support, Caregiver Burden, And Anxiety/Depression Among Family Caregivers Of Stroke Patients, Rosalyn Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Family caregivers encounter challenges when caring for relatives recovering from a stroke. Family caregivers often experience negative mental health outcomes including higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which years of caregiving experience, emotional and instrumental support, and caregiver burden predict anxiety and depression among family caregivers of stroke patients. The caregiving stress process model theoretical framework guided the research. This quantitative study used a non-experimental correlational research design. Participants were recruited using Survey Monkey and included a non-random convenience sample of 111 family caregivers of stroke patients who …

Vocabulary Retention And Color Effect Differences Among Developmental Community College Students, Eric Scott Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The completion of developmental community college (DCC) courses is a crucial step in community college education to reach the national goal of increasing college success. DCC students are a unique population who require specific strategies such as vocabulary retention (VR) to achieve academic success. Prior research on vocabulary has been limited to VR and color effects. However, there is a lack of research on the intersection of these two variables (VR and color effects). This quantitative research study used the theoretical lens feature integration theory (FIT) to examine the effects that text color has on VR among DCC students. Additionally, …

Impact Of Toxic Leadership On The Mental Health Of Employees In Texas State Agencies, Dr. Monika Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the impact of toxic leadership on the mental health of employees within Texas state agencies, utilizing betrayal trauma theory (BTT) as the theoretical framework. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, specifically through semi-structured interviews with eight employees who have experienced toxic leadership firsthand. These interviews aimed to uncover the psychological effects of such leadership on employees, with particular attention to symptoms of stress, anxiety, and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that toxic leadership was significantly associated with increased psychological distress among employees. This distress manifested as heightened anxiety, depression, …

It Takes A Village: Stories Of Black Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Cherieda A. Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While several studies have reviewed the experiences of Black grandparent caregivers, there are limited sources that describe the stories of Black grandparents who are caregivers for their grandchildren and the challenges they face. Utilizing the concepts from Bowen family systems theory, the goal of this study was to explore the stories of Black grandparents who are caregivers for their grandchildren to discover preventive and enhanced counseling techniques for the next generation. Data were collected and analyzed from narrative inquiry interviews with six participants who were Black caregivers for their grandchildren in the state of Mississippi. After analysis of the data, …

The Self-Perceived Level Of Wellness Among Ghanaian Mental Health Counselors, Adwoa Bonney-Graves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Ghana, many people seek help for their mental health; however, despite the great need, there are often barriers or factors that can create unwellness among mental health counselors. There is a gap in the research literature addressing whether unwellness among Ghanaian mental health counselors is caused by external factors of counselor caseload, low funding, and minimal work staff. This quantitative study aimed to fill this gap by using predictive regression analysis to determine whether there is a correlation between Ghanaian counselors’ unwellness and counselor caseload, low funding, and minimal work staff. The study participants (N = 96) were Ghanaian …

Predictors Of Spiritual Struggle: Exploring The Role Of Trauma Exposure, Resilience, And Religious Behaviors Among Religiously Affiliated University Students, Harvey O. Burnett Jr, Duane C. Mcbride

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

This study examined how exposure to traumatic experiences, protective factors such as Psychological Body Armor (TM) (PBA), physical wellness behaviors, and religious practices predict spiritual struggle among students attending a religiously affiliated university. Preliminary findings revealed that PBA, non-class assigned Bible and Christian literature readings were predictive of reduced spiritual struggle.

Witnessing Eyewitness Coercion And Familiarity Affects Defense Attorneys’ Evaluations Of Trial Prospects, Jason Carty

Student Theses

Abstract

The current study is designed to determine whether two case factors affect criminal defense attorneys’ plea decision-making: witness coercion and witness familiarity with the defendant. A sample of 133 criminal defense attorneys (123 after attention checks) reviewed a mock case vignette and a witness interview which varies on two dimensions: coerciveness (coercive, non-coercive) and witness relationship to the defendant (friend, stranger). Attorneys reported their impressions of the case and indicated their recommended minimum and maximum length of negotiated plea agreements, how likely their client was to be convicted at trial, how coercive they thought the mock interview was, and …

Prosocial Behavior, Sean Fernando, Claire Leach, Danielle Haake, Debra Bigelow-Davis, Jillian Stokes, Aj Kalawai'a, Nore Heinitz, Grace Bates

Psychology Student Publications

Prosocial behavior is a widely researched area of social psychology. It can be defined as the voluntary actions performed with the goal of benefiting others. This concept of helping others includes a wide range of actions, from simple acts such as holding the door open for someone to larger acts like donating money to charity (Peetz & Howard, 2022). This chapter will explore the topic of prosocial behavior by identifying the main types of prosocial behavior and the measure used to assess them, explaining the motivation behind prosocial behavior, and discussing various benefits and counterarguments to prosocial behavior.

Determinants Of Implementation For Group Medical Visits For Patients With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review, Isabel Roth, Malik Tiedt, Carrie Brintz, Ariana Thompson-Lastad, Gayla Ferguson, Erum Agha, Jennifer Holcomb, Paula Gardiner, Jennifer Leeman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite the critical need for comprehensive and effective chronic pain care, delivery of such care remains challenging. Group medical visits (GMVs) offer an innovative and efficient model for providing comprehensive care for patients with chronic pain. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify barriers and facilitators (determinants) to implementing GMVs for adult patients with chronic pain.

METHODS: The review included peer-reviewed studies reporting findings on implementation of GMVs for chronic pain, inclusive of all study designs. Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched. Studies of individual appointments or group therapy were excluded. The Mixed …

Prediction Of Disease-Free Survival For Precision Medicine Using Cooperative Learning On Multi-Omic Data, Georg Hahn, Dmitry Prokopenko, Julian Hecker, Sharon M Lutz, Kristina Mullin, Leinal Sejour, Winston Hide, Ioannis Vlachos, Stacia Desantis, Rudolph E Tanzi, Christoph Lange

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In precision medicine, both predicting the disease susceptibility of an individual and forecasting its disease-free survival are areas of key research. Besides the classical epidemiological predictor variables, data from multiple (omic) platforms are increasingly available. To integrate this wealth of information, we propose new methodology to combine both cooperative learning, a recent approach to leverage the predictive power of several datasets, and polygenic hazard score models. Polygenic hazard score models provide a practitioner with a more differentiated view of the predicted disease-free survival than the one given by merely a point estimate, for instance computed with a polygenic risk score. …