Health Psychology Commons^™

Sufferance For Snuff Puffs: The Acceptability And Behavior Of Smoking Marijuana And Tobacco Inside The House, Eusabeia Silfanus, Oliver Lopez, Vincent Berardi

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Secondhand smoke (SHS) released from indoor smoking contributes to household air pollution, releasing large quantities of fine particulate matter which can pose negative health outcomes, especially for developing children who spend most of their time at home. The increased legalization of marijuana increases its recreational and medicinal use along with its acceptability. With tobacco use remaining prevalent, the use of marijuana and/or tobacco remains common and may occur inside the home. Project Fresh Air conducted in San Diego County studies the air quality in households (n = 298) with at least one adult smoking tobacco and/or marijuana living with at …

The Moderating Effect Of Socioeconomic Status And Walkability On The Efficacy Of Physical Activity Interventions, Analisa Vavoso, Vincent Berardi, Marc A. Adams

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

To enable physical activity (PA) interventions to better tailor procedures to participant characteristics, we investigated the role of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and walkability on the differential effectiveness of adaptive versus static activity goals (AG vs. SG) and immediate versus delayed (IR vs. DR) reinforcement in a PA trial.

Data was collected as a part of the WalkIT Arizona study, where healthy, inactive adults (n = 512) were instructed to wear an accelerometer daily for one year and were provided with daily goals for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). The intersection of goal types (adaptive and static) as well as reinforcement types …

Engagement In Diverse Sexual Behaviors And Desire For Different Types Of Relationships Among Single Heterosexual People When Covid-19 Vaccines Were First Available, Manya Dhupar, Emily Foster, Amanda Gesselman, Justin Garcia

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Background Decades of research have found a consistent gender difference in sexuality: men tend to desire short-term and casual relationships, and women desire monogamous relationships (Petersen & Hyde, 2010; Moors et al., 2013). The COVID-19 pandemic provides a context that may shift a person’s desires for sexual activities or types of relationships. Recent research suggests that the pandemic allowed people to reevaluate their intimate lives, including lowered interest in monogamy and increased exploration of sexual activities (Lehmiller et al., 2021; Masterson et al., under review). Method: In the present study, we analyzed data from a national sample of single …

The Relationship Between Perceived Neighborhood Disorder And Type 2 Diabetes Risk Across Different Racial/Ethnic Groups, Min Yu, Jennifer N. Robinette

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Approximately 32 million Americans have Type 2 Diabetes and that number is growing rapidly. Type 2 Diabetes is sensitive to environmental factors, and higher prevalence rates are often observed in disordered neighborhoods (i.e., those with more trash and vandalism). Through discriminatory practices such as redlining, racially restrictive covenants, urban renewal, and gentrification, marginalized racial/ethnic groups are more likely to live in disordered neighborhoods compared to non-Hispanic Whites. These disparities may also contribute to similar disparities in Type 2 Diabetes rates. Yet, research indicates that there may be racial/ethnic differences in the interpretation of neighborhood disorder as a threat to health …

Cultural Influences On Exercise Type And Body Confidence In Women, Skye Sakashita, Desiree Crevecoeur-Macphail

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This study examined cultural influences on exercise habits and body confidence in women, specifically between ethnic minority and white women. Past research has indicated that Asian women often feel more cultural pressure than their White counterparts. This study wanted to examine further and see if an individual’s parent being an immigrant differs in amount of cultural pressure. Another aspect that this survey examined is motivation for exercise. Past research found that women who felt greater dissatisfaction with their physical appearance were more likely to list factors such as appearance or weight as their reasoning for exercise rather than for health …

Race, Ethnicity, And Insurance: The Association With Opioid Use In A Pediatric Hospital Setting, Vivian Luong

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Pediatric opioid-related poisoning and deaths have increased by 268% between 1999 and 2016. One risk factor for these poisonings may be receiving an opioid prescription at a young age. Given the established link between legitimate opioid prescriptions and later misuse in young adulthood, research focused on identifying relationships between sociodemographic factors with opioid and non-opioid prescribing is needed to understand opioid prescribing inconsistencies and promote safe pain management. Of interest, this study examined the association between race/ethnicity and health insurance payer type with pediatric opioid and non-opioid ordering in an inpatient hospital setting. Statistical analyses were performed with cross-sectional inpatient …

How Covid19 Has Impacted Students Nutrition And Eating Habits With The Abrupt Closure Of Restaurants And Campuses, Chloe Sermet

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic causing college campuses, restaurants, and businesses to shut down, many college students found themselves having to return home or find alternative food resources. Due to these factors, it was imperative to examine how college student’s eating habits have changed throughout the pandemic, dealing with lots of stressors, and whether having prior education on nutrition influenced those eating habits. To examine those effects, 17 nutrition minors and 126 non-nutrition minors participated in the current study in which they took the College Students Eating Habit survey and the Perception of Peer Pressure Scale. The outcome of the …

The Effects Of Ethnicity And Socioeconomic Status On Anxiety Prevalence And Treatment, Brianna Liberman

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

With the growing rise of anxiety disorders, psychosocial factors including ethnicity and socioeconomic status may be contributing to diagnostic disparities among different groups. The primary explanation for this trend has been income and ethnic differences. While previous research has followed the trends of income levels and mental health disorders, few studies have delved further into the influential nature of psychosocial factors as it relates specifically to anxiety. Rather, studies have focused on how psychosocial factors such as SES, mitigate mental health development overall. Data was collected to determine what role ethnicity, income, and parental marriage, play in the development of …

The Impacts Of Social Support And Loneliness On The Physical Health And Coping Styles Of College Students During Covid-19, Hee Youn Lee, Harshitha V. Venkatesh, Julia K. Boehm, Brooke N. Jenkins

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased mental health risk among college students. Recent studies have suggested that this concerning phenomenon can be attributed to social isolation and loneliness caused by preventive measures including social distancing. Being socially isolated can also have harmful effects on one’s physical health, such as a weakened cardiovascular system. Furthermore, existing literature reported that social support can promote more active coping strategies, which is associated with better psychological adjustment. Nevertheless, there hasn’t been any research on the influence of social factors and loneliness both on students’ health and their coping …

Racial/Ethnic Differences In The Benefit Of Social Networks On Anxiety Symptoms, Melissa Vargas Calderon, Jennifer Robinette

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Anxiety is a pressing health concern, affecting 40 million adults in the United States every year. Interestingly, communities of color have lower rates of anxiety disorders relative to Non-Hispanic Whites, despite on average experiencing more lifetime adversity characteristic of members of marginalized groups, such as low socioeconomic status and discrimination. Research indicates that contact with one’s social network, particularly large, closely knit ones among Hispanics, are protective factors against anxiety. However, empirical investigations of racial/ethnic differences in the benefits of social networks on anxiety are lacking. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of adults …

Pediatric Asthma And Psychological Resilience: Examining Whether Family Functioning And Social Support Relate To Asthma Symptoms And Lung Function, Dalia Jaafar, Natasha H. Hikita, Pornchai Tirakitsoontorn, Azucena Talamantes, Anchalee Yuengsrigul, Eric Sternlicht, Brooke N. Jenkins

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Upwards of 6 million children in the United States are afflicted with pediatric asthma. While previous research has linked asthma to multiple contributing biological and environmental factors, recent research suggests that psychological and social factors may have an impact on physiological outcomes of asthma like lung function and lung inflammation. Therefore, we suggest the need to study the impact of positive psychological factors such as a well-functioning family environment and beneficial social support on symptoms and lung function of children diagnosed with asthma. In the present pilot study, we recruited a total of 15 children with a confirmed asthma diagnosis …

Demographic Predictors Of Adult Behaviors In The Pediatric Postoperative Environment, Natasha H. Hikita, Amber Osorno, Carlie Taurosa, Michelle A. Fortier, Zeev N. Kain, Brooke N. Jenkins

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Over 85% of children experience postoperative pain. If poorly treated, pediatric postoperative pain may lead to various negative health outcomes. Adult behaviors may be associated with child experiences in the postoperative environment. For example, adult behaviors such as distraction, humor, and coping advice divert a child’s attention away from their pain and thus, may significantly reduce child postoperative distress. In contrast, adult behaviors such as empathy, reassurance, and apology direct a child’s attention towards their pain which may increase a child’s overall postoperative distress. Moreover, patient demographic factors, like child ethnicity, may significantly alter the frequency of use of these …

Pediatric Postoperative Pain Medication: Child Sex And Ethnicity Interact To Predict Parent Medication Attitudes, Vivian Luong, Harshitha V. Venkatesh, Michelle Fortier, Zeev N. Kain, Brooke N. Jenkins

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Over 85% of children experience significant pain after surgery. Despite this presence of pain, research suggests that a quarter of these children receive very little or even no pain medication at home. Such poor pain management in children can have harmful long-term consequences, both physically and psychologically. Previous research indicates that the amount of pain medication administered to children in the home may be significantly impacted by beliefs and attitudes parents have regarding analgesics. Given this, the purpose of the present study is to identify which demographic factors are associated with certain parent analgesic attitudes or misconceptions among pediatric patients …

Pediatric Postoperative Pain Medication: Demographic Predictors And Parent Medication Attitudes, Vivian Luong

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Over 85% of children experience significant pain after surgery. Despite this presence of pain, research suggests that a quarter of these children receive very little pain medication at home. Such poor pain management in children can have harmful long-term consequences. Previous research indicates that the amount of pain medication administered to children in the home may be significantly impacted by the attitudes parents have regarding analgesics. Given this, the purpose of the present study is to identify how demographic factors such as child sex and ethnicity predict certain parent analgesic attitudes and, in turn, the amount of pain medication their …

Healing Through Creativity And Creation: Drama Therapy As Treatment For Individuals With Eating Disorders, Hayley Werner

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

For those living with eating disorders, intervention and effective treatment can mean the difference between life and death. Conventional treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, forms of talk therapy, and Nutritional Counseling, focus solely on the psychological patterns or nutritional science of eating disorders. Though these treatments are effective for some individuals, there is a gap in treatment options that address both the mind and body as one and appeal to the humanity of patients outside of their disorder(s). Herein lies the power and potential of integrating drama therapy as a widely available treatment. Drama therapy …

Health And Quality Of Life Of Children Undergoing Elective Surgery, Vivian Luong

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Multiple studies have found that poorer health is associated with significantly lower quality of life when comparing children and adults with health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, and ADHD to their normal healthy counterparts. The relationship between health and quality of life, however, has yet to be examined in children who have undergone elective surgery. More than 5 million children in the U.S. undergo surgery each year. These children are often undergoing surgery for a number of health issues that may impede quality of life. Consequently, this study analyzes the effects of health on the quality of life of …

Personality Types And Attachment Styles Underlying Body Dissatisfaction, Milad Khosravi, David Frederick

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Attachment style and personality are powerfully related to a person’s patterns of thoughts, interests, and behaviors. Surprisingly, there is little research on the links between these psychological factors and body dissatisfaction. We hypothesized that anxious attachment style and neuroticism would be linked to greater body dissatisfaction in women.

Methods: Adult women reported their overall satisfaction with their weight, muscle tone, and appearance using validated, one-item measures. Participants also completed measures of attachment style and personality type.

Results: Consistent with the hypotheses, people who were more neurotic and with more insecure-attachment styles reported higher body dissatisfaction.

Discussion: This study highlights the …