Psychology Commons^™

Initiation Of Hearing Aids Use And Incident Dementia Among Mid-To-Late Life Adults: The Health And Retirement Study 2010-2018, Jingkai Wei, Kun Li, Youngran Kim, Rahul Ghosal, Donglan Zhang, Anwar T Merchant, Casey Crump

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hearing aids may reduce the risk of dementia among individuals with hearing loss. However, no evidence is available from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of hearing aids use in reducing incident dementia. Using target trial emulation, we leveraged an existing longitudinal cohort study to estimate the association between hearing aids initiation and risk of dementia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study was used to emulate target trials among non-institutionalized participants aged ≥50 years with self-reported hearing loss, without dementia at baseline, and without use of hearing aids in the previous 2 years. …

The Ongoing Manipulation Game Of The Culinary World, Evelyn Graham

Undergraduate Scholarly Works

Consumers are rarely aware of how much work actually goes into the enjoyment of their food. It is common knowledge that restaurant owners put a lot of work into their art, we can see this in the food they put forth, but so much is missed behind the scenes in the manipulation of the consumers' senses. Flavor perception is often confused for the simplicity of taste, however, I argue flavor perception is a complex construct of multisensory interactions, intentionally placed to influence consumers' purchasing behaviors. The combination of sights, scents, textures, sounds, and tastes work together to create the brain's …

Motivational Dysregulation With Melanocortin 4 Receptor Haploinsufficiency, Alex M. Steiner, Robert F. Roscoe, Rosemarie M. Booze, Charles F. Mactutus

Faculty Publications

Obesity, by any standard, is a global health crisis. Both genetic and dietary contributions to the development and maintenance of obesity were integral factors of our experimental design. As mutations of the melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4R) are the leading monogenetic cause of obesity, MC4R haploinsufficient rats were fed a range of dietary fat (0–12 %) in a longitudinal design. Physiological and motivational assessments were performed using a locomotor task, a 5-choice sucrose preference task, an operant task with fixed and progressive ratios, as well as a distraction operant task. Dendritic spine morphology of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the nucleus …

Moving From Traits To The Dynamic Process: The Next Steps In Research On Human Resilience, Yannick Hill, Michael L. Dolezal, Patric C. Nordbeck, Ruud J. R. Den Hartigh, David Pincus, Adam W. Kiefer, Bernard P. Ricca

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The current literature on resilience shows a trend toward a dynamic process conceptualization, moving away from the previous trait-approach. However, the term “dynamic” is increasingly treated as a buzzword and is thereby oversimplified in the literature. The aim of this article is to develop a unified language pertaining to resilience as a dynamic process, so as to ensure progress in this field. First, we briefly introduce the traditional trait approach alongside the implicit assumption on which it is built. Next, we contrast this approach by discussing what dynamics entail and how this approach differs from mainstream psychological approaches. Specifically, dynamics …

The Ensemble Code As A Constructed Working Memory, Jacob Zepp

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation formalizes and refines a new theory of ensemble coding: the Non-Selective Transfer Model. Within this theory, ensemble codes and subsequent summary judgments are the result of representations constructed over a subset of information that is encoded into working memory. The work begins with a brief review of current ideas present within the ensemble coding literature, followed by a set of formalized descriptions of ensemble coding theories that have been proposed. A discussion of relevant theories present in the working memory literature is also provided to motivate the structure of the subsequent model. The Non-Selective Transfer Model 2 is …

An Exploratory Study On The Impact Of Vicarious Trauma On Physician’S Psychological Flexibility, Distress Tolerance, Perceived Social Support, And Self-Care, Ramya Kantharaj

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There have been increased rates of depression, suicide, and burnout over the last several years among medical physicians. In fact, in most healthcare systems, physicians report greater incidences of depression and anxiety compared to the broader population, as well as compared to others within the medical field (Gerada, 2018). Their rigorous work style and various risk factors predispose this population to worse mental health outcomes. Additionally, societal stigmas may cause many physicians to avoid mental health treatments (Mehta & Edwards, 2018). Ultimately, poor mental health outcomes can impact physicians' clinical work with patients. On the other hand, when physicians can …

The Role Of Neighborhood Unemployment On Oxford House Sustainability, Alexa Nieder

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Recovery homes are important in the continuum of care for individuals with substance use disorders. Oxford Houses facilitate recovery processes, foster community, and reduce relapse rates by providing supportive housing to individuals seeking recovery. Research suggests that financial limitations act as a barrier to the maintenance or sustainability of evidence-based interventions. Therefore, neighborhood unemployment may negatively impact the longevity of recovery homes. House size could have an influence on this relationship. This research relied on census data from the 2020 American Community Survey to examine unemployment at the neighborhood level using zip codes inhabiting Oxford Houses. Results reveal that percent …

A Systematic Exploration Of Theoretical, Conceptual, And Methodological Alignment Of Social Network Analysis In Organizational Behavior, Morgan Gleason Miller

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review examines how Social Network Analysis (SNA) is used in the study of Organizational Behavior (OB). Industrial-Organizational Psychology Literature suggests SNA tends to be applied using either a structural or relational approach (Erikson, 2013). Some researchers claim that this methodology is applied inconsistently due to the intermingling of two distinct underlying frameworks and the exclusion of individual differences and interpersonal factors limits the relevance of SNA (Erikson, 2013; Kilduff & Lee, 2020). Results indicate the structural perspective is slightly dominant across the use of SNA, but the use of both frameworks is increasing. Directionally, study methods aligned with …

Clutter And Control: A Regional Analysis Of The Effect Of Decluttering, Zachary Henry Ellis

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The Covid pandemic impacted the whole nation, with 72% of Americans reported disruption in their everyday lives, and 45% of Americans reported negative health impacts in response to the pandemic (Kirzinger et al. 2020). However, there are some populations of citizens that are more vulnerable to the negative mental health effects of the pandemic (Czeisler et al. 2020). Fear and psychological reactance, triggered when individuals feel their freedoms are threatened, surged during the pandemic (Taylor and Asmundson, 2021; Wortman & Brehm, 1975). Yet, little research explores how decluttering projects affect this behavior.

The current study explored the impact of successful …

Pro-Environmental Organizational Climates: Implications For Employees, Organizations, And The Environment, Nicholas Carruth

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Psychological research on climate change often focuses on driving adaptive individual behaviors in nonspecific contexts. Focusing on contexts where group-level behavior emerges (e.g., workplaces) is likely to yield insights that affect more significant numbers of people, in turn, having a greater impact on the natural environment. This study, therefore, explored the implications of a new operationalization of pro-environmental work climate, Organizational Climate for Environmental Action (OCEA). Participants (N = 393) responded to an online survey. Pro-environmental climate was positively associated with employee pro-environmental behaviors at work and organizational commitment over and above several work characteristics. Pro-environmental climate also fully …

The Mediating Effect Of Recognizing Racism And Biases Within The Workplace: Cross-Race Friendships And Allyship Behaviors, Amber Kaiser

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

In this study, engagement in allyship behaviors were tested in a sample of part- and full-time workers that worked either in a fully in-person or hybrid work environment. Participants (N = 271) responded to an online survey. Drawing on friendship and intergroup contact theories, the effect of cross-race friendships on allyship behaviors was tested. Recognition of racism and biases was proposed as the distinct candidate mediator in this relationship. All constructs consisted of individual measures, each tested through a series of linear regressions and multiple mediation models. Specifically, cross-race friendships included close cross-race friendship and cross-race friendship behaviors; recognition …

Initial Reactions: Rethinking The Efficacy Of Current Contractual Practies For Consumer Protection, Sarah E. Wellard

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

To protect consumers from unfair contracts, legislatures have implemented measures requiring consumers to signal specific agreement to crucial clauses. One such common practice is requiring consumers to initial specific provisions within contracts. This dissertation investigates the efficacy of initialing and other secondary tasks in promoting consumer understanding and memory of contractual information. Through a series of three experimental studies, participants engaged in tasks involving initialing, semantic processing, or irrelevant letter-classification tasks while processing contract information. Contrary to predictions, the findings failed to show that initialing or other secondary tasks significantly improved consumer’s reported memory or understanding of contract terms, compared …

Fgf21 Acts In The Brain To Drive Macronutrient-Specific Changes In Behavioral Motivation And Brain Reward Signaling, Md Shahjalal H. Khan, Sora Q. Kim, Robert C. Ross, Florina Corpodean, Redin A. Spann, Diana A. Albarado, Sun O. Fernandez-Kim, Blaise Clarke, Hans Rudolf Berthoud, Heike Münzberg, David H. Mcdougal, Yanlin He, Sangho Yu, Vance L. Albaugh, Paul L. Soto, Christopher D. Morrison

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Dietary protein restriction induces adaptive changes in food preference, increasing protein consumption over carbohydrates or fat. We investigated whether motivation and reward signaling underpin these preferences. Methods and Results: In an operant task, protein-restricted male mice responded more for liquid protein rewards, but not carbohydrate, fat, or sweet rewards compared to non-restricted mice. When the number of responses required to access protein reward varied, protein-restricted mice exhibited higher operant responses at moderate to high response requirements. The protein restriction-induced increase in operant responding for protein was absent in Fgf21-KO mice and mice with neuron-specific deletion of the FGF21 co-receptor …

Childless Mothers: Lived Experiences Of Black Mothers Who Lost An Only Child, Arielle Jordan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study, grounded in hermeneutic phenomenology, explores the experiences of Black mothers who have lost their only child, addressing a topic often overlooked in counseling training programs. Many counselor educators and supervisors are unprepared to train counselors on how best to support these mothers through their unique grief journeys. This study outcomes fill that gap by providing a deeper understanding of their experiences, intending to shape better counseling practices. The central question guiding this research is: What are the lived experiences of Black mothers who have survived the loss of their only child? To answer this, in-depth interviews were …

Intrinsic Motivation And Career Satisfaction Among Immigrant Health Care Workers, Michelle Marie Henderson-Darling

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caribbean immigrants are vital to the U.S. health care workforce, yet they face barriers that often hinder their career satisfaction and well-being. This qualitative study aimed to explore how intrinsic motivations, specifically competence, autonomy, and relatedness, shape the career experiences of Caribbean immigrants in health care. Using self-determination theory as the theoretical framework, this study addressed the research question of how these intrinsic motivations shape immigrant experiences in the U.S. health care sector. Data were collected from 10 Caribbean immigrants who were naturalized U.S. citizens using semistructured, audio-recorded interviews. The data were thematically analyzed to detect patterns and themes. The …

Psychology In Vietnam, Michael Hass, Hoang-Minh Dang

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

The development of psychology in Vietnam is closely tied to its colonial history and the 30-year division of the country into two states. In the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, psychology was intricately connected with education, pedagogy, and teacher training. This emphasis continued throughout the country post-unification. As Vietnam reformed its economy in the late 1980s and 1990s, the social stresses associated with these changes led to a greater need for mental health services, especially for children and youth. This has led to the development of specialized graduate programs in clinical and school psychology. Currently, 28 universities offer bachelor’s degrees in …

Partisan Prejudice: The Role Of Beliefs About The Unchanging Nature Of Ideology And Partisans, Crystal L. Hoyt, Jeni L. Burnette, Meghan Moore

Jepson School of Leadership Studies articles, book chapters and other publications

Although there is a tendency to think all forms of essentialism—the belief that characteristics are inherent and unchangeable—are similar, some theories suggest different foundations and outcomes. We investigated if belief systems about the stability of political ideology (trait essentialism) and the fundamental nature of partisans (social essentialism) predict prejudice in opposite ways and if they do so via differential relations with blame. Across six studies (N = 2,231), we found that the more people believe the trait of political ideology is fixed (trait essentialism), the more they think that Republicans and Democrats are inherently different (social essentialism). Crucially, despite …

Six-Year College Graduation Status For High School Students Participating In An Upward Bound Program, Raymond Upward Cabrera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of high school academic indicators and participation in the federally funded Upward Bound program on college graduation rates for first-generation, low-income students. Specifically the extent to which participation in the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program and related factors—high school GPA, course rigor, program involvement, gender, race, and college type—predict 6-year college graduation rates for first-generation, low-income students. Using stepwise logistic regression analysis on data of 163 students in an Upward Bound program in the Southeast, the results show that students with higher GPAs, active engagement in the program, and females were significantly more likely …

Challenge, Hindrance, Or Both: Exploring The Relationship Between Motivational State And Employee Experience Of Job Demands, Leonard Hudson Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations

One of the most common typologies of workplace stressors is the challengehindrance framework (Cavanaugh et al., 2000). Challenge stressors are job demands that are perceived by employees as obstacles to be overcome to learn and achieve (LePine et al., 2005). Conversely, hindrance stressors are job demands that are perceived by employees as unnecessarily thwarting personal growth and goal attainment (LePine et al., 2005). While useful, Cavanaugh et al.’s tendency to label stressors as one or the other categorically was later disputed, in that there is more variability in how stressors are experienced than Cavanaugh et al. described (Webster et al., …

Attachment Styles As Moderators Of Loneliness In Remote Work, Brody Tj Loughlin

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the role of attachment styles in moderating the relationship between remote work and loneliness. Drawing on attachment theory, which posits that early life experiences shape attachment styles and influence social interactions, the study examines whether attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, and secure) moderate the association between remote work and feelings of loneliness. The research targets 394 remote workers, using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with proportional stratified sampling to reflect the distribution of hybrid and fully remote work arrangements in the U.S. workforce. The Extent of RemoteWork measure, the Three-Item Loneliness Scale, and the Adult Attachment Scale assess …

How Helpless Are You? The Need For Closure And The Need For Cognitive Preferences As A Moderating Effect In The Relationship Between Perceived Self-Efficacy And Learned Helplessness, Aungelique Renea Sledge

Doctoral Dissertations

A substantial amount of research has been shown that the impact of self-efficacy has shown positive and negative effects. Additionally, the need for closure defined as an individual's motivational degree to reach firm answers, as opposed to ambiguity has also been shown to have diverse effects for individuals when their closure needs are threatened or unobtained. Research has posited that to successfully obtain and/or avoid reaching closure in various situations, an individual must be able to process information in a way that is quick, heuristic, and stereotypical (e.g., cognitive structuring) or in a way that is much slower, effortful, and …

Examining Influences On Cotton And Peanut Farmers’ Intentions To Adopt Agricultural Best Management Practices In Southeast Georgia, William R. Taylor, Abigail Borron, Jessica Holt, Walter Scott Monfort

Journal of Extension

Various factors have been found to influence farmers’ adoption of best management practices. This study examines the influences on farmers’ intentions to adopt best management practices by using an extended model of the theory of planned behavior. This descriptive exploratory study surveyed Georgia cotton and peanut farmers (N = 41). Findings revealed farmers had positive attitudes toward best management practices and showed that the use of best management practices is aligned with farmers’ intrinsic motivations. Agricultural practitioners may enhance educational and outreach efforts by leveraging farmers’ motivations and necessary capacities as outlined in this study.

Navigating The Landscape: Perceptions, Motivations, And The Journey Of Data Professionals In Implementing Data Processes And Procedures, Willie Rivers

Dissertations

This explanatory study investigates the motivations behind data professionals' willingness or resistance to implementing data policies and procedures, utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior and Psychological Ownership as frameworks. Through interviews with 21 data professionals, the research explains how factors such as perceived control, ownership, and attitudes towards data processes influence their motivation. The study tests key propositions, including the impact of perceived time burdens, bureaucratic procedures, and organizational expectations on data governance engagement. The findings underscore the critical role of control and access to information in motivating the adoption of data policies, providing insights for organizations aiming to enhance …

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Of Motivational Circuity After Tbi: A Comparison Between Medical Cannabis Users And Non-Users, Cidney Rae Robertson-Benta

Psychology ETDs

For many, symptom resolution occurs relatively quickly after traumatic brain injury (TBI), however some people experience symptoms that can last for months and even years. Apathy is a symptom that can cause disruption after TBI. While cannabis has been suggested to treat several symptoms and conditions related to TBI, given the historical association with apathy, investigation of the relationship is imperative. There is little research in the medical population, with even less in specific clinical samples - this study aims to bridge this gap. 52 participants with symptoms lasting at least 6 months were compared based on the use of …

Personality Feedback With Tailored Self-Care Recommendations Improves Self-Efficacy For Cancer Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Laura M. Perry, Brenna Mossman, Sofia F. Garcia, Sheetal M. Kircher, Addison Dunn, Sarah Alonzi, Sanjana Easwar, Michael Hoerger

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: To test whether a personality feedback intervention improves three domains of cancer self-management: self-awareness, self-efficacy, and positive affect. Methods: From 11/2020-02/2021, 372 adults diagnosed with cancer participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an intervention that entailed reading a brief personality-related excerpt during an online survey. Eligibility included self-reported age ≥ 18 years, current or past cancer diagnosis, and ability to read English. The survey included a baseline assessment with a personality questionnaire, then randomized participants to one of two groups. The intervention group (n = 184) received a personality feedback report with tailored self-care tips, whereas the …

The Effect Of Exercise Type On Working Memory, Ariana Gonzalez, William R. Kochen

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Martial arts encompass a wide range of sports and techniques that have been practiced for self-defense and combat for thousands of years. It has expanded to include various styles such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, judo, and karate. It has also been practiced as a form of exercise and entertainment. Martial arts have been associated to discipline, integrity, improved stamina, and increased mental and problem-solving capabilities. Unlike other exercise methods, most martial arts require focus, skill, and technique, which have been hypothesized to improve memory. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a significant improvement in the …

Driving Healthy Behaviors Through Social Support: The Role Of Co-Responsibility In Weight Loss And Maintenance, Melanie Knufinke-Meyfroyt, Carlo Lancia, Yentl Lodewijks, Simon Nienhuijs, Eva Deckers

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The effectiveness of out of hospital lifestyle interventions in healthcare is likely co-dependent on social support from involved one's. We sought to investigate the interrelationships between patient-partner Co-responsibility, Spousal Support, and Self-efficacy and the mechanisms through which they contribute to health behaviors and outcomes relevant to weight loss and maintenance. Methods: Co-responsibility, Spousal Support, self-efficacy, health outcomes and health behaviors like total weight loss, physical activity, OBESI-Q, and health satisfaction were assessed through a questionnaire among 868 individuals attempting to lose weight. Full and semi-partial correlations were used to understand the association between Co-responsibility, Spousal Support, Self-efficacy …

Creatine And Depression In Rodents: A Meta-Analysis, Ruchika S. Tirupachur

Master's Theses

Traditional treatments for major depression are based on the monoamine deficiency hypothesis, and they fail to achieve remission in a substantial portion of patients. Newer evidence suggests the pathophysiology of depression is a more complex story, highlighting a need for research in alternative therapies. Mounting evidence shows a linkage between depression and the supplement creatine monohydrate (CRMH). Research in rodent models suggests that CRMH may both alleviate depressive symptoms and enhance the efficacy of standard antidepressants like SSRIs. The following study describes findings from a combined fixed- and random-effects meta-analysis based on four empirical studies investigating the effect of CRMH …

The Effects Of Stress On Attentional Networks, Alice Tsvinev

Master's Theses

The human brain has developed mechanisms to aid our survival, including attentional networks and stress response. Attentional shifts allow humans to react accordingly to their environment, following innate processes like fight or flight. Prolonged exposure to acute stress interferes with such cognitive processes as attention and working memory, impacting attentional systems. The present study examined the effects of acute stress on visual attention processes, specifically focusing on the orienting, alerting, and executive attention networks. 49 participants were randomly placed in either a stress or non-stress condition, then asked to reflect on either stressful or positive moments in their lives, respectively. …

Information About A Racial Demographic Shift May Influence Tolerance For Outgroup Contact, Yvonne N. Phan

Master's Theses

When exposed to information about a demographic shift towards a non-White majority in America, White individuals tend to prefer interactions and settings within their own ethnic group over minority ethnic groups. This behavior may suggest that future inter-racial dynamics in the U.S. could be characterized by resistance from White individuals. To understand how other racial groups respond to information about a racial demographic shift, I collected data on three measures of outgroup tolerance from a multiracial sample of students from San Jose State University’s participant database after exposing them to information about a racial demographic shift driven by a Hispanic …