Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons^™

Assessing Medical Trainees Knowledge Of Secondary Traumatic Stress Before And After Clinical Experiences At The Cares Institute: A Literature Review, Anastasiya Matveyenko, Sarah Kleinle, Paul Furtaw, Rachel Silliman Cohen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) has been positively correlated with burnout in healthcare professionals through numerous studies. It is defined as the natural consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by another individual. Medical students experience high level of STS due to exposure to trauma during multiple clinical rotations. Child Abuse Research Education and Service (CARES) Institute treats children who have experiences of abuse, neglect, and other forms of trauma. As part of the current curriculum, Rowan SOM students rotate at the CARES Institute for at least a day for up to a month and might …

Physician Bedside Communication Posture (Sitting Versus Standing) In Relation To Patient Satisfaction: A Focused Literature Review And Areas For Potential Research, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Sitting during patient encounters is commonly recommended in communication training, with the assumption that it improves patient satisfaction. However, the empirical evidence supporting this recommendation in Emergency Department (ED) settings appears limited.

Objective:

To review the existing literature examining physician posture (sitting versus standing) and its association with patient satisfaction and perceived communication quality.

Methods:

Narrative review of ED and non-ED studies evaluating posture during clinical encounters, with attention to study design, sample size, setting, and outcome measures.

Results:

ED-specific evidence remains heterogeneous. Some studies demonstrate that sitting increases patients’ perception of time spent at bedside without increasing actual …

Feeding The Future: Prenatal Dietary Effects On Offspring Neurodevelopment, Emma Whatley

Senior Honors Theses

This study examined the effects of prenatal Western (WD) and Mediterranean (MD) diets on offspring metabolic, cognitive, and neurobiological outcomes in a preclinical mouse model. Working and long-term memory performance, dendritic morphology, and gene expression were assessed using behavioural tests (CAL, YMRM, WM) and Golgi-Cox analyses. Behavioural effects were minimal, with female MD offspring showing improved memory performance under standard conditions. Metabolic findings showed effects on body weight and blood glucose. Dendritic morphology was largely unchanged; however, subtle, sex-specific differences were observed. Differential gene expression between MD and WD suggests a role for future environmental stressors. Prenatal diet affects molecular …

The Influence Of Valence On Action Control: A Comparison Of Simon Effects In The Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (East) And The Spatial Simon Task, Yaara Aleissa

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

People adjust their thoughts and actions in response to a changing environment every day and emotions may influence these actions. Understanding how emotion impacts action control in situations where emotion is central to the action (task-relevant) compared to when it is present in the environment as distracting information (task-irrelevant) is essential. Currently it is unclear when emotion most significantly modulates action control. This study seeks to compare how valence (positive versus negative emotion) impacts action control performance when valence is task-relevant and task-irrelevant by using two modified versions of the Simon conflict task.

The Simon task is a paradigm to …

Relationship Between Disordered Eating Behaviors And Sport In Female Collegiate Athletes, Elizabeth Files

General Human Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Disordered eating behaviors and body image concerns remain prevalent among collegiate athletes, yet the role of sport type and sport-related environmental factors, such as uniforms, is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sport type, uniform perception, and disordered eating behaviors among female collegiate athletes at the University of Arkansas. A quantitative, non-experimental design was used, with 36 athletes completing an anonymous Qualtrics survey incorporating demographic questions, uniform perception items, and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS).

Descriptive analyses indicated a predominantly young (ages 18–21), White, and underclassman sample. Chi-square analyses …

Navigating New Environments: Acculturative Stress And Substance Use Among International Vs Domestic Students From Latino/A Backgrounds, Madelyn R. Null

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

College students can experience a range of cultural and social pressures that could relate to their alcohol and cannabis use. Latino/a international students may face unique challenges as they adjust to campus environments in the United States (U.S.), yet little research has compared their substance use patterns to those of Latino/a domestic students. Therefore, the present study aims to examine whether: (a) Latino/a international and domestic students differ in their alcohol use, (b)they differ in their cannabis use, and (c) acculturative stress moderates the relationship between international student status and these substance use behaviors. Latino/a undergraduates (n=440; Mage=20.55; female=71%; international=21%) …

Domain-Specific Concussion Knowledge And Reporting In United States Major League Rugby Players, Julie Stamm, Katherine Hunzinger, Owen Sheehy, Christine Baugh

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Previous research indicates high concussion knowledge is not associated with better concussion reporting, with research examining the relationship between reporting and global concussion knowledge. Concussion knowledge has not yet been investigated in United States Major League Rugby (MLR) players. This study evaluated domain-specific concussion knowledge, concussion history, and reporting behaviors among active MLR players. In a cross-sectional design, 207 MLR athletes (age 26.6 ± 3.4 years) completed a survey assessing concussion history, knowledge, and nondisclosure reasons. While in the MLR, 24% reported an undisclosed concussion, with nondisclosure reasons related to a lack of concussion knowledge, a desire to continue playing, …

Neuroprotective Effects Of Prophylactic Brivaracetam On Memory And Anxiety Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Sofia Dumic

Theses and Dissertations

Prophylactic brivaracetam (BRV) was evaluated in a rat TBI model for effects on behavior and serum tau. BRV reduced anxiety-like behavior with optimal dose-dependent effects at 2.1mg/kg, but did not affect working memory. Serum tau was detectable early post-injury, supporting its use as a biomarker.

Big Feelings, Fast Decisions: Emotion Regulation As A Moderator Of Impulsivity In Binge And Emotional Eating, Emma G. Folk

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Emotion-driven impulsivity and difficulties with emotion regulation are both associated with maladaptive eating behaviors, including binge eating and emotional eating. However, it remains unclear whether broader emotion regulation difficulties intensify the influence of impulsive responses to emotional states on these behaviors. This study examined whether emotion dysregulation moderates the relationship between emotion-driven impulsivity and maladaptive eating behaviors. Participants were 266 adults (ages 18–65) who completed measures of impulsivity, emotion regulation difficulties, binge eating, and emotional eating. Moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS in SPSS, controlling for body mass index (BMI) and gender. Negative and positive urgency were significantly associated with …

Garlic Breath And Beads Of Sweat: The Effects Of Garlic And Chili Peppers On The Growth And Ph Of Streptococcus Mutans., Lena Pitzer

Honors Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a quantifiable and repeatable measurement of how the presence of garlic and chili pepper during the growth of a carious dentine strain of Streptococcus mutans affects the growth of the strain and surrounding pH level.This research project examines two possible alternative agents, garlic and chili peppers, due to the known antimicrobial effects of their active components, allicin and capsaicin. Prepared garlic and chili extracts were used during disk diffusion to assess and measure the zones of inhibition. The anticipated results are that there will be inhibition present with both the garlic and …

A Single Administration Of Psilocybin Is Ineffective In Reversing Ptsd-Like Sequelae In A Rat Model Of Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning, Kylie M. King, Marisa J. Savini, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics produce rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. Psychedelics may also exert anxiolytic effects and be useful in treating more complex psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD. However, less is known about the impact of these agents on PTSD-related symptoms. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a single administration of psilocybin could reverse PTSD-like sequelae induced by stress-enhanced fear learning in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Context A (circular, white conditioning box) and exposed to several uncontrollable footshocks (Stress) or no footshocks (No Stress). The next day, the rats were placed in Context B (square conditioning box with clear …

Psilocybin And The Related Tryptamine, Norbaeocystin, Exert Acute Anxiogenic Effects That Depend On Sex, Marisa J. Savini, Kylie M. King, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Andrew Jones, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics have demonstrated rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. However, psychedelics often produce unfavorable psychoactive effects that could worsen existing psychological distress. Thus, we compared the effects of psilocybin and the related tryptamine, norbaeocystin, on anxiety-like behavior in male and female rats. In Experiment 1, rats were treated with 1 mg/kg psilocybin (PSIL), 1 mg/kg norbaeocystin (NOR), or vehicle 30 min before a 5-min trial on an elevated plus maze (EPM) or in an open field test (OFT). On the EPM, PSIL led to decreased open arm time and fewer arm entries in males and females. NOR led to …

Out-Of-Pocket Costs And Antihypertensive Medication Use Among Veterans: A Natural Experiment, Alexander R. Zheutlin, Alexander Chaitoff, Daniel Addo, Joshua A. Jacobs, Catherine G. Derington, Eric L. Stulberg, Peter A. Glynn, Bernardo Modenesi, Jordana B. Cohen, Adam P. Bress

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure (BP) control remains suboptimal in the United States despite available low-cost antihypertensive medications. Even small out-of-pocket medication costs may contribute to adherence. We determined whether $0 versus >$0 out-of-pocket costs for antihypertensive medications is associated with differences in adherence, discontinuation, BP control, and cardiovascular outcomes.

METHODS: We included veterans with newly diagnosed hypertension who initiated antihypertensive medication in the Veterans Health Administration from 2004 to 2022. A fuzzy regression discontinuity design with 2-stage residual inclusion leveraged differences in medication copay policy at a 50% service-connected disability threshold (≥50% service-connected disability: $0 out-of-pocket cost versus < 50%: $8 monthly cost). Outcomes included 1-year medication nonadherence (proportion of days covered < 80%), 1-year medication discontinuation (no medication in the final 90 days of the study year), 1-year BP control (systolic BP/diastolic BP < 140/90 mm Hg and < 130/80 mm Hg) and cardiovascular disease events (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, peripheral artery disease, or stroke).

RESULTS: Among 417 …

The Impact Of A Mindfulness Meditation Program On Phq-9 Scores In Eskd Clients At The Dialysis Center, Christi Collins Weaver

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Patients undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) experience high rates of untreated depressive symptoms, which negatively impact quality of life, treatment adherence, and therefore increased hospitalization and higher mortality rates.

PICOT: In adult patients receiving in-center hemodialysis (P), how does the implementation of a structured mindfulness meditation program (I), compared to usual care (C), affect depressive symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (O) over an eight-week period (T)?

Evidence: Current literature demonstrates that depression is highly prevalent among individuals with ESKD and is associated with increased morbidity and decreased treatment adherence. Evidence supports mindfulness …

Drd2 Rs6276 Polymorphism And Trait Impulsivity In Individuals With Mixed Behavioral And Substance Addictions, Gabriela Zdunek, Remigiusz Recław, Aleksandra Suchanecka, Krzysztof Chmielowiec, Dariusz Larysz, Patryk Ilków, Kinga Łosińska, Jolanta Chmielowiec, Łukasz Jaworski, Anna Grzywacz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background/Objectives: Impulsivity is a key transdiagnostic trait linked to dysregulated reward processing in both behavioral and substance-related addictions, as recognized in DSM-5. Dopaminergic genes, including DRD2, may modulate individual differences in impulsivity, particularly under conditions of increased addiction vulnerability. This study examined whether the DRD2 Exon 8 rs6276 polymorphism predicts impulsivity levels in men with mixed addictive behaviors compared with healthy controls. Methods: A total of 328 males (128 with mixed behavioral and substance addictions and 200 controls) were assessed. Diagnoses were confirmed using the MINI interview, and impulsivity was measured with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Genotyping of …

The Role Of Loneliness On College Freshmen Retention, Amy Berg

Libraries Undergraduate Research Award Winners

What factors contribute to student retention, dropout, and success within the first semester? We hypothesized that persistent feelings of loneliness across the semester play a major role in a student’s intentions to continue enrollment, and a lack of social connection to the university mediates this relationship. We assessed this in a sample of n = 30 first semester freshman enrolled in a university success seminar across the Fall 2025 semester, of whom n = 8 completed Wave 1 and Wave 4 surveys of a four-wave study spanning the whole semester. We used the 20- item UCLA Loneliness Scale, the 24-item …

Heroes Of Medicine In The Rio Grande Valley: Documentary Interview With Dr. Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Raquel Elena Orellana

Heroes of Medicine in the Rio Grande Valley

Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez PhD is an Associate Professor of Clinical Practice at UTRGV in Edinburg, Texas and she is the clinic director of the UTRGV Psychology training clinic. She completed a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno, California. Her doctoral degree is in Clinical Psychology with a major specialization in Neuropsychology and minor specialization in Health Psychology. She completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at UTMB in Galveston with a major emphasis in hospital consultation, outpatient psychotherapy, and psychological and neuropsychological evaluations with diverse populations. She completed an informal neuropsychology post-doctoral residency in Texas …

Efficacy, Acceptability, And Feasibility Of Stayquit For Sustaining Smoking Abstinence After Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Pilot Study, Corinne N. Kacmarek, Hannah C. Smith, Alicia Lucksted, Lan Li, Laché Wilkins, Gabriella Coakley, Peter Phalen, Deborah Medoff, Faith Dickerson, Julie Kreyenbuhl, Melanie E. Bennett

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Veterans with mental illness have high rates of tobacco use and psychiatric hospitalization in the Veterans Health Administration (VA). VA is smoke-free, and guidelines recommend that smoking cessation medication and counseling be delivered during and one month after hospitalization to sustain abstinence. Little is known about how patients experience this intervention. This pilot study evaluated the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of an evidence-informed, novel smoking intervention, StayQuit, for psychiatric inpatients.

Methods: Participants were recruited from an inpatient VA psychiatric unit. Changes in self-reported cigarettes smoked per day, nicotine dependence, and abstinence self-efficacy were evaluated between baseline and 12-week follow …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Proactive Coping: Impacts On College Adjustment And Risky Behavior, Saige A. Imm, Jisook Park, Will Stutterheim

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Numerous studies have examined the enduring impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on individuals’ capacity to manage stress and effectively navigate challenges in the rigors of the university environment. Exposure to negative life events has shown to interfere with individuals’ psychological maturation, heightening an inclination to engage in risky behaviors, especially during pivotal developmental transitions like the start of college. Thus, investigating the impact of ACEs on college students is crucial as it could impair their societal well-being and increase mental health concerns and maladaptive behaviors in college (Schafer, 2021; King et al., 2024). The current research examines the role …

Evaluating Sensory Sensitivities Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In An Adaptive Gymnastics Program, Aicha Kaouss, Bradley Eppinger, Austin Ebbrecht, Kailash Ram, Kaitlin P. Hardy Md

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participate in physical activity at lower rates than their neurotypical peers1. Sensory sensitivities, reported in approximately 75–95% of children with ASD, may contribute to this disparity2. Gymnastics environments involve bright lighting and loud noise, which can precipitate sensory overload. The impact of specific sensory features on participation in adaptive gymnastics remains underexplored.

Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited caregivers of children aged 3–12 years with an ASD diagnosis enrolled in the EVMS Adaptive Gymnastics Program. Caregivers completed the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire–Third Edition (SEQ-3)3 and supplemental survey items on Redcap which assessed environmental triggers and …