Psychology Commons^™

Are Army Recruiters At High Risk For Suicide?, Sherley Pierre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Suicide and occupational stress among military personnel continue to be a pressing matter, yet research has given inadequate focus to the unique stressors faced by Army recruiters. Even with the emphasis on military suicide, minimal consideration has been given to the mental impact of occupational stress on this specific group, causing a disconnect in recognizing how their occupational stressors may result in suicidal ideation and suicide. This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study researched the occupational stressors experienced by 13 United States Army recruiters, exploring their prospective role as risk factors for suicidal ideation. This research study used semi-structured interviews framed within …

The Spiritual And Psychological Impact Of Belief: Self-Efficacy And Intrinsic Spirituality In The Modern Workplace, Anita D. Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, correlational study examined the predictive relationship between employees' general self-efficacy and intrinsic spirituality and their work attitudes and work performance. Data was collected via a 37-item online survey administered through LinkedIn, targeting professionals across industries. A total of 132 participants responded, with 127 meeting eligibility criteria for analysis. Sequential multiple regression analyses revealed significant positive relationships between both predictor variables and the criterion variables. General self-efficacy emerged as the stronger predictor, explaining 29.7% and 27.3% of the variance in work attitudes and performance, respectively. Intrinsic spirituality, while less influential, contributed 2.5% and 3.1% to the variance in these …

Swosu Department Of Psychology History, Janice L. Sperle

Department of Psychology

SWOSU DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY HISTORY
1948-2025

By Janice L. Sperle

Spousal Bereavement Enhances Proinflammatory Cytokine Production To Acute, Psychological Stress., E Lydia Wu-Chung, Ryan L. Brown, Robert Suchting, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, Michelle A. Chen, Angie S. Leroy, Kyle W. Murdock, Cobi J. Heijnen, Christopher P. Fagundes

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Early widowhood is characterized by chronic stress and is associated with a higher risk of incident depression and cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Peripheral inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder and atherothrombosis and may represent a common mechanism underlying widow(er)'s elevated risk for both health conditions. Chronic psychological stress sensitizes the release of proinflammatory cytokines during the peripheral stress response. The present study examined whether recent spousal bereavement enhances the inflammatory response to an acute, psychological stressor. Recently widowed older adults (n = 143) and non-widowed controls (n = 69) participated in a quasi-experimental study, during which …

Neuroanatomical And Morphometric Differences In Children Who Stutter, Mohammad A. Khan

Honors Scholar Theses

Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder commonly known as stuttering is a neurodevelopmental speech disorder characterized by disruptions in speech fluency. While genetic and neurobiological factors are implicated, the structural brain differences underlying stuttering remain unclear. This study investigated neuroanatomical alterations in children who stutter (CWS) compared to typically fluent children (TFC), focusing on gray matter volume, cortical thickness, and surface area in speech-related regions; the Inferior Frontal Gyrus, Middle Temporal Gyrus, and Pre-motor Operculum. High-resolution MRI data from 100 children (48 CWS, 52 TFC) aged 3–12 years were analyzed using FreeSurfer. Group comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences in cortical thickness, surface …

Poetries Of Abandonment: A Study Of Plath And Glück, Yara Abdelmoneim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersection between literature and trauma, which can be discerned in the key works of two poets, Sylvia Plath and Louise Glück. While offering readings of crucial poems, the thesis also examines the interrelations among trauma, memory and narrative as theorized by two contemporary psychiatrists, Bessel van der Kolk and Judith Herman. Both Plath and Glück wrote about personal and generational trauma after going through different experiences of abandonment. Absence, indirection and repetition provide the basis for literary techniques that allow their traumas to be better understood by authors and readers alike. The degree to which each …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Posttraumatic Symptomology In Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Adults, Timothy Hollinger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood adversity is a known predictor of poor psychological outcomes in adulthood, yet little is known about this relationship among Hispanic adults in South Texas. This study examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and whether gender, marital status, or educational attainment moderate this relationship. The central research questions were: (1) What is the relationship between ACEs and PTSD symptoms among Hispanic adults in South Texas? and (2) Do gender, marital status, or education moderate this relationship? Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this quantitative archival study used a non-experimental, correlational design. Linear …

A Resource-Based Perspective Of Stem Career Development: A Latent Class Analysis, Erika Ann Schemmel

Dissertations and Theses

Through technological developments and the growing concerns around climate change, the need and demand for electric vehicles has been steadily increasing. A trained and qualified STEM workforce is required to meet these demands, yet standard STEM education may not be sufficient. The STEM development program centered in the present study is a collegiate workforce development program that provides North American students with training and hands-on experience in the engineering of electric vehicles. Drawing from central principles of COR theory, the present study explores the experiences of students within the program utilizing a resource-based perspective and a mixed-methods approach. First, the …

Correlates Of Internalized Weight Bias In An Ethnically Diverse College Sample, Amanda Cipolla

Psychology ETDs

Understanding factors related to internalized weight bias (IWB), particularly among diverse populations, is an important avenue of research to inform interventions aimed at reducing IWB. This study surveyed college students (n = 319) about their body image, social media use, and culture. ANOVA, multiple regression, and hierarchical regressions were used to analyze data. Overall, body image flexibility emerged as a strongly negatively related to IWB, indicating potentially protective qualities. Physical appearance comparison, objectified body consciousness, and BMI emerged as maladaptive correlates. Findings related to social media were more complicated, with appearance related social media consciousness as an important negative correlate, …

Visitor Experience Model At The Marian Shrine Of La Vang, Younghee Lee, Hyo Dan Cho

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This research explores tourists’ experiences at La Vang in Vietnam. La Vang as a place of Catholic Marian apparition, is a sacred pilgrimage site that holds great religious significance for Catholics. This study employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to develop a model of the visitor’s experiences at La Vang. The initial qualitative study involved in-depth interviews and participant observation. Subsequently, the findings of the qualitative study were validated in the second quantitative study, which involved 75 surveys with residents of Macau who visited La Vang. This study proposes seven key scales measuring tourists’ experiential aspects at the sacred place. …

Investigating The Impact Of A Social Media Literacy Intervention On Appearance Satisfaction, Life Satisfaction, And Affect, Jennifer Lai

Student Theses and Dissertations

Social media (SM) platforms are popular mediums for entertainment and connection among young adults, and the companies behind these platforms have intentionally designed and implemented features to enhance user engagement. Research has identified a negative relationship between SM use and mental health outcomes but few studies have tested SM literacy interventions to reduce the impact of SM use on these outcomes. To extend the literature on SM literacy interventions, this study sought to investigate the impact of a digitally-delivered SM literacy intervention on appearance satisfaction, life satisfaction, and affect. Participants were 125 students (M_Age = 20.50; SD = 2.79; …

[2025 Honorable Mention] Pedagogies In The Flesh And Recovery Of Historical Memory From The Perspective Of A Salvadoreña, Janelle I. Martinez

Ethnic Studies Research Paper Award

My submission is a praxis paper. First, I explore the concepts and theories I would like to put into praxis, which are pedagogies in the flesh and recovery of historical memory. I then explain how and why I put them into praxis.

Building Resilience: The Role Of Social Rank And Alliances, Jarad Reiss

Masters Theses (Archived)

Resilience, the ability to recover from adversity, is a cornerstone of psychological well-being and a key to human thriving and mental fortitude. This study examines resilience as an adaptive psychological mechanism and situates it within an evolutionary framework to provide a clearer understanding of resilience across diverse populations, personalities, and cultures. Specifically, this study investigates whether perceived social rank predicts resilience and explores how social support and alliances mediate this relationship in a population of human service professionals. Participants (N = 256) completed an online survey that included measurements of resilience, social rank perceptions, personality, and coalition-related variables. Results suggest …

Legal Advocates As Lifelines: Initial Psychometric Evaluation Of Victim Rights Within A Community-Based Agency, Jaylee York

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Navigating the legal process after sexual violence is often distressing and poses a risk of secondary victimization (Campbell, 2013). Victim Bill of Rights legislation throughout the U.S. aims to establish legal protections for victims. Organizations such as the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) offer independent legal advocacy. This dissertation sought to engage in socially responsive research with KCSARC to better understand the needs of both the organization and the survivors they serve.

This study developed and psychometrically evaluated two new measures: Victim Rights to Process (VRP), assessing whether a victim feels their rights to the legal process have …

Booked Or Buried In Texas: Risk Factors For Prebooking Suicide And Homicide Deaths Of Individuals With Sex Offenses, Nicole Moreira

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Preventable deaths during law enforcement encounters, particularly those violent in nature, such as suicide and homicide deaths, are of considerable public concern. Prebooking, the law enforcement custody stage that includes arrest, serving warrants, wellness checks, traffic stops is often the most dangerous and fatal stage of custody. Despite being the most potentially dangerous and unpredictable of any custody stage, prebooking remains grossly understudied in comparison to jail and prison research, underscoring the need for focused research. To address this gap, the present study examines risk factors for suicide and homicide deaths among individuals with sex-related offenses during prebooking custody. Individuals …

Fear And Oxytocin: Effects Of Intraperitoneal Pretreatment In Rats, Daniel Yeromenko, Kelsie German, Eros Fuentes, Jenna Meade, Ben Bustos

2025 Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide widely known for its role in social bonding and emotional regulation. Recent studies have suggested its involvement in modulating fear, stress, and anxiety responses, potentially offering therapeutic applications for trauma-related disorders such as PTSD. This study investigated whether pretreatment with oxytocin reduces behavioral and physiological fear responses in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats using a classical fear conditioning model. METHODS : Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats (12 males, 12 females) were assigned to one of four groups: control (no shock, no oxytocin), shock only, shock + low-dose oxytocin (0.5 mg/kg), and shock + high-dose oxytocin (1.0 mg/kg). …

Burnout, Life Satisfaction, And Meaning-Focused Coping In Correctional Mental Health Providers, Danielle Janet Tsamouris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies have found that burnout among correctional mental health providers is related to unique stressors that impact their physical, psychological, and emotional health, including the perceived and actual threat of violence. Using the transactional theory of stress and coping, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the influence of burnout and meaning-focused coping strategies on life satisfaction in correctional mental health providers. Online survey data from 102 master’s-holding correctional mental health professionals were recruited by SurveyMonkey who also administered the survey. Results from a standard multiple regression analysis suggested that meaning-focused coping strategies significantly and positively influenced life …

A Grounded Theory Approach To Intergenerational Adverse Childhood Experiences, Jessica Schweigert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Extensive research has been conducted on the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative long term physical and mental health outcomes, intervention strategies after exposure in childhood, as well preventative education measures to limit ACE exposure; however, limited research has been conducted on how the exposure to ACEs could influence parental behaviors, practices, the overall experience for parents, and the intergenerational continuity of these experiences for their children. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to explore how the adverse childhood experiences of parents could have influenced their parental behaviors and practices, parenting style and approach, and …

Mediating Models Of Depression, Anxiety, And Ptsd In Adults With Early Versus Late Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses, Kaycee Malaki Dobson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults are being diagnosed with autism at greater rates than in the past two decades. This research study examined whether the age of autism diagnosis impacts the severity of comorbid mental health disorders in adults formally diagnosed with autism. The Empathizing-Systemizing theory, which posits that autistic individuals systemize at greater rates, was applied to understand the link between age of autism diagnosis and two common comorbid disorders, depression (measured by the PHQ-9) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; measured by the PCL-5). Mediation analyses were used to explore these relationships on a convenience sample of 232 adults with autism. No significant …

How Art Therapy And Emdr Help Asylum Seekers And Refugees Move Towards Healing Trauma: A Literature Review, Anna Mogilevsky

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In the past ten years, there has been a significant rise in the number of asylum seekers and refugee populations worldwide (UNHCR, 2022). Displaced individuals are extremely vulnerable to mental illness because of the compounded trauma experienced in their countries of origin with the stress of immigration, asylum seeking, culture shock, and language barriers. PTSD is affecting 500 million individuals globally, and refugees are especially susceptible to having these symptoms (Farrell, 2020). Art therapy and EMDR are identified as the most promising modalities for treating such trauma.

This literature review examines the various ways EMDR and art therapy have been …

Exploring A Holistic Conceptualization Of Destructive Leadership: Perspectives From The Lived Experiences Of Latino Law Enforcement Command Staff Officers, Carmelin Rivera

Dissertations

Recently, there has been an increased interest in destructive leadership or what is characterized as the dark side of leadership. There is, in fact, no consensus in the literature about the definition of destructive leadership, and this murkiness has led to two somewhat different approaches to understanding this phenomenon: 1) a leader-centric approach that emphasizes the bad behaviors and traits of so-called toxic leaders and 2) a much broader, holistic approach, often discussed as the toxic triangle (Padilla et al., 2007), that focuses on how destructive leadership is co-created by a toxic system of bad leaders and susceptible followers …

Changing The Narrative: A Meta-Analysis Of Narrative Therapy And It's Changes Since Inception, Elijah J. Shriner

Honors Projects

This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of narrative therapy across 43 studies involving diverse populations and mental health conditions. Studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, and case studies, with outcome measures primarily focused on depressive symptoms, interpersonal functioning, and psychological distress. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges’ g to account for small sample bias. Overall, narrative therapy demonstrated moderate to large positive effects on symptom reduction and client well-being, though variability in study design and reporting limited the precision of some estimates. Findings support narrative therapy as a promising intervention across clinical contexts, while highlighting the need for more rigorous, …

Understanding Deviance Through General Strain Theory: A Study Of The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping, Yazmin Robles

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

The following paper demonstrates the validity of Robert Agnew’s general strain theory. In particular, the paper thoroughly examines empirical support for general strain theory, applies the theory to the infamous 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping, and introduces policy recommendations. The paper finds support, limitations, and suggestions for general strain theory through qualitative literature analysis. Clear connections are made between the empirical findings of the theory and the motivation behind the kidnapping. In particular, the paper highlights the significance of financial strain, emotions, and opportunity as motivators in the Chowchilla case. Policy recommendations are made in connection with the theory application to …

Forensic Psychology Of Serial Killers, Karla Suarez

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Many serial killers share patterns in psychological and neuropsychological disorders and behaviors. These behaviors and patterns should be recognized and acknowledged to understand why serial killers murder without remorse or guilt. It is important to discuss matters such as common patterns, typologies, and characteristics within serial killers. After looking at these essential aspects of serial killers, common neurodevelopmental disorders, brain damage, and biological epigenetics will be further explored. In order to fully assess this topic, forensic psychology and behavioral analysis are essential to aid in understanding serial killers and how their brains function to lead them to the actions that …

From Bystanders To Upstanders: A Multi-Level Strategy To Combat Human Trafficking In Hospitality, Aili Wu, Wei Wei, Lu Zhang

ICHRIE Research Reports

Human trafficking, a prevalent hidden crime, continues to be a pressing concern in the hospitality industry. However, the effectiveness of existing anti-human trafficking programs in improving employee response behaviors remains unknown. This report evaluates the effectiveness of training messages to capture hospitality employees’ attention, facilitating empathy and willingness to help the victims. It further explores the facilitators and barriers influencing employees’ responses to human trafficking after training. The findings from this report provide a practical guide for hospitality practitioners to develop and refine ongoing training programs, strengthening employees’ commitment to combating human trafficking. Beyond general training, this report offers a …

Comparing Gains And Losses: Examining The Effects Of Incentives On Working Memory Capacity And Motivational Processes In Older Adults, Julie Q. Pham

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Working memory is critical for the storage and maintenance of information but is susceptible to age-related changes. Prior studies have shown that incentives can be used to successfully modulate cognition in older age. However, research has largely focused on the use of reward incentives. Less is understood about the motivational processes of avoiding losses and whether this can also improve working memory capacity. Given that an aversion to losses may become more salient with age, it is important to determine whether these motivational shifts are reflected in how older adults attend to and store information. The current study compared how …

Looking Forward To It: Investigating The Role Of Anhedonia In Episodic Future Thinking, Sarah Corner, Alicia E. Meuret

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Episodic future thinking, or our ability to simulate personal future events, is implicated in a range of important functioning from problem solving to emotion regulation. However, individuals with clinical diagnoses like depression and schizophrenia struggle to produce future thinking that is vivid and detailed. While these deficits mirror well-document autobiographical memory deficits, they remain poorly understood. The current study aimed to examine the role of anhedonia in episodic future thinking vividness using a within-subjects dimensional approach. A mixed sample of sixty-five undergraduate students and community adults completed two future thinking tasks and one autobiographical memory across two study visits, during …

The Effects Of Crf1 Antagonism On Spatial Navigation And Long-Term Potentiation In The Tgf344-Ad Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Nicole C. Reyna

Psychology ETDs

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by neurobiological deterioration and cognitive impairment that is irreversible. Alzheimer’s disease patients exhibit increased stress system abnormalities including upregulation of the corticotropin releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1) and elevated levels of cortisol. People experiencing increased psychological distress in life are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and experience faster rates of neurocognitive decline. Therefore, the current dissertation aimed to examine the underlying systems involved in Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology and stress. Administration of the CRF1 antagonist, Antalarmin, reduces AD pathogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in models of Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, the current project used the …

Literature Review: Drama Therapy As A School-Based Intervention For Military-Connected Adolescents, Katherine E. Dooley

Expressive Therapies Theses

The following literature review will review current research surrounding military-connected adolescents mental health and the viability of utilizing drama therapy as a school-based intervention to improve their mental health. Military-connected adolescents are an invisible minority who experience a unique set of stressors. This population experiences frequent relocation, parental deployment, and the impact living this way can have on the entire family. The current research shows that military-connected adolescents are more likely than their civilian peers to experience mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety. School-based therapeutic interventions have been shown to help decrease symptoms. School-based interventions allow for the therapist …

Examining Working And Episodic Memory In Young Adults With Anhedonia, Sofia Uribe

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Depression is associated with impairments in memory processes. Evidence suggests there is poor recognition of positive information and quicker disengagement with positive information from working memory in depression compared to healthy controls. The working memory differences are hypothesized to be downstream effects of taxed working memory from rumination processes that impair reward learning. Furthermore, episodic memory impairments for positive information are hypothesized to be downstream effects of dopamine dysregulation from anhedonia in memory formation processes. The current study utilized the Diffusion Drift Model to examine whether anhedonia severity predicted differences in evidence accumulation using an index called drift rates in …