Psychology Commons^™

Measuring The Accuracy Of Hierarchal Linear Models And Visual Analysis For Evaluating Single-Case Designs, Justin Myers

Dissertations

Behavior analysts often use single-case experimental designs to evaluate behavioral interventions. Data are typically analyzed through the visual analysis of graphs. Visual analysis has several limitations, however. Visual analysis has only moderate inter-rater reliability and small effects can be difficult to detect, especially if data are variable. Hierarchal Linear Models (HLMs) have been proposed as method for quantifying results of single-case designs. HLMs are a type of statistical model that can evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with nested data, whereby sessions are nested within treatment conditions. An advantage of HLMs over other statistical tests is that they do not require …

Historically Minoritized Racial Groups At A Midwestern University: Behaviors, Attitudes, And Beliefs Toward Mental Health And Well-Being, Kemmel Palmer

Dissertations

The rising prevalence of mental health concerns among college students, especially those from historically minoritized racial groups, underscores persistent disparities and substantial barriers encountered within Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). This qualitative inquiry examined the mental health behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of college students from five historically minoritized racial groups—Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American, Middle Eastern/Middle Eastern American, and Indigenous/Native American—at a midwestern university. Utilizing a phenomenological methodology, the study employed five focus groups comprising 51 participants representing a wide range of academic levels, gender identities, and sociocultural backgrounds.

The findings from this study reveal deeply embedded and …

"It Can Be Hard To Stand Up Straight In A Crooked Room:" Examining The Mediating Effects Of Black Women's Gendered Racial Identity On The Relationship Between The Strong Black Woman/Superwoman Schema And Collective Coping, Devin Willis

Dissertations

Prior research on the Strong Black Woman (SBW)/Superwoman (SW) schema has produced mixed findings. Both positive and negative outcomes of Black women’s internalization of this schema have been identified. These mixed findings may be linked to the measurement of the SBW/SW schema and the relationship with other culturally relevant variables. There have been significant positive relationships identified between Black women’s gendered racial identity (GRID) and the internalization of gendered racial stereotypes (i.e., the SBW/SW). Methods for coping with stereotypes have also been identified as influential when considering Black women’s coping behaviors.

The purpose of this study is to examine the …

Cultural Considerations And Efficacy Of Mindfulness-Based Practices For Hispanic/Latinx Immigrant Youth In Schools: A Systematized Review, Lisandra Artiles Suarez

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained attention as promising tools for improving student well-being, yet their effectiveness and cultural relevance for Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth remain underexamined. This Systematized Review evaluates the current literature on school-based MBIs targeting this population, with a focus on their cultural considerations, efficacy, and participant acceptability. Using PRISMA guidelines, studies were identified across research databases and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria required that interventions involve mindfulness practices, take place in school settings, and include Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth. Findings from the limited number of eligible studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma while …

Testing An Ironic Process Model Of Emotion Expression In Daily Life, Laura B. Kenneally

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Expressive suppression, or suppressing the expression of an emotion, is a common emotion regulation approach that has been found to have substantial negative implications for one’s mental health, physical health, and relationship functioning. However, expression of emotion, and of negative emotion in particular, has not consistently been found to be beneficial for mood or relationships. Moreover, the social expression of emotion that is culturally valued among Black-identifying Americans is different in White-identifying Americans, particularly in regard to expression of negative affect. However, it is unknown whether this cultural context mitigates the potential consequences of expressive suppression and emotion expression.

Expressive …

Examining The Impact Of A Utility Value Intervention On Self-Regulated Learning Engagement, Wanda D. Brooks

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of inserting a motivation intervention into a self-regulated learning training in an introductory biology course to increase academic performance and persistence to degree completion in science. The study was an experimental design with pre- and post-tests, with treatment and comparison groups. The training was in the form of three self-regulated learning cycles presented to students on a Blackboard Organization site where students were asked to record self-regulated learning activities in a journal during training. The primary aim of the intervention was to increase engagement in the self-regulated learning training by …

Good And Safe: Exploring The Impact Of Mindfulness And Primal World Beliefs On Psychological Well-Being, Katelyn J. Haschke

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Dispositional mindfulness refers to the ability to intentionally focus on the present moment, which positively affects psychological well-being (PWB). Mindfulness can be practiced through formal interventions—such as meditation or body scan, where individuals engage in structured activities to cultivate awareness—or informal practices, such as focusing on one task at a time where mindfulness is integrated into routine activities. A person’s phenomenological perspective, shaped by their core beliefs about the world (primals), also influences PWB. For instance, those who view the world as mostly safe or good may be more likely to form close relationships and engage more deeply with their …

A Focused Ethnography: Mental Health Therapists In Pediatric Integrated Care, Melanie Agustin

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The scope of practice for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and counseling residents (LPC-R) in integrated behavioral health (IBH) settings is grounded in accredited, theory-informed education and training. The benefits of IBH models are well-documented, however there is limited research that addresses how counselors develop professionally and clinically function, while navigating within pediatric inpatient environments. This qualitative dissertation used a focused ethnographic design to explore the lived experiences of ten purposively sampled counselors (n = 10) through demographic surveys, field observation, and semi-structured interviews. Reflexive journaling bracketed researcher bias, and thematic analysis, supported by NVivo and new member checking, guided interpretation. …

Two Essays On The Role Of Anthropomorphism In Consumer Behavior, Faegheh (Faa) Taheran

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The first essay of this dissertation investigates the contradictory findings on the relationship between anthropomorphism and self-control by focusing on how everyday anthropomorphized objects, rather than the products being used for consumption, influence consumer behavior. While previous studies have shown that using anthropomorphized products may decrease consumers’ self-control, this paper examines how unrelated [to consumption] anthropomorphized objects in a consumer’s environment—such as a water bottle with a humanlike face—can evoke a sense of social presence, increasing consumers’ perceptions that they are being negatively evaluated. Drawing on mind perception theory, I propose that this fear of negative evaluation can enhance self-control. …

Relationship Between Proximity To Harm Reduction Programs And Social Stigma Against People Who Use Drugs, Mark Vasilchenko

Student Theses

Social stigma against people who use drugs (PWUD) is incredibly common and has a negative impact on quality of life and recovery. PWUD that are subjected to stigma from their community are at higher risk of homelessness, overdose, and other drug-related health issues. Harm reduction programs encourage PWUD to use safely with a variety of services, including but not limited to drug testing, needle exchange, and professional supervision during drug use. These services are empirically proven to decrease drug use, overdose, and crime as a whole within the communities where they are implemented, but they often appear counter-intuitive to the …

Inhibitory Control In Asian Elephants, Gillian Schmitt

Theses and Dissertations

Inhibitory control is defined as the ability to suppress a prepotent motor response in favor of a more efficient or advantageous behavior, and is an important core executive function. Although elephants are known to behave flexibly and display other executive functions, there is currently little information available on if, and to what extent, they display inhibitory control. We tested 16 captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) (N = 8 males, 8 females) ranging in age from 4-years-old to 60-years-old at the National Elephant Institute in Thailand using a classic detour paradigm adapted to be more ecologically salient for them through the …

Learning From Adolescents’ Lived Experience: Recommendations For Suicide Prevention For Youth And Their Caregivers, Genesis Minaya

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored adolescents’ views on which supports are most helpful during suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Interviews revealed six themes: Communication & Disclosure, Empathic Non-Judgmental Support, Consistent Presence, Parent/Family Education, Coping Tools, Hope and Future Orientation. These findings highlight the critical role of family dynamics in adolescent suicide prevention.

The Lasting Impact Of Childhood Maltreatment On Parenting: A Qualitative Study, Leslie K. Moorman

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study explored how Child Protection Service (CPS)-involved parents made meaning of their parenting and what informed their meaning making. Bronfenbrenner’s Person Process Context Time (PPCT) framework was utilized to examine the context of parenting within the CPS system. The PPCT theoretical assumptions were used to discuss the results of the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants, from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All but one returned for a second interview. The CPS-involved parents disclosed childhood experiences that were consistent with childhood maltreatment. The participants were preoccupied with stories of their own childhood and not wanting to parent like …

Sports Teams As Multiteam Systems, Frederic Vinal

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

A multiteam system (MTS) is a unique and complex organizational form consisting of two or more distinct component teams which interact interdependently in pursuit of a shared goal. In many contexts, such as emergency response teams military operations units, disaster relief task forces, and collaborative scientific efforts, MTSs are easily and intuitively identifiable as distinct entities. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding boundary conditions of MTSs, and classification of an organizational form as an MTS in novel contexts. This study addresses that gap by examining whether and how sports teams can be conceptualized as MTSs. Using a …

Project Choices: An Experimental Serious Video Game For Performance-Based Risk Assessment, Rachel Bomysoad

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Risk assessment for future criminal conduct currently relies on evaluator ratings or self-report measures, with imperfect predictive utility. A new serious (clinical) video game, Project Choices, was developed for assessment and treatment purposes with persons involved with the criminal legal system. Project Choices offers performance-based measurement of individuals’ responses to realistic scenarios relevant to overall criminogenic risk and individual risk factors. The current study aimed to pilot test the newest version of Project Choices (Version 2) using a sample of university students (N = 100), examining gameplay performance metrics (number of risky decisions overall and within individual risk domains) for …

Electrophysiological Markers Of Emotion Dysregulation In Autistic Youth, Rachel G. Mcdonald

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic mechanism that is conceptualized as difficultly regulating emotions and deploying appropriate regulation strategies in response to environmental stimuli. Meta-analyses suggest that autistic people, across the lifespan, experience more severe ED as compared to both neurotypical people and those with mental health conditions. Despite elevated risk and evidence linking ED to disruptions in neural mechanisms, no studies to date have examined neural markers of ED in autistic populations. The current project uses multi-method and multi-informant measurement to examine similarities and differences in neural mechanisms of ED in autistic and non-autistic populations. Forty-four youth aged 11—17 …

Mind Mentor, The Workplace Mental Health Navigator: Evaluating The Utility Of A Self-Paced Web-Based Mental Health Awareness Training For Supervisors, Lauren Offermann

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The growing prevalence of mental health challenges in the workplace – such as anxiety and depression, burnout, suicide, and substance abuse – has increased demand for evidence-based supervisor training programs that promote psychological well-being. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Mind Mentor: The Workplace Mental Health Navigator, a 1.5-hour, web-based, self-paced adaptation of the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT; Dimoff, 2016) for supervisors. The training aimed to enhance mental health knowledge, awareness, self-efficacy, and supportive behaviors among U.S.-based supervisors with at least one direct report. Using a pre/post/follow-up design (baseline N = 51, immediate post-test N = 35, and 4-week …

Assessment Of Mental Health Needs For Chronically Unhoused Individuals Living In A Bridge Housing Community, Isabel Furse Augur

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher rates of psychopathology and substance use are reported in individuals experiencing homelessness compared to the general population, especially in those who are chronically unhoused. Chronically homeless individuals are also less likely to access treatment for these problems because of barriers to care. Addressing housing needs is an important first step in engaging people who are homeless with the care they need. This project focused on assessing the mental health needs of a Housing First community in Northwest Arkansas, which has few barriers for entry but does not provide direct support for mental health. This project adopted a community-based participatory …

The Moderating Effects Of Motivation And Adhd On The Relationship Between Academic Burnout And Prescription Stimulant Misuse Among College Students With Adhd, Joshua Matthew Villanos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examined whether ADHD symptom severity and motivational orientations moderate relationships between academic burnout and stimulant outcomes in college students with ADHD symptoms. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 180 undergraduate students who screened positive for ADHD symptoms completed measures assessing academic burnout, motivation orientations, ADHD symptomatology, and prescription stimulant misuse behaviors and expectancies. Testing these moderation hypotheses addresses important gaps in understanding risk and protective factors that may influence stimulant misuse risk. Negative binomial regression was employed for stimulant misuse analyses using the full sample (N = 180), while linear regression examined expectancies across all participants. Results revealed one …

"I'Ll Leave The Back Porch Light On:" An Exploration Of The Legitimization Of Same-Gender Male Couple Members Through Marriage And Parenthood For Those With Adverse Coming Out Experiences, Devin S. Simpkins

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Reczek and Bosley-Smith (2022) identified several reasons why queer adult children reported feeling compelled to maintain relationships with their rejecting parents, and the strategies that they utilized to do so. The construct of legitimization exists within a heteronormative context, contributing to the theory that adherence to cis-heteronormative relational ideals allows same-gender couples to have a greater chance of being accepted by the dominant culture (Chevrette & Eguchi, 2020). Unintentional or deliberate aligning with idealized images of traditional (i.e., cisgender and heterosexual) couples or families is a means by which same-gender couples may seek this acceptance.

The present study sought to …

Social Sprouts: A Play-Based Packaged Intervention - Improving Peer Interactions In Early Childhood Classrooms With A Novel Group Contingency, Brittany D. Garza

Master's Theses

Teaching prosocial skills such as positive peer interactions in early childhood settings not only promotes behavioral health but reliably predicts future learning outcomes. The literature suggests that decreasing levels of challenging behavior may improve peer interactions, and a feasible class-wide strategy that can address this combination of needs effectively is a group contingency. The current study investigated the effect of a novel group contingency, Social Sprouts, on both positive peer interactions and disruptive behavior. This study utilized a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design in three Head Start classrooms to evaluate the effect of this packaged intervention delivered just before and during …

Connecting For Success: Evaluating The Frequency Of Check & Connect Meetings On Student Behavior, Kaylee S. Mckinney

Master's Theses

Dropout prevention efforts commonly address risk factors including chronic absenteeism, which continues to be a nationwide concern. Check & Connect is a student engagement intervention that aims to improve graduation rates and mitigate several risk factors of dropout. Previous research has failed to address if the frequency of Check & Connect meetings results in varied effectiveness of the intervention. The current study aims to evaluate the effects of modified frequency of Check & Connect meetings on academic engagement, term grade average, absences, and office discipline referrals through the use of a multiple baseline across participants design. Results revealed that students …

Reflecting On Racial Microaggressions: The Impact On Food Consumption In Minority Women, Khadiza Akter

Master's Theses

U.S. laws, policies, and practices have been implemented to reduce forms of overt racism and discrimination. These structural barriers have been effective (e.g., Dovido & Gaertner, 2000; McConahay, 1986; Sue & Sue, 2007). Covert forms of racism, however, including racial microaggressions, are more difficult to address using structural changes and, therefore, continue to thrive (Omi & Winant 1994; Sue et al., 2007). Racist attitudes and discriminatory behaviors are sources of anxiety and stress (Kogan et al., 2014; Pascoe & Richman, 2009) with long-term anxiety and stress leading to elevated risks for mental and …

Do Finances Determine Our Fate?: Understanding The Relationships Between Socioeconomic Status, Inflammation, And Cancer Recurrence Risk, Faith Wilbourne

Master's Theses

Individuals of a low socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to experience a cancer recurrence relative to individuals with a higher SES. This may be partially explained by the stressors of living with a low SES. These stressors can increase inflammatory markers known to elevate the risk of cancer development. Health-promoting behaviors such as exercise, adequate sleep, and a healthy diet can reduce systemic inflammation. Health behaviors may therefore moderate any potential relationship between SES and cancer recurrence risk. This study explored associations between SES (income, educational attainment) and inflammatory markers related to cancer recurrence while seeking to determine if …

Investigating The Effects Of Drinking Environments On Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategy Use, Perceived Self-Efficacy, And Perceived Effectiveness Through Experimental Vignette Design, Skyler Hoover

Dissertations

Derived from a Social Cognitive Theory framework (Bandura, 1986), the aim of this study was to assess the impact of different drinking environments on college students’ expected use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies, perceived effectiveness of those strategies, and perceived self-efficacy to use them. To accomplish this, we sought out to create and employ experimental vignettes consisting of a bar/club or party drinking environment in a two-part study. Study one aimed to pilot test the vignettes prior to their use in study two, whose aim was to test our initial hypotheses. Both analytic samples were recruited from a nationwide participant …

Parenting For Wellness: Positive Parenting Factors As Predictors Of College Student Physical Health, Mental Health, And Social Connectedness Through The Lens Of Self-Determination Theory, Mary E. Lamkin

Dissertations

Research suggests that the transition to college can impact college student well-being across the domains of physical health, mental health, and social connectedness (Frech, 2012; Pittman & Richmond, 2008; Xiao et al., 2017). As parents are more heavily connected to their college-aged students when compared to years before cell phones and social media, they likely continue to play a significant role in their child’s well-being, even while they are in college (Wartman & Savage, 2008). Therefore, the aim of this dissertation was to investigate positive parenting behaviors as predictors of wellness in college-aged participants using Self Determination Theory (Ryan & …

Testing A Culturally Grounded Training For Black And Latine Clinicians: Creating Communities In Pcit For Providers Of Autistic Youth, Harlee Onovbiona

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Black and Latine families of autistic youth continue to face mental health disparities, some of which have been attributed to poor access to services, discrimination, and poor culturally responsive care. Black and Latine families call for more family-centered treatments that are in accordance with their values and culture with options for treatments to be delivered by clinicians with similar racial and ethnic backgrounds. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a widely known evidenced-based treatment (EBT) that has been used with Latine, Black, and neurodiverse children to improve the parent-child relationship and reduce challenging behaviors. Although considerable efforts have been made to …

Does Change In Faith Maturity Reflect Maturation? Establishing Strict Measurement Invariance For The Faith Maturity Scale Across Time, Hiroki Matsuo, Tyler Greenway, Grant B. Morgan, Sarah A. Schnitker

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Despite its early focus on religious development and faith maturation, the psychology of religion and spirituality field underutilizes longitudinal designs; work is needed to reduce barriers to the longitudinal study of the processes by which faith matures. As a first step, the present study examines the invariance structure of the Faith Maturity Scale across three time points to assess the reliability and structure of the scale over time. The confirmatory factor analytic method was used to examine data from 572 college students. Configural, metric, scalar, and residual/strict models were tested. Findings support the full strict residual longitudinal invariance model, providing …

Thematic Analyses Of Session Data With Transgender And Gender Diverse Adults Obtained During A Clinical Trial, Brenna Rose Lash

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults in the United States experience high rates of discrimination and marginalization, contributing to adverse mental health outcomes. While clinical guidelines for gender affirming care have been developed, these guidelines often lack empirical grounding or specific, actionable strategies for clinicians. Although theoretical models such as the marginalization stress model and the psychological mediation framework offer useful foundations for case conceptualization, they do not fully capture the lived experiences or the resilience mechanisms of TGD individuals in therapeutic contexts. This project aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice through thematic analysis of therapy …

Intergenerational Family Dynamics Among Caregivers And Children’S Social-Emotional Development In China, Weiman Xu

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The early years of a child’s life are pivotal for social-emotional development. While extensive research has explored the role of family settings in fostering children's social-emotional development (Bornstein, 2005), the impact of grandparental involvement, particularly the caregiving dynamics between generations, remains less well understood. This study aims to fill this gap by examining two critical aspects of intergenerational dynamics among caregivers (i.e. parent-grandparent coparenting and parent-grandparent relationship quality) and their associations with children’s social-emotional development (i.e. social skills and problem behaviors). Two specific aims were delineated: 1) examine the unique contribution of parent-grandparent coparenting, especially the power and authority domain …