Health Psychology Commons^™

Identifying Alcohol Intervention-Relevant Constructs For Greek Life: Examining Across Greek Membership And Gender Among College Students, Emily Susan Renzoni

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Among college populations, students who are members of social Greek life organizations (i.e., social fraternities and sororities) drink more and experience higher rates of negative alcohol-related consequences than their non-affiliated peers. Although there has been success of alcohol interventions in general college populations, research has shown that college drinking interventions that are delivered to students in Greek life are not efficacious in reducing alcohol consumption or related consequences. It is meaningful to investigate if the content commonly addressed in these interventions, although well-documented as being linked to drinking in the general college population, has the same associations for students who …

Drinking To Compensate: Expanding Upon The Motivational Model Of Alcohol Use, Douglas J. Glenn

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The motivational model of alcohol use identifies four key drinking motives – coping, conformity, social, and enhancement – as important proximal antecedents of problematic drinking. However, applications of this model have been inconsistent in explaining drinking outcomes. Specifically, it is unclear under which conditions each drinking motive can be a risky or benign indicator of drinking behaviors. The current study theorized that a problematic drinking to compensate behavior could emerge across all drinking motives when alcohol is used to counteract a psychosocial (i.e., nondrinking) deficit. It was hypothesized, at the cross-sectional and daily level, that the associations between each drinking …

Exploring The Relationship Between Cannabis Use Motives And Readiness To Change Among Young Adult College Students, Emma Kathryn Rawls

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Cannabis use among young adult college students has risen steadily over the past decade, raising concerns about the associated health, academic, and psychological consequences. While cannabis use motives and readiness to change have each been linked to use patterns and outcomes, limited research has examined how these factors interact. The current study investigated whether readiness to change, based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), moderates the relationship between cannabis use motives and cannabis-related consequences as well as past-30-day use frequency. A sample of 100 college students 18-25 years old (M_age = 20.08, SD = 2.12; 67% female; 55.0% Black or …

Not Right Now: Factors Affecting Interruption Decisions In A Healthcare Paradigm, Matthew G. Pacailler

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Interruptions are common in the workplace, but when they happen during high-stakes critical tasks, they can have serious consequences. In the field of healthcare, interruptions can lead to serious adverse events or medication errors. Research on interruption management strategies addresses the potentially harmful outcomes of interruptions but often fails to account for the initial decision to accept or reject the interrupting task. Two experiments were performed to examine the decision-making outcomes for interruptions.

In experiment I, the participants monitored two EKG displays while simultaneously entering medication information into a patient chart. The decision to accept or reject an interruption was …

Route 420: An Examination Of Cannabis Knowledge, Attitudes, And Use Behaviors Among Young Adults By Primary Route Of Administration, Samantha A. Fitzer

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Cannabis use among young adults in the United States has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. Previous research suggests that the escalating legalization of cannabis across the U.S. has made cannabis use more socially acceptable as well as accessible (e.g., expanding routes of administration) to young adults. However, less is known about how combined individual-level factors (i.e., knowledge and attitudes) may predict cannabis use patterns among young adult college students. Using the Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAB) model, the current study examined a) the mediating effect of cannabis beliefs on the association between cannabis knowledge and cannabis use behaviors (frequency and typical intoxication …

Maladaptive Social Media Use Motives, Emotional Well-Being, And Drinking Behaviors Among College Students, Rachel Ayala Guzman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Young adult college students are one of the greatest at-risk populations for problematic alcohol-related behaviors (e.g., excessive use). Experiencing greater emotional distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) has been linked to problematic drinking, and rates of college students struggling with their mental health is higher than other populations. Social media has proliferated in recent years, potentially increasing the risk of experiencing negative emotional effects for avid users like college students. Literature is mixed regarding social media’s impact on emotional well-being and scant studies have investigated how motives of social media use (i.e., why people are using social media) may be …

The Impact Of Covid-19 Stressors, Racial Discrimination, And Racial Socialization On Family Functioning In Black Families, Regina L. Alexander

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Marginalized communities, specifically Black Americans, have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in more hospitalizations and deaths within this particular community. However, this disproportionate impact of COVID-19 is likely the result of ongoing health disparities related to a lack of access to adequate healthcare. In addition to health disparities specifically related to COVID-19, Black Americans have also experienced public displays of racial discrimination resulting from the systemic racism that has occurred for many years. It has been determined that stress spillover can impact relationship factors and this same spillover may be an important factor by which …

The Effect Of Viewing Different Modalities Of Alcohol-Related Social Media Content Shared By Friends On Alcohol Outcomes: A Longitudinal Examination, Megan E. Strowger

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Social influences have robust associations with problematic alcohol use among emerging adult college students. Examinations of social influences increasingly focus on social media influences via alcohol-related content (ARC) sharing and viewing. Limited longitudinal research suggests that increased exposure to ARC is associated with increased alcohol consumption among college students over time. Most research examining exposure has not focused on who (e.g., specific friends) is sharing this content, the modality (e.g., photos) or the qualities of those sharing content and their relationship (e.g., closeness) to the viewer. The current study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between alcohol consumption/consequences and: 1) sharing …

Affect, Mind-Body Factors, And Disordered And Intuitive Eating Behaviors: Examining Naturalistic Associations Among Young Women With Elevated Eating Disorder Symptoms, Kelly A. Romano

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Objective: The present study examined whether three mind-body factors—emotion dysregulation, interoceptive sensibility, and mindfulness—that are theorized to be implicated in the onset and maintenance of eating disorder (ED) pathology mediated (Aim 1) and moderated (Aim 2) within-person associations between affect and women with elevated ED symptoms’ disordered and intuitive eating behavior use. Method: Participants included 150 young women with elevated ED symptoms who completed a 10-day ecological momentary assessment protocol. To address Aim 1, multilevel structural equation models examined whether the mindbody factors (separately) mediated momentary associations between negative and positive affect, and women’s disordered (dietary restriction, loss of control …

Predicting E-Cigarette Use Among Emerging Adults Using Perceived Social Norms And Outcome Expectancies, Stephen N. Hanson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Despite low rates of combustible tobacco use rates among adolescents and young adults, e-cigarettes continue to gain popularity. A few factors have been shown to be related to e-cigarette use based on prior research. One such example is social enhancement expectancies. Additionally, greater perceptions of harm have been found to be inversely related to e-cigarette use such that those that expect increased risk to their health are less likely to report using e-cigarettes. I hypothesized that social enhancement expectancies would mediate the relationship between perceptions of social norms and e-cigarette dependence. I also hypothesized that perceived harm, such as greater …

The Effect Of Minority Stress On Sexual Minority College Students' Mental Health: The Role Of General Social Support And Sexuality-Specific Social Support, Lee A. Golembiewski

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Sexual minority (SM) college students continue to face greater mental health problems relative to their heterosexual peers (Woodford et al., 2014; Wilson & Liss, 2022). According to minority stress theory, SM individuals face distal (e.g., heterosexist discrimination) and proximal (e.g., expectations of rejection, internalized homophobia, and concealment) stressors related to their SM identity which can have negative effects on their mental health (Douglass & Conlin, 2020; Meyer, 2003). However, social support has been hypothesized to help protect against the effects of minority stress experienced by SM individuals (Cohen & Wills, 1985; Moody & Smith, 2013). Most of the existing research …

Can Obsessive Thoughts Predict Problematic Alcohol Use Through Thought Suppression?, Laura Pettigrew

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol misuse, which is a prevalent issue among college students, often coincides with psychiatric disorders or symptoms. Treatment of one facilitates treatment of the other. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or just obsessive-compulsive symptoms, is connected to alcohol misuse.

This study adapts part of the cognitive control model of OCD, which states that intrusive thoughts will only lead to distress if the individual interprets them in a dysfunctional manner and tries to control them. When the thought control attempt fails, if the individual interprets the failure in a dysfunctional way as well, they will become distressed. If …

Racial Differences In Tobacco Use And Risk Factors Among Young Adults: Roles Of Expectancies And Emotion Regulation, Laurel Brockenberry

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

African Americans experience higher mortality from lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases than Caucasian Americans (Kochanek et al., 2016) despite engaging in cigarette and e-cigarette use significantly less or at comparable rates to other racial groups (CDC, 2015; Schoeborn, 2013). During adolescence, smoking prevalence is lower among African Americans than Caucasian Americans, but there is a “cross-over effect” whereby smoking rates become similar later in adulthood (Belgrave et al, 2010). The mechanisms driving this effect are poorly understood. Thus, examining motivating factors for tobacco use, such as outcome expectancies and emotion regulation, may be especially illuminating for young adult African …

Simultaneous Alcohol And Cannabis Use In College Students: Examining Context, Route Of Administration, Cognitive Factors, And Consequences Via Daily Diary, Jennifer Lynn Shipley

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Cannabis and alcohol use are pervasive among college students. Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis (commonly referred to as simultaneous alcohol and marijuana [SAM]) use (i.e., effects overlap) is more prevalent than concurrent alcohol and cannabis (commonly referred to as concurrent alcohol and marijuana [CAM]) use (i.e., effects do not overlap). Consequences of SAM use are often greater than CAM or single substance use. Research has explored cognitions (motives, expectancies) and contexts (environmental, social) as predictors of SAM use among adolescents, young adults, and adults; however, research is needed among college students specifically. Limited research has examined type of alcohol and route …

Effects Of Income Disparity On Relationships, B. Lynn Mcelyea

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Shifting social norms are leading to changes in family structures. More women are working, and more families are relying on dual income to provide for the household than ever before. These changes in family income are happening fairly quickly in our society and for that reason, as our society shifts towards a more egalitarian mindset, we should view these variables using primary and secondary earner as opposed to through the lens of a husband and a wife. The aim of this study was to examine relationship satisfaction and how that might be affected by differences in income or earner status …

The Effects Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress On College Students: Examining The Role Of Mental Health Self-Efficacy On Willingness To Engage In Mental Health Services, Leeanna L. Golembiewski

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Relative to younger ages, mental health problems are more prevalent among college students (Pedrelli et al., 2015) and nearly 20% of U.S college students are diagnosed each year with a mental health problem (Blanco et al., 2008). College students’ self-efficacy may influence mental health outcomes by impacting an individual’s decision to change their behavior and execute a course of action (Bresó et al., 2011). Mental health may also be influenced by the degree of willingness that an individual possesses, such that those who are more willing to seek mental health treatment are also more likely to follow through and seek …

Predicting Inattentional Blindness With Pupillary Response In A Simulated Flight Task, Kellie D. Kennedy

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Inattentional blindness (IB) is the failure of observers to notice the presence of a clearly viewable but unexpected visual event when attentional resources are diverted elsewhere. Knowing when an operator is unable to respond or detect an unexpected event may help improve safety during task performance. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict when such failures might occur. The current study was a secondary data analysis of data collected in the Human and Autonomous Vehicle Systems Laboratory at NASA Langley Research Center. Specifically, 60 subjects (29 male, with normal or corrected-to-normal vision, mean age of 34.5 years (SD = 13.3) were …

Campus Gatekeeper Trainings: An Analysis Of Question, Persuade, Refer (Qpr) And Safetalk, Gabrielle M. Ramsey-Wilson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Suicide prevention gatekeeper trainings seek to equip learners with knowledge about suicide, skills to recognize suicide risk and intervene, and awareness of referral resources. Although these trainings are widely used, research is limited on their utility and impact on increasing intent to intervene in a suicide crisis. The current study aimed to evaluate two gatekeeper trainings, SafeTALK and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), on a college campus using a pre-test/post-test design to examine this gap in the literature and provide evidence to help shape gatekeeper trainings in the future. Because the theory of planned behavior has been demonstrated to be an …

Understanding The Association Between Social Networks, College Student Alcohol Use, And Protective Behavioral Strategy Use And Beliefs, Melissa Roberts Colangelo

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems are a growing concern for American college students (Jun, Agley, Huang, & Gassman, 2015). Social networks, or peer groups, have demonstrated predictive associations with college students’ alcohol outcomes (Neighbors, Lee, Lewis, Fossos, & Larimer, 2007). Protective behavioral strategies (PBS), defined as behaviors used to reduce negative alcohol-related consequences, are often assessed as a mechanism of change and predictor of alcohol outcomes (Martens, Taylor, Damann, Page, Mowry, & Cimini, 2004). Still, the association between social networks’ and college students’ own PBS use has yet to be explored. The current study was designed to address this gap …

A Daily Diary Examination Of Microaggressions And Alcohol Use Among Emerging Adult Bisexual Women: The Role Of Alcohol Demand, Sarah J. Ehlke

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Bisexual women are at far greater risk for alcohol use, alcohol-related negative consequences, and alcohol use disorder than heterosexual or lesbian women. However, research on sexual minority women often combines lesbian and bisexual women into a single group. One possible explanation for the increased alcohol use and associated consequences among bisexual women relates to their experiences of discrimination or microaggressions that are daily insults and comments, intentional or unintentional, about their sexuality from both the heterosexual and sexual minority communities. Thus, it is possible that bisexual women drink to cope with microaggressions. Specifically, bisexual women may drink more and have …

The Association Of Racial Identity And Locus Of Control With Eating Attitudes And Obesity In African American College Women, Jamie Grisham

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

African-American women have been disproportionately affected by the obesity epidemic in the United States, and studies have suggested that sociocultural factors may have a negative influence on weight and weight loss efforts. Relatedly, other studies have found that African-American women have reported feeling less motivated to lose weight than other ethnic groups. Previous research has also indicated that locus of control plays a role in some health outcomes for African America women. The current study aimed to examine the impact of Black identity, external locus of control, and exercise motivation on obesity in African-American college women. Uncontrolled eating and exercise …

The Effects Of Primary And Secondary Assortative Mating For Alcohol Misuse On Relationship Satisfaction Alcohol Use And Alcohol Consequences, Michelle Katherine Holt Crewe

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined undergraduate, emerging-adult men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 and their dating partners. The AUDIT (Babor, Higgens-Biddle, Saunders, & Monteiro, 2001) was used to assess their own and their partners' reports of hazardous alcohol misuse. Four types of couples were identified: alcohol misusing participants with alcohol misusing partners (i.e., alcohol concordant couples), alcohol misusing female participants with a non-alcohol misusing partner, alcohol misusing male participants with an non-alcohol misusing partner and non-alcohol misusing women and men (i.e., non misuse concordant couples). Participants and their relationship partners were also assessed for their status as an …

Health Promotion In Multiple Domains: Capitalizing On The Spillover Effect, Gabrielle Maria D'Lima

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Lifestyle behaviors, such as physical activity and food consumption choices, play a critical role in the development of chronic diseases and ultimately mortality. Optimally, multiple health-related behaviors are changed to reduce risk rather than targeting only one risk behavior. The purpose of the current research was to examine the potential utility of the spillover effect in the application of a multiple health behavior intervention. The online intervention developed in this study aimed primarily to foster self-regulation, bolstered by impulsivity control and self-efficacy, in one health-related behavior (i.e., physical activity) in order to potentially affect change in other health-related behaviors (e.g., …

Social Issues In Living With Sickle Cell Disease Pain, Jeannie L. Miranda

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The chronic painful episodes associated with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) can have serious psychological consequences that can reduce patients' ability to cope with the illness. The purpose of this exploratory research was to examine issues faced by sickle cell disease patients. In addition to providing descriptive information about this population, pain, stigma consciousness and helpfulness of disclosures about the illness were examined in relation to pain self-efficacy, benefit finding, and depressive mood.

Seventy-three SCD patients completed a self-report questionnaire. They reported an average of 8.6 SCD pain episodes in the last 12 months with an average level of pain intensity …

Implicit And Explicit Alcohol Expectancies Drinking Motives Alcohol Use And Alcohol Problems: A Comprehensive Evaluation Of College Student Drinking, Matthew R. Pearson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the relationships among implicit alcohol expectancies (automatic, nonconscious expected effects of alcohol), explicit alcohol expectancies ( deliberate, conscious expected effects of alcohol), drinking motives (self-reported reasons for drinking), alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems among college students (n=2 l l ). As predicted, explicit alcohol expectancies were mediated by drinking motives. Implicit alcohol expectancies (as measured by Single-Target Implicit Association Tests) were expected to have direct effects on alcoho I use, but the data did not support these predictions. Unexpectedly, implicit sociability expectancies significantly predicted alcohol problems even when controlling for alcohol use. Replicating previous research, alcohol …

The Cognitive And Behavioral Effects Of Acute Ethanol Exposure And Acute Ethanol Withdrawal, Natasha Laverne Golden

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Although ethanol, in the form of alcoholic beverages, is one of the most widely used and abused drugs, little research has focused on cognitive and behavioral impairments relating to acute ethanol withdrawal. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of acute ethanol withdrawal on cognition and behavior using the radial arm maze (RAM) and the elevated plus maze (EPM). The secondary purpose of the study was to explore the immediate effects of acute ethanol exposure using a repeated acquisition version of the RAM. Sixteen male, Long-Evans rats were used for the study. For acute ethanol …

The Effects Of Display Complexity And Cueing On Monitoring Maternal Fetal Heart Rate Signals, Brittany L. Anderson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of display complexity and cueing predictability on vigilance performance and measures of subjective stress and workload while monitoring maternal fetal heart rate (MFHR) signals. Seventy-two undergraduate students from Old Dominion University performed a simulated MFHR task and were randomly assigned to monitor one, two, or four displays for critical signals. Half of the participants received cues that were 83% reliable, and the other half received cues that were 55% reliable. Stress and workload were assessed before and after the vigil. It was hypothesized that detection ability would be lower, and the decrement would become …

Masculine Ideology And High-Risk Behavior Among Disabled Veterans, Abby L. Braitman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

There may be predictors for high-risk behaviors, such as alcohol abuse, aggression, and risky sexual behavior, that can help identify susceptible men. Previous research has shown that masculine ideology is linked to engaging in such high-risk behaviors (Jakupcak, Tull, & Roemer, 2005; Moore & Stuart, 2005). In addition, having a physical disability may threaten male masculinity and increase the probability of this behavior (Good, Thomson, & Brathwaite, 2005). This issue is especially important to investigate in the military population. Military personnel and veterans engage in more high-risk behaviors (Bray et al., 2006; Bray, Marsden, & Peterson, 1991). Furthermore, the number …

Coping And Depressive Symptoms In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, Scott W. Huffman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

It is estimated that 40% to 60% of individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may be clinically depressed (Biogen, 2002; Chwastiak et al., 2002; Parcells, 2003; Ranger, 2002). Feeling depressed may be inevitable when a person is initially diagnosed with MS. Over time, however, depression may hinder the person's ability to cope with the specific challenges of MS and diminish day-to-day functioning.

Although extensive research has examined the prevalence of depression among individuals with MS, few researchers have examined the relationship between coping style and depression in individuals with MS. The goal of the present study was to identify the coping …

Availability Of Emotional Support, Conflictual Interactions, And Coping As Predictors Of Adherence And Affect In Individuals With Diabetes, Misty D. Hixon

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Although the treatment of diabetes is often complex and demanding, it is necessary. Unfortunately studies show that current adherence rates are at a disappointingly low level. Additionally, individuals diagnosed with diabetes often report high levels of negative mood, depression, and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the understanding of adherence to diabetes treatment regimens and mood states in individuals with diabetes by examining the associations among availability of social support, conflictual social interactions, coping, mood states, and adherence. One hundred and fourteen individuals with types 1 and 2 diabetes were recruited and completed either an online …