Creando Conexiones Verdaderas?: Examining Latinx Families’ Lived Experiences With Family-School Partnerships, Jacqueline M. Eddy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Family-school partnerships are essential for a child’s academic and social-emotional well-being in schools. These partnerships thrive when families and school personnel cultivate trusting, communicative, and cooperative relationships. However, families from minoritized communities, such as those from Latinx backgrounds, may encounter challenges that prevent them from forming strong, meaningful relationships with teachers and administrators. This qualitative dissertation study was grounded in a social constructivist paradigm and a phenomenological tradition. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of Latinx families as they navigate relational aspects of family-school partnerships in their children’s schools. Using semi-structured interviews, four participants were …

Examining The Complementary Nature Of Working Memory And Dual Coding Theory, Elizabeth Hofschulte Collins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The working memory system is responsible for maintaining, manipulating, and transferring information into long-term memory, yet it operates under strict capacity limitations. Dual coding theory proposes that information can be encoded both verbally and visually, allowing learners to distribute cognitive load across complementary representational systems. Leveraging dual coding may therefore enhance recall, particularly for noun-based stimuli, though there is little to no research exploring this possibility. In the present study, 529 adults completed a forward digit span task and pre-test and post-test free recall tasks involving concrete, abstract, and mixed nouns. Participants were assigned to one of four instruction groups …

Hypervigilance In Emerging Adulthood: The Impact Of Trauma, Milestone Achievement, And Minority Identity, Alexis Rice

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period marked by identity exploration, increased autonomy, and heightened vulnerability to societal pressures. This mixed methods study examined how hypervigilance: a heightened state of alertness often associated with trauma and minority stress- varies by gender, sexual identity, racial trauma exposure, and adulthood milestone achievement among emerging adults aged 18–29. A total of 369 participants completed measures assessing hypervigilance behaviors, adulthood milestone attainment, and trauma exposure. Quantitative analyses revealed that sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals and cisgender women reported significantly higher levels of hypervigilance compared to their counterparts. Witnessing trauma inflicted on someone of …

Beyond Additive Risk: Longitudinal Associations Between Discrimination And Positive Affect Development Among Adolescents With Single And Multiple Marginalized Identities, Vanni Jefferson V. Arcaina

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adolescents with marginalized identities often face chronic exposure to discrimination, a social stressor linked to a range of negative mental health outcomes. While much of the existing literature focuses on internalizing symptoms, fewer studies have explored how discrimination may disrupt the development of positive affect (POA), which is a core dimension of emotional well-being linked to resilience, identity formation, and long-term health. The present study examined how overall, race/ethnicity-based, and sexual minority (SM)-based discrimination affects longitudinal patterns of POA among adolescents with single or multiple marginalized identities. Drawing on four waves of data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, …

Face Recognition Ability: The Role Of Facial Experience Across The Lifespan, Kirsty Kulhanek

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The other-race effect is a phenomenon in which individuals are better able to recognize individuals of their own race than individuals of another race. These effects begin to develop during the first year of life and may be attenuated by intergroup contact. Limited research in the language domain has suggested that multilingualism may result in easier learning of non-native speech contrasts, so it is of interest whether early experience with racially diverse faces may result in more easily learning to recognize unfamiliar race faces. We conducted two studies to examine the effects of early diverse experience with faces on recognition …

Trust And Learning In Early Childhood, Anjuii Barrett

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Honoring Philip Zimbardo: Personal Reflections On A Legacy In Heroism Studies, Zeno Franco, Scott T. Allison, Brian R. Riches

Heroism Science

This article concludes our Special Issue of Heroism Science devoted to honoring the legacy of Philip Zimbardo. Across the preceding contributions, scholars have offered personal reflections, examined his influence on psychology and heroism studies, and discussed the applied interventions of the Heroic Imagination Project. In this closing essay, we situate Zimbardo’s distinctive contributions to psychology and reflect on the cumulative insights of the Special Issue. We then shift to a more personal register, as each of the three authors describes how Zimbardo’s mentorship, vision, personality, and scholarship have shaped our own lives and research trajectories. In doing so, we underscore …

The Hidden World Of Evil: Documenting Serial Killers Through The Centuries, An Evolution., Semieca Wilson

Master of Arts in Human Services

The following is an analysis of the phenomenon of serial killers from their development over time, and why it mattered due to how they operated on society. Cases reported from the past to present century were read and analyzed in search of recurring psychological patterns, changes in methods of inspecting cases and the effects of cultural, technological transformation on both felons as well as those who trailed them. The site is a product of my professional interest in the area of criminal psychology and forensic analysis and reflects my objective to provide myself and other interested professionals, academics, law enforcement …

The Sexual Assault And Violence Experiences Questionnaire: Community-Developed Items For Gathering Sexual Violence Histories With Displaced Women, Meredith A. Blackwell

Psychology ETDs

Improving measurement of sexual violence has contributed to major policy changes in the United States. However, research on sexual violence largely overlooks those exposed to conflict and displacement: a population especially at risk. Assessment measures often ignore contextual features and use phrasing that is vulnerable to underreporting. This community-based participatory research project collaborated with cultural experts from Mexico/Central America and Afghanistan to develop a preliminary item list for a self-report measure of prior sexual violence. Analysis of focus group data from 30 women revealed a range of sexual violence experiences, and provided critical phrasing used to form an item list …

Neurobehavioral Mechanisms Of Psychotic-Like Experiences And Cannabis Use, Ethan Campbell

Psychology ETDs

As cannabis use has increased steadily over the past decade, there is critical need to evaluate early cannabis use as a potential risk factor for the development of psychosis. Neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying novelty salience could clarify how cannabis exposure may influence subclinical psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). The present study leveraged dynamic functional connectivity and task-fMRI to assess the role of novelty processing in cannabis use and PLEs. A group of brain regions dynamically tied to the salience network while viewing short films were found to increase their activation as a function of stimulus novelty during a novelty bandit task. PLEs were …

Speaking Up Or Helping Out? The Impact Of Gendered Feedback On Voice And Helping Ocbs And Imposter Phenomenon And Self-Confidence, Jacklyn Scymcyk

Theses and Dissertations

Grounded in Self-Discrepancy Theory (Higgins, 1987) and Role Congruity Theory (Eagly & Karau, 2002), this study examines how gendered differences in feedback influence employees’ self-views and subsequent citizenship behaviors. Specifically, the research aimed to investigate how the relative frequency of task performance feedback and contextual performance feedback impacts self-confidence and imposter phenomenon, and how these self-views, in turn, predict voice and helping organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), respectively. Initial phases of this study validated measures for perceptions of task and contextual performance feedback frequency, favorability, and adequacy. The final phase used moderated-mediation polynomial regression analyses to test hypotheses. Exploratory cluster …

Fake News Y Redes Sociales: Cómo El Algoritmo En Torno A La Migración Afecta La Salud Mental, Maria F. Alarcon

Capstones

Las redes sociales son la principal fuente de información para migrantes latinos en Estados Unidos, pero también son un terreno fértil para fake-news que afectan la salud mental y desinforman.

Prevention Of Suicide As Perceived By Educated Adults In Ondo Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria, Margaret Kehinde Soetan

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study investigated prevention of suicide as perceived by educated adults in Ondo metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. Population of the study consisted of all educated adults in Ondo metropolis, Ondo State. The sample comprised two hundred (200) educated adults randomly selected from the metropolis. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument to collect data for the study. Data collected was analysed using mean, ranking, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed the perception of prevention of suicide as giving people hope for a better life after current problems are resolved, …

A Rodent Model Of Enhanced Anticipation Of Positive Events: Sex-Specific Modifications In Cognitive Bias And Emotional Resilience, Sarah C. Hartvigsen, Megan Hooper, Olivia Harding, Evelyn Barringer, Aditya Narayanan, Brendan Crockett, Yulia Shatalov, Paean Luby, Braden Wixted, Molly Kent, Kelly Lambert

Psychology Faculty Publications

While it is known that chronic unpredictable stress and negative events adversely affect neurobiological outcomes, much less is known regarding the neurobiological impact of positive emotions such as chronic anticipation of appetitive events. From a translational perspective, an enhanced understanding of the impact of extended exposure to positive emotions may provide novel insights into effective non-pharmacological, behavior-based approaches to enhance mental resilience. Here, we investigate a novel rodent model of chronic Unpredictable Positive Event Response (UPER) training in male and female Long Evans rats to examine behavioral, neural, and endocrine effects of enhanced anticipation of positive events. Rats were exposed …

Netflix And Kill: The Role Of True Crime Consumption In The Development Of Acquired Capability For Suicide, Chandler Jayne Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) identifies acquired capability as a key factor contributing to suicidal behavior. Previous research has shown that violent media exposure can increase suicidal risk through desensitization, imitation, and trauma activation. However, little is known about the role of true crime consumption (TCC), a popular form of violent media engagement, in relation to IPTS constructs. This study examined whether TCC predicts acquired capability for suicide, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. A total of 215 participants were retained after data cleaning. Hypotheses predicted that higher TCC would be associated with higher acquired capability (H1), that TCC would …

Program Outcome Evaluation Of A Flexibly Structured Individual Outpatient Program For Severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder In A Private Practice Setting, Jason R. David

Doctoral Dissertations

The current study is a quantitative program evaluation of the effectiveness private practice for treating obsessive compulsive disorder while incorporating multiple validated components to reduce common barriers of treatment access. There were three outcomes used to evaluate the first being the reduction in symptom severity across treatment, the second being the length of time in treatment before reduction can be seen, and the third being the rates completing treatment as agreed by therapist and participant. The current study was able to complete analysis for the first and third research question, and unable to answer the second. The first and primary …

More Than Just A Criminal: Talking Back As A Critical Autoethnographic Journey, Anakin Rivera Ramirez

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article explores the experiences of doctoral students with criminal records navigating higher education, using a critical theoretical framework to highlight the unique challenges and triumphs I faced. Drawing upon decoloniality and critical race theory perspectives and activism, I define my critical scholarship as challenging the dominant oppression through thoughts and actions. Through autoethnographic and self-reflective narratives, I reflect on how my lived experiences as a Latino who has experienced criminalization. I have shaped my academic pursuits and critical consciousness. The autoethnography discusses systemic barriers such as stigma, discrimination, and institutional biases, showing how these obstacles have informed the author’s …

There’S Cardio And There’S Cardio: How Fitness And Sexual Attitudes Relate To Needs For Approval And Loneliness, Isaac Robertson

Honors College Theses

This study looked to collectively investigate the relationships of both fitness/sexual activity attitudes with a need for social approval, while also determining if biological sex could play a role in either of these relationships. Additionally, loneliness and mental well-being were examined with the aforementioned variables. Predominantly white (82.5%) females (75%) data were analyzed after completing an online survey (N = 40). Significant relationships were found between fitness attitudes and a need for social approval in women only (r (28) = -.50, p = .005) and between sexual activity attitudes and a need for social approval in men only (r (8) …

Bearing The How: Self-Compassion, Religiosity, And Basic Psychological Needs As Predictors Of Meaning In Life, Benjamin Wenndorf

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

While meaning in life (MIL) has been established as a significant contributor to psychologists’ understanding of wellbeing (Pollet & Schnell, 2017; Steger et al., 2008; Steger et al., 2011), some theorists believe MIL to be the fundamental human drive (Frankl, 1946/1962). Despite the significance that has been placed on MIL as a core component of human existence, little research has explored more than one variable at a time in relationship to MIL. Recent literature has explored self-determination theory’s (SDT) basic psychological needs microtheory as a predictive model for understanding MIL within a greater context of positive psychology (Martela et al., …

Journey Through, Cathan B. Tautfest

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Journey Through is the Master's Portfolio for the University of Montana for Author Cathan Tautfest. This paper serves as the capstone graduation requirement for students of the School of Social Work. Over the final semester of the Master's program, this Portfolio was created, reviewed by committee, and defended before its publication. This Portfolio is a culmination of three years and thousands of hours to demonstrate mastery of the ten Social Work competencies, the elements of Social Work Practice, and critically reflect on time spent in the School of Social Work's Master's of Social Work (MSW) program. This Portfolio reflects on …

The Experience Of Suicidal Ideation In Adults With Adhesive Arachnoiditis, Kathleen J. Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. Chronic pain has been linked to death by suicide, and a considerable amount of research has examined how conditions that produce chronic pain increase the risk of SI and suicide attempts. Adhesive arachnoiditis (AA) produces chronic, intense pain and has not been well-studied. It was thought to be a rare condition, but the number of cases has grown dramatically in recent years. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore the experience of SI in individuals with AA. The interpersonal theory of suicide was …

Learned Resiliency: Lived Experiences Of First Responders, Kevin Francis Sullivan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scholarly literature has found that post-traumatic stress impacts first responders; however, little attention has been paid to how first responders learn resiliency through post-traumatic growth (PTG). The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore a gap in the literature of first responders who learned resiliency through posttraumatic growth following a critical incident in the line of duty. The research study was grounded in Heidegger’s philosophy of hermeneutic phenomenology, guided by resiliency theory , and informed by post-traumatic growth theory. Seven first responders from multiple disciplines were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews designed to provide rich and reflective …

Psychological Capital Of Hospital Nurses In The United States During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mary Jean Erschen-Cooke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to explore lived experiences, perceptions, and associated meanings reported by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine what protected their well-being. A plethora of research focused on the negative impact of exhaustion, compassion fatigue, moral distress, and burnout; however, there was a gap in information regarding supports for emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health, particularly among U.S. nurses. The foundational theory of psychological capital (PsyCap), focusing on the positive psychological traits of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, grounded this investigation. A basic qualitative research design yielded rich data from semistructured interviews with 16 nurses working full …

Bicultural Identity, Work-Life Balance And Mental Health Outcomes In Swana Students, Julie M. Salama

Master's Theses

Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) college students navigate academic demands alongside immigration-salient stressors that may shape their mental health and academic performance. This study examined generational status (Gen 1 vs. Gen 2+), identity conflict, ethnic identity, and work–life balance (WLB) in overall GPA and major GPA, and mental health outcomes of depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7) among SWANA students (N = 35). Two one-way MANOVAs found no generational differences for academics (overall/major GPA) or mental health (PHQ-9/GAD-7). Identity conflict was unrelated to GPA or symptoms but was positively associated with ethnic identity, while WLB was negatively correlated with depression …

Holding Space For Complexity: Remembering Leslie Combs, Kimberly A. Morelli

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This tribute reflects on the teaching legacy of Allan Leslie Combs, focusing on his capacity to hold space for complexity during intimate online salons conducted with students and colleagues. Drawing from my experience as a participant in these gatherings, the essay highlights Leslie’s emphasis on relational, creative inquiry over rigid theory. Rather than positioning development as linear progress or achievement, these conversations were experienced as an ongoing, reflective inquiry into consciousness itself. Leslie’s mentorship fostered deep personal reflection and affirmed lived experience as a valid and generative source of knowing. His legacy endures not only through his scholarship, but also …

Anxiety, Stress, And Depression As A Predictor Of Established Vaping Among High School Students, Autumn Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has linked initiation of e-cigarette use with mental health but has not identified how mental health factors impact patterns of use of these products in adolescents. I tested the hypothesis that adolescents who report vaping to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety have more established patterns of use with data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey. Crosstabulations and logistic regression outcome measures included current use, intensity of use, and cumulative lifetime use. Reasons for initial and current use related to mental health were associated with current e-cigarette use, more intense use, and higher cumulative use. Mental health plays …

Belonging Is A Verb, Becca Lory Hector

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This essay explores belonging as an active process rather than a fixed state, particularly through the lived experiences of Autistic adults. Drawing from community practices of care, mutuality, and interdependence, it reframes belonging as a collective verb, something created through shared action rather than conformity. By centering Neurodivergent ways of connecting, this piece argues that Autistic models of community offer transformative insights into authenticity, inclusion, and the repair of social harm.

Dissolving Glass, Rachel Heartwood

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

My work is a visual aut-ethnography that explores the profound loneliness of being a neurodivergent person, now amplified by living in a foreign country. This series of photographs represents the deepening of my personal "fishbowl," a metaphor for the isolation of my complex, forever-changing/evolving inner self from the outside world. For me, this feeling is not new; it is a long-standing pattern of being misunderstood, misjudged and under/overestimated by others. Having recently moved to Germany, I've found that the language barrier has increased the opacity on the glass, blurring my ability to understand/be understood by …

Holding On To Social Hierarchy: An Intersectional Exploration Of Attitudes That Maintain Social Inequality, Cassandra E. Santos

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Hierarchical social structures are embedded in U.S. society that allow certain social groups to be positioned above others, granting them unearned advantages. Attitudes that maintain such conditions thereby warrant attention, as they contribute to the maintenance of inequality. This study used secondary data analysis to investigate how social dominance orientation (SDO), White supremacy ideologies (WSI), and conservative political ideologies were influenced by the intersection of gender (i.e., men vs. women) and race (i.e., White vs. BIPOC). The primary study used crowdsourcing to recruit a nationally represented sample of participants based on political affiliation. The present study consisted of 359 total …

From Digital Distress To Wellness: Counseling Implications Of Social Media Use In Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Anna K. Owens, Arantxa Mascarenas

Faculty Articles

The pervasive use of social media among secondary and post-secondary students has raised significant concern regarding its impact on mental health and academic success. Excessive social media use (SMU) has been linked to anxiety, depression, social comparison, body image concerns, disrupted sleep, and diminished academic focus. These risks highlight the urgent need for counselors to integrate social media considerations into both clinical and educational practice. This article reviews evidence-based interventions that address the psychological and emotional consequences of SMU, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to challenge distorted beliefs, mindfulness strategies to improve emotional regulation, digital detox programs to recalibrate online …