Psychology Commons^™

Exploring The Neurological Features Of Individuals With Germline Pten Variants: A Multicenter Study, Andrew Dhawan, Sarah Baitamouni, Daren Liu, Robyn Busch, Patricia Klaas, Thomas Frazier, Siddharth Srivastava, Sumit Parikh, Gary E. Hsich, Neil R. Friedman, David M. Ritter, Antonio Y. Hardan, Julian A. Martinez-Agosto, Mustafa Sahin, Charis Eng

2024 Faculty Bibliography

Objective: PTEN, a known tumor suppressor gene, is a mediator of neurodeve- lopment. Individuals with germline pathogenic variants in the PTEN gene, molecularly defined as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), experience a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric challenges during childhood, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the frequency and nature of seizures and the utilization of allied health services have not been described. Methods: Young patients with PHTS and sibling controls were recruited across five centers in the United States and followed every 6–12 months for a mean of 2.1 years. In addition to the history obtained from caregivers, neurodevelop- …

Executive Functioning And Sluggish Cognitive Tempo As Potential Mediators In The Relationship Between Adhd And Emotional Intelligence, Emma Bradley

Undergraduate Research (Journal)

Introduction. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by executive functioning (EF) deficits and is associated with sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and reduced emotional intelligence (EI). The present study evaluated the mediating role of EF and SCT in the ADHD-EI relationship. Methods. Forty-nine college-aged participants completed self-report measures of ADHD symptoms, SCT, EF, and EI. Participants were remunerated $10 for their participation. Results. Regression analyses demonstrated that ADHD symptoms predicted EI, EF, and SCT (p’s < 0.001). Contrary to hypothesis, neither EF nor SCT significantly mediated the relationship between ADHD and EI. Conclusion. Future research ought to aim to better understand the mechanisms accounting for the impairments associated with ADHD and EI, with a focus on emotion regulation. A better understanding of this complex relationship can lead to more effective intervention strategies for those with ADHD.

Precommentary: Animal Personality Needs Animal Sentience, Ralph Adolphs, Yue Xu

Animal Sentience

We are grateful to Owens, Bryja & Bekoff (2024) for their important discussion of individual differences in animals, emphasizing the role of personality in conservation, wildlife research, and wellbeing. But their emphasis also raises new challenges: How should we conceive of personality in nonhuman species? what modern tools could be leveraged to best measure it? and, perhaps most important of all: how can we ensure that the conscious experience of animals — their capacity for wellbeing and for suffering — is not forgotten along the way? We touch on each of these challenges in this invited Precommentary in the hope …

Complexities Of Consistent Individual Behavioral Differences In Effective Wildlife Management, Nathalie R. Sommer

Animal Sentience

The study of animal personality, or consistent individual behavioral differences, has faced numerous challenges since its inception, including terminological disputes, labor-intensive methodologies, and notable retractions. This commentary explores the mechanisms behind personality traits, questioning the link between personality and sentience, and highlights the bias towards megafauna in wildlife management. It underscores the ecological and ethical significance of considering arthropod personalities and the complexities of integrating personality into wildlife reintroductions. Caution is advised in generalizing personality effects, and the limitations of current measurement techniques are discussed, suggesting that personality traits should be one of many factors in comprehensive management strategies.

Paresthesia Due To Peripheral Neuropathy: Anxiety And Wellbeing, Nikolas Cirillo

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Neuropathic pain has been linked with mental health concerns such as anxiety and wellbeing, but specific symptoms of neuropathic pain have had much less attention than the construct as a whole. Paresthesia, meaning “abnormal sensation” (tingling, numbness, pins and needles, impaired sensation, and itching) is a neuropathic pain symptom. Tissue compression is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy (PN) as well as paresthesia. This study aimed to test the following hypotheses: (1) if paresthesia due to PN is positively correlated with anxiety, negatively correlated with wellbeing, and if (2) anxiety and (3) wellbeing varied significantly by level of …

School Psychologists’ Training, Engagement, And Legislative Involvement In Return To Learn Procedures For Students With A Mtbi, Jessie Marie Beshara

Theses and Dissertations

Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs), are increasingly affecting school-age children in the United States. Despite this rising incidence, comprehensive return-to-learn plans for affected students are often inadequate and not utilized to the degree needed. This deficiency may stem from school psychologists' insufficient training, knowledge, and awareness regarding how to support these students effectively. This is further impacted by school psychologists’ exclusion in legislation or school district policies addressing concussion management, specifically in mandated professional development training. This is despite being recognized as essential members of the concussion management team (CMT). This study aimed to investigate school psychologists' familiarity …

Towards A Theory Of Sobriety Barriers: The Development Of A Novel Measure Of Alcohol Sobriety Barriers, Lindsay L. Arader

Theses and Dissertations

At present, there is no formal theory of barriers to sobriety from alcohol, and subsequently no standardized way to assess such barriers in the population. The goal of the current study was to formalize both a sobriety barriers theory and sobriety barriers measure via psychometric analysis. Researchers designed a sobriety barriers theory based on available literature, generated a multidimensional item-set representing this theory, administered the item-set to a sample of 1,187 respondents (56.4% female), and evaluated the extent to which the structure and contents of the item-set corresponded to the proposed theory using psychometric analysis. Structural analyses revealed a bifactor …

Comparison Of Professional Impressions Of Hikikomori Across Cultures: A Secondary Data Analysis, Marko Lamela

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impressions of two hikikomori vignettes by professionals across different countries to determine possible similarities or differences across countries. Originally viewed as a cultural disorder, hikikomori has been observed in different countries. This study used an existing data set of a 2010 study to review diagnostic impressions using the ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR coding systems, as well as a free response. Additionally, this study reviewed professional impressions on the best treatment for hikikomori. This study reviewed these responses based on country of origin and cultural type. A correlation was found between ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR diagnosis, country, and cultural …

Change In Blame Attributions As A Mediator Of Symptom Reduction In Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Michelle Cusumano

Theses and Dissertations

Youth exposed to interpersonal violence often develop maladaptive posttraumatic cognitions about the event(s), the world, and themselves. These maladaptive cognitions have robust associations with onset and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and internalizing symptoms (Mitchell et al., 2017). Growing literature suggests changes in cognitions, particularly appraisals about control, vulnerability, and personal change following trauma exposure, serve as a mechanism of change in trauma-specific psychotherapy interventions for youth (Meiser-Stedman et al., 2017; Smith et al., 2007). Little research has examined change in blame attributions as a mediator of treatment outcome, despite their importance in understanding how youth process their trauma …

Identity Denial And Food Choice: Do Chinese Americans Reassert Their American Identity Through Food?, Shelagh Mahbubani

Theses and Dissertations

Food choice is impacted by a variety of different factors, including cultural, social and socioeconomic (Chen & Antonelli, 2020; Contento, 2008; Rozin, 2015). Food choice has a major impact on an individual’s health, and research has shown an association between the prototypical “American diet” and an increased risk for health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and stroke (Liu et al., 2020). One important social factor that can influence food choice is the desire to appear as a prototypical member of a social group (Cruwys et al., 2012). For example, when an individual’s social identity is questioned (identity threat), they may …

A Meta-Analysis Of Grief-Focused Interventions For Bereaved Children And Adolescents: Examining The State Of The Literature And Moderators Of Treatment Effect, Emily C. Hockenberry

Theses and Dissertations

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents face a greater need than ever for effective mental healthcare to address distressing and disabling emotional and behavioral reactions that can occur following the death of a significant person in their lives. However, current evaluations of grief-focused interventions for bereaved youth are limited by a lack of consensus regarding how to define and measure grief symptoms in children and adolescents, a lack of clarity regarding grief-specific effects compared with effects on other forms of psychopathology, and limited power to detect moderators of intervention effect. The present meta-analysis evaluated the pooled …

Clinicians’ Attitudes Towards Using Cognitive Restructuring With Individuals At The End-Of-Life, Daniel H. Lydon

Theses and Dissertations

This cross-sectional study involving 156 clinicians explores the influence of personal factors on psychotherapy interventions and clinicians’ decisions to engage with individuals at the end-of-life (EOL) in psychotherapy. Extending qualitative research on perceived barriers to applying CBT in cancer care, this quantitative investigation delves into death anxiety, attitudes toward Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and clinician distress tolerance in predicting the use, comfort, and confidence in applying cognitive restructuring (CR) with individuals at the EOL. Clinicians read a vignette of a terminally ill patient who is presenting as distressed and reporting several different irrational beliefs. Clinicians were then asked about their …

Does Dbt-Informed Treatment Address Comorbid Symptoms Of Social Anxiety For Adolescent Eating Disorder Patients In A Day Program? Exploring Emotion Regulation As A Mechanism For Change, Megan Bisanzo

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN), often begin in adolescence and can be extremely challenging to treat effectively (Dawson, 2018; Martin & Golden 2014; Robatto et al., 2024). Eating disorder behaviors such as acute caloric restriction, excessive exercise, binging and purging can cause dangerous medical complications, while comorbid psychological conditions can lead to suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2022; Dancyger & Fornari, 2005; Martin & Golden, 2014). Social anxiety is one such comorbid disorder that can be a barrier to patients fully engaging in treatment (Goodwin & Fitzgibbon, 2002; Smith, 2018). Deficits …

Evaluation Of Resurgence Following Differential Reinforcement Of Alternative Behavior With And Without Extinction In A Human-Operant Model, Skylar Dewitt

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) plus extinction for problem behavior is an evidence-based intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism. However, researchers have recently begun investigating DRA without extinction, given this treatment component may be unsafe or impractical to implement in practice. Although preliminary research has indicated DRA without extinction as an effective intervention alternative, little is known about the long-term implications of this intervention, especially as it relates to resurgence. This study investigated resurgence following DRA with and without extinction using a three-phase resurgence assessment in a human-operant arrangement across 60 college-aged participants. Several study iterations were required to …

Effects Of (2r,6r)-Hydroxynorketamine In Assays Of Acute Pain-Stimulated And Pain-Depressed Behaviors In Mice, Todd M. Hillhouse, Kaitlyn J. Partridge, Patrick I. Garrett, Sarah C. Honeycutt, Joseph H. Porter

Psychology Publications

Ketamine has been shown to produce analgesia in various acute and chronic pain states; however, abuse liability concerns have limited its utility. The ketamine metabolite (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK) has been shown to produce antidepressant-like effects similar to ketamine without abuse liability concerns. (2R,6R)-HNK produces sustained analgesia in models of chronic pain, but has yet to be evaluated in models of acute pain. The present study evaluated the efficacy of acute (2R,6R)-HNK administration (one injection) in assays of pain-stimulated (52- and 56-degree hot plate test and acetic acid writhing) and …

Navigating The Labyrinth: An Analysis Of Gender Bias In Leadership Development Using Natural Language Processing, Michael Schwendeman

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study employs a multi-trait, multi-method approach to investigate gender bias in leadership development evaluations in an organizational setting by combining traditional quantitative analyses with natural language processing (NLP) methodologies. Specifically, analysis of 360-degree ratings of leader competency revealed a null effect of leader gender on ratings of Agency and Communion when controlling for leader level, leader work region, rater gender, and rater source. These secondary variables, with the exception of rater gender, demonstrated small yet significant effects on competency ratings. Moreover, dictionary-based NLP and structural topic modeling analyses on narrative developmental feedback comments revealed minimal gender differences in feedback …

Cbt And Me: A Beginning Therapist's Journey Utilizing Client Feedback, Haley Scruggs

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Cognitive behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) is a model of therapy targeting cognitions, emotional responses, and behavioral interactions between couples experiencing relationship distress. Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) is a tool that clinicians can use to track the progress of their clients in therapy from the perspective of the client. This study aimed to use MFT-PRN, a type of ROM, to gather client progress throughout CBCT treatment. Prototypical change trajectories were created in Microsoft Excel for examination of presenting problem progress, couple satisfaction, and overall relationship functioning. It was found that small data sensitivity affected the trajectories immensely, though ROM outcomes revealed …

Community Violence Exposure And Externalizing, Destiny Avila

Theses and Dissertations

The present study tested whether total lifetime exposure to violence and exposure as a witness and victim were associated with externalizing behavior concurrently and one-year later in a sample of pubertal-aged youth. Participants included 125 youth (n = 68 girls) who were recruited from small cities and rural communities (Susman et al. 2007). Girls were ages 8, 10, or 12 years old (M = 10.09 years, SD = 1.64) and boys were ages 9, 11, or 13 years old (M = 10.94 years, SD = 1.61). Youth were predominantly Caucasian or White and non-Hispanic (89.5%), but the sample also included …

Epigenetics And Character Virtue Development, David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

Current understandings of epigenetics offer some insights into the developmental origins of character virtues. Research on epigenetics has demonstrated that phenotypes depend on both genomic and non-genomic information for their development, and such is true for the development of character virtues as well. This conclusion offers significant support for the Developmental Systems perspective. Although researchers have not yet studied the role of molecular epigenetic factors in the development of character, the field of behavioral epigenetics has revealed how such factors contribute to psychological and other behavioral phenotypes in general. In particular, behavioral epigenetics research can highlight the plasticity of human …

Irrational Beliefs As A Mechanism Of Change In Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Miriam Motechin

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the mechanisms of change in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a treatment developed by Albert Ellis that posits irrational beliefs contribute to emotional and behavioral distress. Prior research has shown REBT’s effectiveness, but the specific mechanisms remain underexplored. This research uses meta-analytic data to examine changes in irrational beliefs and their relationship to changes in emotions, behaviors and automatic thoughts. A moderately strong relationship was found in therapeutic intervention groups between changes in irrational beliefs and changes in emotions/behaviors. A similar relationship was found when looking at the long-term impact of changing irrational beliefs on emotional and …

When East Meets West: Filial Modes And Family Functioning In Second-Generation Chinese-Americans, Johnny Kay Wong

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Due to the global trend of population aging and the growing issue of elder care, research on filial norms are being conducted around the world (e.g., Lowenstein & Daatland, 2006). The current study is the first to examine filial piety in a sample of second-generation Chinese-Americans and added to the filial piety literature in four ways. First, the study confirmed both the two-factor structure of the Dual Filial Piety Scale (DFPS) with second-generation Chinese-Americans using a confirmatory factor analysis, with four items representing Reciprocal Filial Piety (RFP) and four items representing Authoritarian Filial Piety (AFP). Second, the study confirmed the …

The Effect Of Socioeconomic Status Descriptors On Judgements About Unpunctuality, Tatiana Basáñez, Brittney Barcena, Vanessa Delgadillo, Icseel Ortiz Ayala, Angelica Ortiz, Samantha Andrade, Amber Fajardo, Cynthia Stewart

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

Three survey experiments examined the effect of cues describing a target’s socioeconomic status (SES) on participants’ judgements after the target transgressed the social norm of punctuality. Hypotheses were formulated based on Fiske’s (2018) stereotype content model. In Study 1 (N = 243) participants were randomly assigned to read a vignette describing a gender ambiguous student as low-SES (versus high-SES) arriving late to an exam and then judged the tardy student. Judges showed more leniency when the student was described as low-SES than high-SES. In Study 2 (N = 40), the target was a male job applicant arriving late …

Associations Of Blood Gas And Acid-Base Values With Motor And Language Outcomes In Preterm-Born Preschoolers, Christina Marie Dandar

Wayne State University Dissertations

Hypoxia and ischemia are of the most common causes of acquired brain injury in preterm infants and often results in damage to the periventricular areas of the preterm brain. Several biochemical indices are commonly associated with hypoxic-ischemic injury, including blood pH, base deficit (BD), oxygen, and carbon dioxide (pCO2). The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of early biochemical indexes of hypoxic-ischemic risk, particularly blood gas measures and acid-base balance measures, to neuropsychological outcome in preterm preschool-age children. I was particularly interested in the link between measures obtained either at birth, immediately after birth, or within the …

Cultural Identity, Cultural Security And Acculturation Strategies Of Hindus And Muslims In India, Shabana Bano, Ramesh Chandra Mishra, Rama Charan Tripathi

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

In this paper we attempt to answer two related questions. First, which acculturation strategies are used by Hindus and Muslims in mutual intercultural relations and second, how contact with the members of the other group is associated with their acculturation strategies, cultural identity, and cultural security in different local contexts. A sample of 540 participants consisting of 241 Hindus and 299 Muslims, was drawn from three cities which differ in terms of their cultural and demographic histories. One of these was primarily a Hindu city, namely, Varanasi; second, a metropolis, Mumbai; and the third, some Muslim towns of the state …

The Conductome – A New Paradigm For Understanding Human Behaviour, Christopher R. Stephens, Dagmara Wrzecionkowska, Estefanía Espitia-Bautista, Roland Díaz-Loving, Gabriela Contreras

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

As almost every major problem that humankind faces is a consequence of human behaviour, predicting behaviour and behaviour change is fundamental. Given the multitude of factors that affect our decision making, a transdisciplinary understanding of behaviour is impossible without the integration of data that crosses disciplinary boundaries. The concept of Conduct-“ome” is an analog of those holistic –“omic”-approaches found in the biological sciences which take a “totality of factors” approach, and provides a framework for studying human behaviour in a multifactorial, multidisciplinary context, accounting for a wealth of potential causes of behaviour, from the genetic and epigenetic to psychological, neurological, …

Factors That Inhibit And Support The Work Of School-Based Mental Health Providers, David B. Naff, Jennifer Murphy, Alexandra Javna, Wyatt Aldrich, Erin Standish, Jeen Joy, Ciana Cross, Sandra Saji

MERC Publications

This research brief comes from the MERC Supporting Mental Health in Schools study. Launched in 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores research-based strategies for supporting mental health in PK-12 school settings, as well as the emotional and professional capacity of PK-12 faculty and staff in the MERC region to support the social and emotional wellness of their students. This brief shares takeaways from a systematic literature review that highlight the factors that inhibit and support the work of school-based mental health providers, including school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists. It outlines the roles …

Acculturative Stress, Depression, & Anxiety Among Arab Americans, Sally Kafelghazal M.S.

Theses and Dissertations

Arab Americans, those who themselves or their ancestors have immigrated fromthe Middle East or North Africa to the United States, experience a lot of stress as a result of balancing varying cultures, known as acculturative stress. Due to the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Arabs in Americans, as well as the taboo that exists in the Arab culture regarding poor mental health and seeking mental health services, the mental health impacts of acculturation stress among this population are scarcely studied. This dissertation aims to further understand ways in which acculturative stress impacts early generational Arab American adults, including immigrants and refugees, …

Food Accessibility Struggles For College Students With Dietary Restrictions, Ella Schleuning

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

College is a time when many students experience independence for the first time in their lives. This is the first time they have had to do their laundry on their own, keep their room clean, and maybe most importantly, they are responsible for figuring out where they are going to eat every day, for every meal. The focus of this study is on food accessibility struggles for college students, specifically looking at Western Kentucky University’s (WKU) food on-campus, as well as students with dietary restrictions.

Since college is the first-time students are responsible for their own meals, it can often …

Mental Health Portrayals In Video Games And Their Impacts: Horror Games And Their Reliance On The Mentally Ill, Jordan Hightower

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This thesis seeks to address the representation of mental illnesses within the video game genre, specifically within horror video games. Horror video games have a history of relying on the mentally ill to increase the “fear factor” of games, though often do not seem to do proper research, as the portrayals often rely on stigmas and misconstruals on the mental illness being portrayed. This can lead to those who play aforementioned video games to develop subconscious stigmas and biases towards those who are mentally ill. Through a literary analysis of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and Omori, examples of negative and …

The Influence Of School Policies On Black Students' Mental Health, Ama Ogyaa Boateng

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

When educators target Black students’ hair through school policies, they inadvertently target their racial identity, causing harm to their mental health (Joseph- Salisbury & Connelly, 2018). While previous research has looked at the relationship between a school’s racial climate and Black students’ mental health (Mattison & Aber, 2007), this research study explored the mental health of Black adults who have experienced racial discrimination or racial microaggressions, in relation to hair and dress codes, as Black students in the K-12 school system.

A retrospective survey was used to explore the experiences that Black young adults had in the K-12 school system …