Psychology Commons^™

Mindfulness And Anxiety Symptoms: The Role Of Cognitive Reappraisal In Community Adults, Calla L. Pritulsky

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition worldwide and contributes to substantial societal costs, personal distress, and impairment (World Health Organization, 2023). Given its high prevalence, low treatment utilization, and modest response rates, identifying protective factors to inform prevention efforts is critical (Mamede et al., 2022; Mendelson & Eaton, 2018). Mindfulness, or the ability to nonjudgmentally pay attention to the present moment, comprises five key facets: observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity (Baer et al., 2006b). Although mindfulness is inversely associated with anxiety, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear (Desrosiers et al., 2013). Cognitive reappraisal, defined …

Predictors Of Psychological Strain In College Students In The Context Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Randy M. Ludwig

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated the traditional challenges of being a college student. This study examined the factors associated with the mental health difficulties many college students faced during the pandemic. Factor analysis was used to uncover a latent variable called psychological strain, which was composed of mental instability, mental health strain, sadness, anxiety, and unhappiness. An exploratory path model was created to determine which factors most closely related to psychological strain. Of the 14 factors considered, 11 were significant predictors. Overall, the most important risk factor was found to be social isolation (total effects = .437), while …

Predictive Validity Of Basc-3 Anxiety And Working Memory Scores For Clinically Significant Test Anxiety: Including Case-Level Examination Of Misclassified Profiles, Des'tiana Williams, Luis E. Aguerrevere, Nina Harness

Archives of Assessment Psychology

High school and college students can struggle with test anxiety, which may result in test scores below the capacity of the student. Previous literature suggests that test anxiety is related to general anxiety and limited working memory (WM), yet the extent to which these factors predict test anxiety in commonly used clinical psychoeducational assessments has not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we examined how well scores on the Behavior Assessment System for Children- 3rd edition (BASC-3) Self-Report Anxiety scale and Working Memory Index (WMI) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children …

A Brief Self-Help Intervention For Anxiety And Depressive Symptoms Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Dialectical Behavior Therapy Within Correctional Settings, Genevieve L. Ray

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Individuals within incarcerated settings are far more likely to experience symptoms that meet criteria for a mental health disorder compared to the general population. This population is often underserved due to various financial and resource constraints. Self-help interventions have grown in popularity due to their proven effectiveness and accessibility for consumers, particularly for anxiety and depression symptoms. A self-help intervention for those in a correctional setting would not require extensive additional personnel amid financial constraints and would increase access to care. Many self-help interventions that are currently published apply to the community population, but readily accessible resources that reside in …

The Role Of Reassurance Messages In Pediatric Oncology, Isabelle Faller

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite decreasing mortality rates, the high prevalence and incidence of pediatric cancer necessitate the need for advancements in the treatment of psychological concerns, specifically the reduction of patient distress and anxiety. A more comprehensive understanding of current reassurance messages in clinical practice can aid in developing a standardized framework for providing reassurance in pediatric oncology. Qualitative Content Analysis was employed to examine the types of messages nurses use to reassure patients (to reduce their anxiety about a future health-related event) and how effective nurses perceive these messages to be in relieving patients' anxiety. The adult participants, located at hospitals throughout …

Emotion-Attention Relationships In Anxiety: A Multimodal Psychophysiological Network Analysis, Kyle O'Brien

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Anxiety has long been associated with changes in attention processing, emotional salience detection, and emotional affect. Traditional methods of measuring anxiety frequently utilize self-report symptom measures, behavioral performance measures, and psychophysiological indicators. The current study integrates behavioral accuracy, self-report measures of psychological distress and well-being, and event-related potential markers of attention processing into an exploratory multimodal psychological network analyses to identify meaningful patterns across these indicators. The final sample of nonpatients included 36 anxious (low depression) and 24 control (low anxiety and depression) participants who completed an Emotion Attention Blink task while EEG data were collected to assess early, more …

Impact Of Repeated Serotonin 6 Receptor Activation On Weight And Anxiety In C57bl/6j And Btbr Mice, Pedro Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) are the most common form of medication prescribed to people with anxiety disorders. One of the most common side effects is weight gain. This weight gain often leads to the suspension of treatment. This has led to studies focusing on specific serotonin (5-HT) receptor targets for modulating depression and anxiety. Studies examining 5-HT6 antagonist treatment have shown that they reduce body weight as well as produce brain specific changes. Less is known regarding 5-HT6 receptor agonists, although previous literature has shown that exposure to high doses produces weight loss but not at lower doses, while …

The Effect Of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation On Anxiety, Shivangi Bhardwaj

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the U.S. Individuals of all ages are affected by anxiety. Therefore, research into anxiety and its potential treatment has constantly been an area of interest. Newer approaches to managing anxiety include non-invasive stimulation techniques, such as Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), because of its accessibility and effectiveness. Past tDCS work typically focused on regions in the frontal lobe. However, tDCS over the cerebellum has not received as much attention compared to the cerebrum, despite recent work demonstrating cerebellar involvement in emotion processing. Thus, a better understanding of how cerebellar …

Cbd's Impact On Learning, Memory, And Anxiety: A Dose Response, Audrey Camacho

Psychology ETDs

Cannabidiol (CBD) is widely utilized for its therapeutic properties, yet its impact on an unmanipulated model at baseline behavior remains poorly understood. This study investigates CBD’s dose-dependent behavioral profile on spatial learning, memory, and anxiety using Long-Evans rats. Subjects received a vehicle, 20 mg/kg, or 40 mg/kg CBD dose prior to assessment in the Morris Water Task (MWT) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). MWT results indicated consistent Day 1 learning, but the 40 mg/kg dose induced a temporary disruption 24 hours post-treatment. Performance returned to baseline by day 6. On the EPM, traditional anxiety markers remained unchanged. While CBD did …

Screening And Treatment Protocols Used In Nicus Across Minnesota For Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Pmads), Rachael Witt

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Parents of infants with prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalizations are a population that is overlooked in recommended routine screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), yet this population is at greater risk for developing diagnosable mental health disorders. Previous research shows that across the US, PMAD screening and treatment practices vary widely, with many NICUs not providing any routine PMAD screening, psychoeducation, or treatment options to parents. The objective of this study was to explore the current mental health screening and treatment protocols used in NICUs across the state of Minnesota to learn if there are areas …

Immigration-Related Sociopolitical Stress, Mental Health, And Tobacco Use Among Mexican American College Students, Seth R. Schwartz, C. Nathan Marti, Liza Talavera-Garza, Caroline E. North, Qingua Yang, Dhiraj Murthy, Srishty Arora, Anna V. Wilkinson, Alexandra Loukas

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Sociopolitical stress associated with the policies and rhetoric coming from recent U.S. presidential administrations is of particular concern vis-à-vis Hispanic individuals, who have been disproportionately targeted for detention and deportation. Such stress may be associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and ultimately with tobacco use. However, there is a paucity of research examining how sociopolitical stress is associated with mental health problems and substance use among Hispanic emerging adults. Accordingly, the present study was designed to examine the extent to which, within a sample of Mexican American college students, sociopolitical stress would be linked with tobacco use indirectly through …

Understanding The Impact Of Minority Stress On Mental Health Among Racially And Ethnically Diverse Adults: Insights From A Daily Diary Study, Ruba S. Rum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Minority stressors are theorized to contribute to mental health disparities for racial and ethnic minority individuals. While prior research links distal (i.e., external) and proximal (i.e., internal) minority stressors to adverse psychological outcomes for racial and ethnic minority groups, most studies have relied on cross-sectional designs that limit understanding of the immediate and short-term effects of minority stressors and potential protective factors in daily life. To address this gap, the present study examined the within-person daily associations between distal (interpersonal and vicarious discrimination, microaggressions) and proximal (internalized stigma, anticipation of rejection, identity management) minority stressors and psychological outcomes. Racial and …

Online Harassment And Mental Health Among Collegiate Student-Athletes: Findings From An Ncaa Division I Conference Survey, M. Courtney Hughes, Michelle K. Demaray, Emily A. Skiba, Sarah E. Warriner

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Social media is central to college athletics, yet public visibility can expose collegiate student-athletes to online harassment, a risk the NCAA has recently highlighted by documenting sizable volumes of abusive, discriminatory, and betting-related content directed at athletes and officials. This study surveyed 85 NCAA Division I student-athletes from ten universities across the Mid-American Conference and assessed social-media behaviors, online harassment exposure, depression, and anxiety. Most athletes used social media 1–3 hours/day, 78% enabled name-mention alerts, and platforms commonly used included Instagram (98.8%) and X (65.9%). Online harassment was reported via social posts (9.4%), direct messages (4.7%), and texts (3.5%), with …

Examination Of Gastrointestinal Visceral Sensitivity In The Maintenance Of Restrictive Eating Disorders, Kendall N. Poovey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aversive conditioning theories of restrictive eating disorders propose that gastrointestinal (GI) visceral sensitivity (i.e., hypervigilant monitoring and worry about GI sensations) is implicated in the maintenance of restrictive eating disorders (i.e., anorexia nervosa [AN], atypical anorexia nervosa [AAN], and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder [ARFID]). Specifically, a negative reinforcement process is posited in which disordered eating behaviors (e.g., restriction, purging) help to mitigate or avoid GI-related distress, and are thereby reinforced. However, this theorized process has yet to be tested. For the current study, participants from the University of South Florida and surrounding Tampa community who screened positive for a restrictive …

White Matter Microstructure Of Sensorimotor Projection Fibers In Chronic Low Back Pain, John R. White, Jennifer M.C. Vendemia, Zachary Baty, Sheri Silfies, Stephen A. Coombes

Faculty Publications

Introduction: 

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is linked to altered cortical sensorimotor structure and function, yet white matter microstructure in sensorimotor projection fibers remains poorly characterized. Objective: To address this gap, we used diffusion MRI to comprehensively characterize sensorimotor projection fibers in 44 patients with cLBP and 41 matched healthy controls.

Methods: 

We estimated an array of microstructural measures, including fractional anisotropy (FA), extracellular free water fraction (FW), free water–corrected FA (fwcFA), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics.

Results: 

General linear models identified significantly higher FA and fwcFA and lower orientation dispersion index (ODI) in cLBP vs …

Exercise Therapy For Mood Disorders In Retiring/Former Athletes, Christian Antos

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the potential integration of exercise therapy and psychotherapy as a treatment approach for mood-related difficulties experienced by former elite athletes during the transition out of competitive sport. Retirement from athletics is often associated with significant biopsychosocial challenges, including disruptions in identity, healthy routines, social support, and emotional well-being. Existing literature suggests that exercise may serve as an effective adjunctive intervention for improving mood and overall psychological functioning, though limited research has explored its application among retiring athletes within psychotherapeutic contexts. This literature review synthesized current research related to athletic retirement, neurobiological mechanisms associated with physical activity, and …

Reducing The Complexity Of The Experimental Design Attenuates Trait-Level Effects In Threat Safety Discrimination Learning, Justin M. Lazzarino

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Trait measures of negative emotionality have sometimes been shown to play a role in shaping threat learning, but findings are mixed. For example, Johnson et al (2023) showed that the inhibitory and prospective subscales of the Intolerance for Uncertainty Scale (IUS) were associated with diminished and enhanced threat-safety discrimination, respectively, during the acquisition phase of a Pavlovian fear conditioning task. This finding was subsequently replicated in an independent sample (Kinney-Petrucha, 2024, unpublished). However, these findings and other trait-level fear acquisition effects have not been consistently observed in the broader fear learning literature. Variation in the complexity of or uncertainty inherent …

The Impact Of Translated Phq-9 And Gad-7 Scales On Treatment Recommendations In An Adult Vietnamese Population: A 3-Month Primary Care Evaluation, Vivienne Bui

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Depression and anxiety are prevalent yet underdiagnosed in limited-English-proficient (LEP) populations due to language barriers, cultural stigma, and provider bias. Vietnamese-speaking patients are particularly vulnerable to under-recognition in primary care. This quality improvement project evaluated whether implementing Vietnamese-translated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) tools would improve mental health diagnosis and referral rates. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, a pre–post design was conducted at a San Diego clinic from March 26 to June 26, 2025. Vietnamese-speaking adults (≥18 years) completed translated PHQ-9 and GAD-7 forms during intake. Providers used scores in conjunction with clinical …

The Role Of Faith In Coping With Mental Health Challenges In Late Life: A Phenomenological Study Of Religious Experience In The Aging Population, Krista Kelley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are significant concerns among older adults. These conditions are often neglected due to stigma, atypical symptom presentation, and medical comorbidities, resulting in increased healthcare utilization, heightened suicide risk, and emotional dysregulation. Psychosocially, these challenges obstruct a successful resolution of Erikson’s final stage, ego integrity versus despair, leading to dissatisfaction, regret, and reduced well-being. Although previous research has suggested a link between religious engagement and improved mental health outcomes, few studies have explored older adults’ lived experiences of faith in coping with mental health. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the experiences of 25 older adults regarding …

Building Resilience: Empowering Baccalaureate Nursing Students For Enhanced Well-Being And Success, Jessica Imrie Dnp, Emily Nowak Phd, Roxanne Wilson Phd

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Providing baccalaureate students with resilience-building modules such as stress management, mindfulness, optimism, socialization, and reflection can increase psychological well-being and success through a nursing program. It can also decrease the number of meetings faculty have with students regarding psychological concerns

Acute And Chronic Oral Administration Of Cannabidiol-Dominant Cannabis Products: Sex- And Formulation-Dependent Effects On Anxiety-Like Behavioral Patterns In Rats, Carlos R. Maestas-Olguin

Psychology ETDs

Interest in the anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid found within the genus, Cannabis, has grown significantly in recent years. However, preclinical investigations of CBD’s anxiolytic potential often elect to forgo translationally relevant models that maximize external validity in favor of greater internal and mechanistic validity. As a result, the effects of relatively low dose (< 3mg/kg) oral CBD administration on anxiety-like behaviors are not yet fully characterized. The present studies examined the impact of two orally delivered CBD-dominant cannabis products – a “full-spectrum” formulation derived from the whole plant and a CBD isolate derived from the same chemovar – on innate defensive behaviors exhibited by adult male and female rats in various tests of anxiety. Results indicated that acute and chronic low dose oral CBD administration attenuated anxiety-like behavior in rats, regardless of sex or formulation. These findings extend the growing corpus of literature describing anxiolytic-like effects of CBD.

The Relationship Between Sports Related Head Injuries, Mental Health And Academic Performance In University Student-Athletes, Odyssey Keller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student athletes face many challenges when it comes to participating in team sports, one of the most notable being sport-related head injuries. Concussions are a growing concern since they have the potential to impact mental health and academic performance long-term. While many athletes report recovery within weeks, some continue to struggle with impairments in their psychological functioning and overall mental well-being that interferes with academic performance over time. Many of the standardized protocols in place for concussion management vary across institutions. This study aimed to address gaps in the existing literature by assessing concussion history, mental health and academic challenges …

A Vicious Cycle: The Interplay Between Anxiety, Perfectionism, And Indecision, Kaelyn G. Moran

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic indecisiveness is a pervasive issue that can negatively impact academic, occupational, and psychological functioning. Although prior research has identified anxiety and perfectionism as relevant correlates of indecisiveness, less is known about how these factors uniquely and jointly contribute to decision-making difficulties. The present study examined the relationships between trait anxiety, multidimensional perfectionism, and indecisiveness in a sample of 199 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. Participants completed self-report measures assessing anxiety (STICSA), perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale), and indecisiveness (Revised Indecisiveness Scale). Zero-order correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate both overall and dimension-specific effects. Results …

Depression Symptoms Are Associated With Less Positively Biased Self-Ratings Of Attentional Control, Anna E. Morgan

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Deficits in the ability to flexibly direct, sustain, and shift attention, known as attentional control, have been linked to anxiety and depression. Attentional control supports engaging with goal-relevant stimuli while effectively disengaging from irrelevant or emotionally distracting stimuli. Thus, it is crucial in cognitive processes and emotional responses. Common measures of attentional control include behavioral tasks and self-report measures. However, behavioral and self-report measures are weakly correlated, suggesting that individuals generally are not good at perceiving their attentional control abilities. This mismatch between measures could be related to anxiety and depression symptoms. The goal of my project was to examine …

Psychological And Inflammatory Ties To Diet In Breast Cancer Survivors, Sonal Kaur Johal

Master's Theses

Breast cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer and is a primary cause of death among women (Wang et al., 2020). Cancer patients experience higher levels of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and inflammation compared to non-cancer patients, which can predict a diminished quality of life but also contribute to higher mortality rates among cancer patients (Bortolato et al., 2016; Song et al., 2022). Diet has the potential to impact the manifestation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in both healthy individuals and those battling cancer. This study explored the association between dietary habits, specifically cholesterol, fiber, saturated fat, added …

Dissociation, Anxiety, And The Vestibular System: Understanding The Impacts Of Anxiety, Panic, And Dissociation On The Vestibular System, Julian Achata

Honors Theses

Previous research indicates that vestibular dysfunction is associated with symptoms of anxiety, panic, and dissociation. The present study will investigate anxiety, panic, and dissociation symptoms and identify the connections between reported symptom severity and vestibular functionality. This study will focus on three different hypotheses: 1) higher levels of dissociation will correlate with increased vestibular disruption; 2) higher levels of anxiety will correlate with increased vestibular disruption; 3) higher levels of panic will correlate with increased vestibular disruption. Six virtually administered self-report measurements were used to identify the variables: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Depersonalization Derealization Inventory (DDI), Dissociation Experiences Scale-II (DES-II), …

Neuroprotective Effects Of Prophylactic Brivaracetam On Memory And Anxiety Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Sofia Dumic

Theses and Dissertations

Prophylactic brivaracetam (BRV) was evaluated in a rat TBI model for effects on behavior and serum tau. BRV reduced anxiety-like behavior with optimal dose-dependent effects at 2.1mg/kg, but did not affect working memory. Serum tau was detectable early post-injury, supporting its use as a biomarker.

Perceived Campus Safety And Psychological Flexibility As Moderators Of Posttraumatic Stress And Anxiety Following Indirect Exposure To School Gun Violence, Samara Trout

Honors Theses

The growing prevalence of gun violence in school settings within the United States, combined with extensive media coverage of these events, has heightened concerns regarding the psychological impact of indirect trauma exposure among students. The present study examined associations between indirect exposure to gun-based school violence and symptoms of posttraumatic stress and anxiety among undergraduate students at Western Michigan University (WMU). A secondary aim was to explore whether perceived safety and psychological flexibility/inflexibility moderated associations between indirect exposure and psychological distress. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, undergraduate students (N = 33) completed a self-report survey containing screening assessments, attention …

Investigating Fentanyl-Xylazine Interactions: Implications For Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia And Affective Dysregulation In Rats, Alejandra R. Lujan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The growing prevalence of fentanyl adulterated with xylazine presents a major public health concern, yet the behavioral and physiological effects of this combination remain poorly characterized. This study examined the effects of acute fentanyl administration, alone and in combination with xylazine, on opioid-induced hyperalgesia, affective behavior, and mortality in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=80). Rats received four fentanyl injections (60 µg/kg) administered at 15-minute intervals, with or without xylazine (0, 0.1, 0.333, or 1.0 mg/kg), as well as a saline control condition. Pain sensitivity was assessed using a hot plate assay at 6.5, 12, 24, and 48 hours post-injection. …

Impact Of Escitalopram On Postpartum Sleep/Wake Activity And Maternal Behaviors, Kimberly Guerrero Leon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The postpartum period is characterized by profound physiological and psychological changes, including disruptions in sleep and activity patterns, which may contribute to the onset of postpartum depression. If left untreated, postpartum depression can result in long-term consequences, including cognitive impairments, emotional dysregulation, impaired maternal-infant attachment, and the onset of sleep-related disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), escitalopram, is prescribed for the treatment of postpartum depression due to its efficacy, favorable safety profile, and relatively low cost. While escitalopram is considered an effective treatment for depression and anxiety, far less is known about its impact on maternal behaviors during the postpartum …