Psychology Commons^™

Exploring The Relationship Between Discrete Cognitive Skills And Adaptive Skills In A Transdiagnostic Sample Of Children And Adolescents, Jacy L. Black

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The relationship between intelligence and adaptive functioning has been well researched for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. However, the relationship between these constructs has yet to be fully explored in other clinical pediatric populations that exhibit significant deficits in adaptive functioning. This archival study investigated the relationship between cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior in a transdiagnostic sample of children and adolescents. Although past studies have examined these relationships utilizing estimations of generalized intellectual ability, the present research examined associations between adaptive skills and discrete cognitive skills, often referred to as cognitive domains. By identifying the association …

Utility Of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–Third Edition (Mmpi-3) Eating Concerns Scale In A Bariatric Sample, Darryl Ray

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The utility of the Eating Concerns (EAT) scale on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–3 (MMPI-3) was examined in a preoperative bariatric sample through comparisons with established measures and an assessment of internal consistency. Participants (N = 161) enrolled in a bariatric surgery program completed a comprehensive preoperative psychological evaluation that included the MMPI-3, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), and the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire–Short Form (WEL-SF). The EAT scale differentiated the disordered eating groups and showed moderate associations with the TFEQ-C, TFEQ-D, and WEL-SF. Within this sample, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the EAT scale was lower than the alpha …

Hugs And Horses: A Pilot Study Of Hold Me Tight Plusⓡ - An Emotionally Focused Workshop With Equine Interactions, Courtney Crouse

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Emotionally Focused Therapy has also been proven to help individuals to feel an improved sense of trust and dyadic adjustment in their relationships (Morgis et al., 2019; Kennedy, 2019). Hold Me TightⓇ (HMT) is an evidence-based workshop designed by Dr. Sue Johnson. Research on HMT has shown that couples significantly improved their relationship satisfaction and the security of their bond (Conradi et al., 2017). Equine-assisted interventions that are paired with therapeutic interventions have been shown to be effective in improving couples’ sense of relationship quality (Willmund et al., 2021). A combination of equine-assisted emotionally focused couples therapy has yet to …

Basc-3 Adolescent Version For American Indian / Alaska Native (Ai/An) Adolescents With Learning Difficulties: Identifying Comorbidities, Benjamin L. Shannon

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Deficiencies in cultural sensitivity among popular psychological assessment instruments can have significant consequences for diverse test takers, leading to inaccurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention. The present study aimed to explore possible differences in mean raw scale scores between an AI/AN adolescent sample and BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A normative sample data, as well as to establish preliminary evidence to suggest an increased prevalence of social/emotional dysfunction for AI/AN adolescents diagnosed with multiple specific learning disabilities (SLDs). Archival BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A data, collected from students and teachers at a residential school for American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents from …

Adverse Therapy Experiences In Patients At An Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital As A Predictor Of Inpatient Risk And Distress, Jaycee Hallford

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Psychotherapy is widely assumed to be beneficial, yet research consistently shows that a meaningful proportion of patients experience deterioration or harm. Adverse therapy experiences (ATEs) may intensify distress, undermine trust in clinicians, and elevate risk for self-harm, particularly among psychiatric inpatients who are already in crisis; ATEs may thus contribute to deterioration while undergoing psychotherapy. This study examined whether ATEs predicted psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and perceived risk of harm to self or others among adult psychiatric inpatients. Data were obtained from 56 voluntary and involuntary inpatients using a newly developed measure of ATEs, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social …

Relationships Between Intimate Partner Attachment Style, Pet Attachment Style, And Type Of Pet, Hamilton Lovett

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Prior research has shown attachment figures can take many forms beyond human-to-human connection. As pets continue to serve an increasingly important familial role, they have also become strong attachment figures for children and adults alike. The present study explored pet attachment relationships in more depth, examining a sample of pet owners with traditional pets, dogs and cats, and those with an exotic pet, snakes. Participants completed a survey measuring their intimate partner attachment style and their attachment style to their pet. Findings indicated those with anxious intimate partner attachment styles also hold anxious attachment to their pets. However, participants with …

The Perfect Ten: How Perceived Sport Performance Outcomes And Other Factors Impact An Athlete’S Body Image, Mia Asuncion

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The present study investigated factors that influence body image in collegiate athletes before and after competition. Existing research has focused on factors such as sex differences and aesthetic versus non-aesthetic sports, but there is limited research on factors such as an athlete’s view of their performance, the weight pressures an athlete faces from external supports, and the interplay of these variables. Participants (n = 53) filled out a questionnaire 24 hours prior to, and following, a competition. They rated body image disturbance, subjective performance satisfaction, and weight pressures from external systems. Results showed a relationship between body image disturbance and …

Shame, Shame, I Don’T Know Your Name: The Association Of Shame In Asian Culture With Self-Compassion And Self-Criticism In Asian Americans, Lauren M. Nguyen

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

With depression and suicidality on the rise among Asian Americans and gaps in research for members of Asian culture, it is imperative to examine the factors that may influence mental health outcomes, to help inform clinical considerations. Shame plays a significant role in Asian culture and is an essential component in understanding the mental health of Asian Americans. Self-criticism and self-compassion have also been shown to influence mental health outcomes in Asian populations. This study examined how shame in Asian culture is linked to self-criticism and self-compassion in Asian Americans, and how acculturation can impact these relationships. A total of …

Disparities In Emergency Medical Services: Examining Care Gaps For The High-Frequency User Population, Sarah Krysl Cleveringa

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Although many studies have illustrated healthcare disparities related to patient demographic factors in emergency medical response, few studies have examined how differences in care may be related to a patient’s identity as a high-frequency utilizer of emergency medical services (EMS). The Superuser population (higher than average utilizers of EMS) has been examined for characteristics and costs to society, but it is unknown if they receive a different type or quality of care compared to the low-frequency utilizer population. The goal of this study is to examine the EMS care that Superusers receive and possible factors that may contribute to the …

“You’Re Denying God”: Thoughts On Institutional Homophobia From Lgbtq-Affirming Staff And Faculty At Christian Colleges, Kaytlin Epperly

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Over 4 million adults identify as LGBTQ Christians in the United States (Conron et al., 2020). Yet, despite increasing support in secular and religious circles alike, the LGBTQ community continues to face prejudice and discrimination in evangelical Christian spaces (Jones, 2026; Public Religion Research Institute, 2023). Unfortunately, much of this is experienced on Christian college campuses. During a crucial period of identity development, many emerging adults on these campuses struggle between their queer identities and Christian faith, leading to psychological distress, shame, and marginalization. However, previous research illustrates the integral role that social support plays in LGBTQ students’ wellbeing (Cook …

Relationships Between Substance Use, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychological Functioning, And Use Of Positive Coping, Jade Binford

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Clinicians have attempted to understand substance abuse for years, and theories attempting to explain substance abuse have evolved. Theories have ranged from viewing the issue as a moral failure to interpreting it through a disease-oriented viewpoint. The self-medication hypothesis has been used to understand substance abuse and describes the issue as deriving from individuals seeking relief from psychological distress (e.g., emotional dysregulation, behavioral impairment, painful memories). Substance abuse has been linked to the experience of depression, anxiety, exposure to adverse experiences in childhood and adulthood, and trauma-related clinical diagnoses. The role of positive coping has been considered a function that …

Pbis Fidelity As A Predictor Of School Connectedness For Secondary Students, Danielle German

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

School connectedness, defined as the extent to which students "feel accepted, respected, included, and supported in the school environment," (Goodenow, 1993, p.80) has been identified as a protective factor linked to numerous positive behavioral, academic, and affective outcomes for secondary students. Given its importance, schools may seek to invest in efforts that enhance students’ sense of school connectedness. Research suggests that targeted instruction may be particularly effective in promoting school connectedness among adolescents (German et al., 2026). Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, multi-tiered framework that emphasizes explicit instruction of behavioral expectations and reinforcement of appropriate behavior. …

A Case Of Acquired Amusia And Misophonia Following Right Temporal Resection, Emily R. Dappen, Joel I. Berger, Amy M. Belfi, Joel Bruss, Timothy D. Griffiths, Alexander J. Billig, Ariane E. Rhone, Kirill V. Nourski, Daniel Tranel, Brian J. Dlouhy

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Our perception of the auditory world allows us to enjoy the richness of music and communicate effectively with others. These everyday processes are disrupted in conditions such as amusia, an inability to perceive music accurately, and misophonia, an intense emotional reaction to common sounds produced by others. We describe a case of acquired, concurrent amusia and misophonia in a 21-year-old right-handed woman following a right posterior insula, posterior temporal, supramarginal cortex, and sensory cortex resection for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. Methods: The patient participated in interviews between 4–8 months post-resection. She completed an extensive testing battery designed to …

Teaching Effectiveness On Secondary Mathematics: Evidence From Pisa—Shanghai-China, Ting Shen

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Educational researchers and policymakers around the world have a strong interest in understanding the underlying reasons for the remarkable academic achievement of Chinese students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Although teachers have a significant impact on student achievement, empirical evidence on teaching effectiveness in the Chinese education system has been scarce. This study uses the PISA 2012 Shanghai-China data and employs both multilevel models and quantile regression models to investigate effective teaching factors and their differential effects for students at different mathematics achievement levels. The results reveal the importance of cognitive activation and disciplinary climate as consistent, …

Five Tensions Of Artificial Intelligence Adoption For Organ Allocation: Applying The Technology–Organization–Environment Framework, Amaneh Babaee, Daniel Burton Shank, Casey I. Canfield, Joely Grace Hall, Krista L. Lentine, Henry Randall, Mark Schnitzler

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: The US organ transplantation system is pursuing modernization of the allocation process through the integration of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). However, the legal and ethical issues within the transplantation industry are still of concern. Objective: We explore the opportunities and challenges for Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) to adopt AI. The US organ transplant system is a highly regulated industry yet open to innovation. Methods: Ten structured interviews were conducted with OPO representatives using the Extended Technology, Organization, Environment (TOE) framework. Results: Overall, we identified five core tensions in AI adoption: (1) misconceptions, (2) approach to training, …

Character Judgements Of Rap Music Fans, Kaila C. Putter, Dan J. Miller, Amy M. Belfi, James Rees, Amanda E. Krause

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Extending Fischoff, we used vignettes to examine people's perceptions of a hypothetical rap fan accused of murder. Study 1 (N = 300) used a 2 (murder accusation) x 2 (inclusion of rap lyrics) x 2 (fan gender) experiment, asking participants to judge how capable of murder and sexually aggressive they found the fan. The presentation of lyrics and murder accusation were associated with the fan being more capable of murder, while rap lyrics and participants' rap attitudes were associated with the fan being more sexually aggressive. Thematic analysis revealed that, in conditions containing both the lyrics and the murder accusation, …

C.A.S. Full Assessment Report: State Of Florida Government Portal, Delante Clark

Graduate Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the cognitive overhead, transparency, and attentional integrity of

official State of Florida digital interfaces using the Cognitive Attentional Standards (C.A.S.) platform.

While the Florida Digital Bill of Rights (FDBR) establishes strict regulatory guardrails for consumer data

transparency, tracking opt-outs, and attentional safeguards, the State of Florida explicitly exempts its own

government agencies, public universities, and non-profit entities from complying with these rules.

This assessment serves to investigate the tension between legislative intent and government execution. By

analyzing public sector websites through the C.A.S. platform, this project will establish a “state-enforced vs.

state-executed” …

Early Developmental Wounds To Interpersonal Struggles: The Role Of Emotion Dysregulation, Parth Yogesh Sompura

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Numerous studies have examined the effects of trauma on emotion dysregulation or have focused primarily on childhood trauma. The present study aimed to understand the effects of trauma at different developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The sample consisted of 201 participants, who were selected from a larger pool of participants who received course credit for completing this study. The results of this study revealed that trauma at all ages significantly and positively affects interpersonal difficulties, through emotion dysregulation as a positive mediator, as hypothesized. However, contrary to hypotheses, childhood trauma did not have a greater effect compared to adolescent …

Framing Of Obesity In Magazines, Chitrangda Malik

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

The aim of this study is to determine how the top four magazines in America portray the issue of obesity in terms of responsibility and in relation to mental health. Additionally, it is to determine the kind of framing used to present the issue of obesity. The data of this study is limited to Costco Connection, Better Homes & Gardens, AARP, and People magazine. Data has been divided into two timelines, one from January 2020-January 2026 and the other from January 2022-January 2026. Results indicate that magazine articles primarily attribute the cause of and solution to obesity as behavioral and …

Entrepreneurial Persistence, Renate Alant

A with Honors Projects

This project explores the psychological factors of self-efficacy, passion, grit, and value alignment that drive long-term entrepreneurial persistence, challenging and elaborating on the notion that confidence alone determines success.

Measurement Invariance Of Transtheoretical Model-Based Measures For Covid-19 Vaccination Readiness, Allegra Opiela

Open Access Dissertations

Purpose. To assess the measurement invariance of four novel Transtheoretical Model (TTM)-based measures for readiness to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Design. Cross-sectional.

Setting. Online survey study in the United States (US).

Participants. 1169 US-based adults aged 18-85.

Measures. Demographics, Stage of Change, Vaccination History, Decisional Balance, Self-efficacy, Myths, and Barriers to COVID-19 vaccination.

Analyses. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses with increased restraints on model parameters to assess configural (no constraints), metric (factor loadings constrained), and scalar invariance (factor loadings and item intercepts constrained) in a sequential manner.

Results. Decisional Balance, Myths, and Barriers demonstrated scalar …

Estimating The Average Treatment Effect In Randomized Controlled Trials With Incomplete Covariates, Elizabeth M. Pauley

Open Access Dissertations

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are commonly used to estimate average treatment effects (ATEs), with baseline covariates often included to improve precision and statistical power for detecting those effects. In applied settings, covariates can be incomplete, and some may moderate treatment effects, leading to heterogeneous treatment effects (HTE). Literature lacks clear direction regarding whether incomplete covariates should be included when estimating the ATE and how different missing data handling methods perform in such conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of four missing data handling methods in RCTs via Monte Carlo simulations, namely listwise deletion (LD), inverse probability weighting (IPW), …

A Longitudinal Study On The Impact Of Childhood Air Pollution Exposure On Adolescent Cognition, Emily K. Carter

Open Access Dissertations

About 2 in 5 Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. Poor air quality has been shown to lead to a diverse set of negative health that can affect the cardiovascular system and have downstream effects on brain structure and cognition. The detrimental impacts of air pollution on cognition have been widely studied, though due to methodological limitations in the available research, a direct association between air pollution exposure and cognitive development remains inconclusive and unclear. Further, studies in this area have largely focused on prenatal exposure and neurocognitive impacts during early childhood; the potential longer-term effects …

Intermittent Versus Continuous Reinforcement: Which Is More Effective For Skill Acquisition In Children With Adhd Using Precision Teaching?, Samantha Pulling

Masters Theses

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can experience challenges learning academic skills, possibly because of altered reinforcement and learning processes. Reinforcement is commonly used to support learning and adaptive behavior; however, research examining continuous and intermittent reinforcement schedules for children with ADHD has produced inconsistent findings. Precision Teaching (PT) is a fluency-based, data-driven instructional approach that emphasizes rate and celeration of behavior and has been shown to effectively support academic learning for individuals with ADHD. This study compared the effects of a continuous reinforcement schedule with a small reinforcer and an intermittent reinforcement schedule with a larger reinforcer on …

Shades Of Stress: Colorism As Minority Stress For Women Of Color, Caitlin M. Mercier, Brea M. Banks, Lourdes D. Concepción Cabán, Michelle Duong

Faculty Publications – Psychology

Women of color often endure indignities shaped by colorism and skin tone discrimination, pressuring them to adhere to racialized beauty ideals (i.e., lighter skin). In response, some women of color may internalize these standards (i.e., through internalized coping and racial self-hatred) which can foster psychological distress. Yet, these associations remain underexplored. Using minority stress theory, in our cross-sectional study we collected online survey data to examine whether internalization and racial self-hatred explained the indirect link between colorist microaggressions and psychological distress among 121 women of color at a Midwestern US historically white institution. Using path analysis, we found support for …

Psychological Characteristics Of Beginner And Advanced Judokas, Leanardo De Lorenco-Lima, Daniery Rosario, Reury F. P. Bacurau, Leonardo V. Andreato, Stacey A. Gaines

Applied Sport & Performance Psychology | Faculty Scholarship

Several psychological benefits have been associated with judo training, including enhanced cognitive functioning, improved emotional regulation, and higher self-confidence, with training experience being associated with higher levels of several psychological characteristics. Purpose: The current study explored the differences in training and psychological  characteristics  between  beginner  and  advanced  judokas.  Methods:  A  sample  of  146  judokas (77.4% male), including 67 beginners and 79 advanced, between 18 and 45 years of age, completed the Brief Resilience Scale (α = .84), Grit Scale (α = .82), General Self-Efficacy Scale (α = .85), Brief Self-Control Scale (α = .82), Brief Aggression Questionnaire (α = .75), …

Emotional Contagion In Nonhuman Working Animals: Lessons From Canine Rescue Teams, Kimberly T. Schneider, S. Burak Ozkum, Alexandra Ilie, Dan Ispas

Faculty Publications – Psychology

No abstract provided.

A Psychometric Evaluation Of Obsessive-Compulsive Items In The Hierarchical Taxonomy Of Psychopathology (Hitop)-Self Report Among Caregivers Of Children, Zach Wasserman

Honors Theses

Introduction: The classification and assessment of psychopathology is a crucial part of understanding mental health. The current model, published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, with the current 5th edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2022), utilizes a categorical approach to psychopathology (i.e., one has the disorder or they do not). This creates ~300 diagnoses that are understood as theoretically distinct from one another. In reality, categorical diagnoses are often heavily comorbid (Forbes et al., 2024) and within a diagnostic category there are large amounts of heterogeneity (Feczko & Fair, 2020). To address these issues, dimensional models …

The Efflorescence Of Apocalypticism (Imminent & Prepping Beliefs): Considering Informational And Motivational Regulatory Mechanisms, James T. Good Mr.

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the last quarter of the 21st century, apocalyptic beliefs emerged in scholarly and lay representations notably doubling over the last decade. With nearly forty percent of United States citizen reporting this belief, unfulfilled questions arose: What drives discrepancies in beliefs of an imminent end of the world? Additionally, what drives beliefs in the need to prepare for an end of the world? These individual questions were examined together in this study using Construal Level Theory (CLT) and Regulatory Focus Theory (RFT) in an attempt to identify how psychological mechanisms are significantly affecting the fluctuations, in these self-reported beliefs. A …

Daily Fluctuations In Adolescents’ Political Stress, Jacqueline Cerda-Smith, Sholeh Najafian, Shevaun Neupert, Kelly Lynn Mulvey

Faculty Publications – Psychology

This study explored adolescents' daily political stress during the 2024 US election and how proximal and distal factors shaped stress. Participants completed surveys for 20 consecutive days before, during, and after the election. At baseline, they reported perceptions of peer and family election-related experiences and anticipated election impact. Daily surveys captured their daily political stress and election-related exposure. The final sample included 445 daily observations reported by 36 adolescents (aged 13–18, M = 15.61, SD = 1.23) who were mostly white, female, and Democrats. Participants reported significant daily fluctuations in political stress and greater political stress on days when they …