Investigating The Pathways Between Social Factors, Physical Activity, And Mental Health On Cognitive Efficiency In Young Adults,
2025
Eastern Illinois University
Investigating The Pathways Between Social Factors, Physical Activity, And Mental Health On Cognitive Efficiency In Young Adults, Emma Hurston-Gates
Masters Theses
Cognitive health is important across the life span and cognitive functions, particularly executive functions, are positively correlated with subjective well-being and success in adulthood (Loprinzi, 2013). The present study aimed to investigate how social factors, mental health, and physical activity impacts cognition in young adults. Young adults aged 18-30 (N = 134) answered questionnaires regarding levels of physical activity, social support, social participation, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being. Participants completed Trail Making Tasks A and B to measure their cognitive efficiency (i.e., combined processing speed, psychological flexibility, visual search, and attention). Across all samples, one of the most consistent …
The Nurturing Father: The Role Of Fathers' Masculine Ideology, Caregiving Beliefs, And Reflective Functioning,
2025
Long Island University
The Nurturing Father: The Role Of Fathers' Masculine Ideology, Caregiving Beliefs, And Reflective Functioning, William Girard Katzman
Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-
Prior research has documented the effects of traditional masculine ideologies (TMI) on men’s restrictive emotionality (Levant, 2011), labeled as normative male alexithymia (Levant et al., 2006). For men who become fathers, research has noted how the rejection of TMI increases fathers’ nurturing role beliefs and the frequency that children turn to their fathers for emotional support, but these findings do not outline the quality of fathers’ emotional support (Petts al., 2018; Shafer et al., 2019). Therefore, the current project examined the effects of TMI on 281 fathers’ capacity to respond to their children’s negative emotions with Expressive Encouragement (EE), which …
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cultural Stigma, And Identity Distress Among College Students,
2025
University of Central Florida
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cultural Stigma, And Identity Distress Among College Students, Jessica T. Frank
Honors Undergraduate Theses
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cultural stigma, and identity in a sample of college-age students. Previous studies have primarily focused on children, yet few have examined ADHD as it persists into adulthood. Likewise, studies examining cultural stigma and identity were limited and primarily examined stigma toward mental health as a general concept rather than ADHD-specific attitudes. To address these disparities, a sample of undergraduate college students enrolled in psychology courses at a large metropolitan university (N = 339) were recruited and took an anonymous online survey in exchange for course …
Integration Of Phenotyping Into A Preliminary Investigation Of Stand-Alone Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among A Non-Treatment Seeking Sample,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Integration Of Phenotyping Into A Preliminary Investigation Of Stand-Alone Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among A Non-Treatment Seeking Sample, Anna B. Parlier-Ahmad
Theses and Dissertations
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most common substance use disorder. However, most people with AUD do not receive treatment. Among those who do, it is only moderately effective largely due to the heterogeneity of people with AUD. Many of these individuals, particularly those with mild AUD, can reduce or cease alcohol use without specialized treatment. However, efforts to refer those with more severe AUD to community residential or outpatient programs have been largely unsuccessful, especially among women who often face practical barriers like lack of transportation and childcare. Technology offers innovative opportunities to make treatment more readily accessible to …
Exploring Prenatal Cannabis Use Among Young Pregnant Bisexual Individuals: A Mixed Methods Study,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Exploring Prenatal Cannabis Use Among Young Pregnant Bisexual Individuals: A Mixed Methods Study, Nicole Boss
Theses and Dissertations
The perinatal period is a critical time for health behaviors with outcomes that have short- and long-term effects for both childbearing person and child. Research indicates that young bisexual people are at greater risk of unintended pregnancy, experience psychosocial health disparities, and may be more likely to use cannabis during pregnancy. Few studies have examined this phenomenon. This study is a secondary analysis of mixed methods data from a longitudinal cohort study. Thematic analysis of qualitative data (n=12) revealed the contextual adaptivity of cannabis use, with participants explaining the situations and rationales which motivated their cannabis use changed over time. …
A Multitude In The In-Between: The Impact Of Perceived Social Support On Resilience For Neurodivergent And Gsd Identities, Along With Barriers To Receiving Support,
2025
Eastern Illinois University
A Multitude In The In-Between: The Impact Of Perceived Social Support On Resilience For Neurodivergent And Gsd Identities, Along With Barriers To Receiving Support, Theo Edwards
Masters Theses
This study used intersectionality theory to examine how overlapping minority identities impact receiving social support and the cultivation of resiliency. Individuals who identify as in the Gender and Sexually Diverse (GSD) community or the neurodivergent (ND) community may experience unique stressors due to various barriers to support. Overlap of GSD and ND identities can present added struggles. Information from 46 GSD and/or ND college students was collected through self-report scales and recorded interviews to examine the effects of perceived social support on resiliency. Also assessed were common values in social support like having someone to talk to and being understood, …
Effects Of Perceived Procedural Justice On The Relationship Between Visa Application Outcome And Psychological Distress: Evidence From Ghanaians And Nigerians Applying For U.S. Student Visas,
2025
Eastern Illinois University
Effects Of Perceived Procedural Justice On The Relationship Between Visa Application Outcome And Psychological Distress: Evidence From Ghanaians And Nigerians Applying For U.S. Student Visas, Harriet Swanzy-Baffoe
Masters Theses
Visa interviews are not just bureaucratic processes; they can have significant psychological effects on applicants. This study examined the impact of U.S. student visa outcomes on psychological distress among West African applicants, with particular attention to perceptions of procedural justice during the interview process. The study surveyed 203 Ghanaian and Nigerian individuals who had previously applied for a U.S. student visa. Psychological distress was measured using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and perceptions of fairness were measured with a custom-developed Procedural Justice Scale. Independent samples t-tests showed that denied applicants reported significantly higher distress, although elevated symptoms were also …
Avoiding The Anxious Self: The Role Of Self-Concept Clarity, Alexithymia, And Experiential Avoidance In Social Anxiety,
2025
Northern Illinois University
Avoiding The Anxious Self: The Role Of Self-Concept Clarity, Alexithymia, And Experiential Avoidance In Social Anxiety, Allison Graham
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Self-related processes play a significant role in the development and maintenance ofsocial anxiety, yet existing cognitive models have yet to fully elaborate these processes. This thesis explores how experiential dimensions of the self contribute to the organization of the self-concept among individuals with social anxiety. Specifically, the current study investigates whether deficits in emotional awareness (alexithymia) are associated with lower self-concept clarity, a characteristic commonly observed among socially anxious individuals. This thesis also examines whether experiential avoidance—an established maladaptive coping strategy— moderates or predicts the relationships between alexithymia, self-concept clarity, and social anxiety. Findings confirm that experiential avoidance is a …
A Daily Study Of Emotion Regulation Strategies And Stress Response,
2025
Northern Illinois University
A Daily Study Of Emotion Regulation Strategies And Stress Response, Maxwell J. Katsikas
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Emotion regulation is a critical mechanism in the study of many forms of psychopathology. It is widely believed that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (e.g., emotional suppression) may contribute to the development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Conversely, engaging in adaptive emotion regulation strategies (e.g., cognitive reappraisal) is suggested to be a crucial mechanism of change in some forms of treatment for PTSD. Therefore, understanding how emotion regulation strategies modulate stress response is critical. Much of the prior literature on emotion regulation in PTSD is cross-sectional and, therefore, cannot examine momentary emotion regulation and its immediate sequelae. Hence, the …
Maternal And Child Anxiety Symptoms: A Longitudinal Examination Of Parent-Related Indirect Pathways During Covid-19,
2025
Northern Illinois University
Maternal And Child Anxiety Symptoms: A Longitudinal Examination Of Parent-Related Indirect Pathways During Covid-19, Karamveer Kaur
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
The present study contributes to the current literature by examining specific parenting pathways (i.e., maternal hostility, overreactivity, laxness, warmth) that may be contributing to the transmission risk of anxiety symptoms from parent to child. Additionally, understanding these pathways during a context of high stress created by the COVID-19 pandemic may be particularly informative. Further, additional analysis explored the reverse direction, examining how child anxiety symptoms might influence parenting behaviors, providing a view of the bidirectional relationship between parent and child anxiety within the context of high stress. The survey data for this study were collected from a longitudinal study titled …
Testing The Dimensional Model Of Adversity And Psychopathology: Expanded Aces And The Mechanisms Of Executive Functioning, Emotion Regulation, And Bmi In The Context Of Psychopathology,
2025
Northern Illinois University
Testing The Dimensional Model Of Adversity And Psychopathology: Expanded Aces And The Mechanisms Of Executive Functioning, Emotion Regulation, And Bmi In The Context Of Psychopathology, Kaitlyn Larkin
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of negative psychological and physical health outcomes across the lifespan. Informed by the dimensional model of adversity and psychopathology, the present study used longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS, N = 4,898) to examine associations between ACEs categorized into threat and deprivation dimensions, emotion regulation, executive functioning, body mass index (BMI), and internalizing and externalizing symptomology in adolescence. Structural equation modeling was used to assess direct, mediation, and sequential pathways among variables, while controlling for sociodemographic variables and stability of outcomes over time. Findings indicated …
The Role Of Disgust In Contamination-Related Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms,
2025
Northern Illinois University
The Role Of Disgust In Contamination-Related Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, Jonathan A. Teller
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Disgust has been identified as a primary emotion potentially involved in the development and maintenance of contamination-related obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Research suggests that disgust comprises two distinct components: disgust propensity (DP; tendency or predisposition to experience disgust across situations) and disgust sensitivity (DS; the intensity of disgust experiences and their negative evaluation). Although both DP and DS have been linked to contamination-related OC symptoms, most studies have examined them separately or relied solely on self-report measures. The present study examined whether DP and DS uniquely predict both in-vivo disgust experiences and behavioral approach during a behavioral approach task (BAT). Undergraduate …
Moral Injury In First Responders: The Potential Ameliorative Role Of Self-Disclosure,
2025
Northern Illinois University
Moral Injury In First Responders: The Potential Ameliorative Role Of Self-Disclosure, Peter Tappenden
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Perceived social support is a well-established buffer between trauma exposure and adverse outcomes like PTSD. One important aspect of this relationship may be that individuals with strong support networks may be more likely to discuss (“self-disclose”) the traumatic event to members of their support network. Two important aspects of self-disclosure that impact its potential for symptom alleviation following trauma exposure may be: 1) the discloser’s perceived response of the disclosure recipient and 2) whether the trauma-exposed individual repeatedly dwells (co-ruminates) on the traumatic event with the recipient in an unproductive manner. In recent years, a different type of traumatic event …
Romantic Relationship Quality, Coparenting, And Parenting: An Actor Partner Interdependence Mediation Model,
2025
Northern Illinois University
Romantic Relationship Quality, Coparenting, And Parenting: An Actor Partner Interdependence Mediation Model, Jill Caradec
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Family systems theory indicates there is interdependence between family subsystems. Indeed, previous research has found associations between romantic relationship quality, coparenting, and parenting. However, few have actually accounted for the interdependence of mothers and fathers and these constructs. Even fewer have considered how coparenting may serve as an indirect pathway between romantic relationship quality and parenting behaviors. The aim of the current study was to fill these gaps in the literature by utilizing an actor-partner interdependence mediation model. Specifically, mothers’ and fathers’ perception of the coparenting relationship was tested within one model as indirect paths for the actor and partner …
Investigating The Impact Of A Brief Self-Compassion Intervention On Shame And Psychopathology For Women With Histories Of Childhood Emotional Abuse,
2025
Northern Illinois University
Investigating The Impact Of A Brief Self-Compassion Intervention On Shame And Psychopathology For Women With Histories Of Childhood Emotional Abuse, Sarah Hill
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Background: Childhood emotional abuse, while frequently co-occurring with other types of abuse, is often neglected within the trauma literature, but has been found to be an important independent predictor of adult psychopathology. Shame represents a potentially important and malleable factor that may contribute to the development and maintenance of poor psychological outcomes. As such, interventions focused on increasing self-compassion have been identified as promising methods to decrease experiences of shame, and ultimately symptoms of psychopathology. While literature on brief self-compassion interventions has rapidly increased in recent years, notable gaps remain. Specifically, there is limited research exploring the impact of brief …
Social Cognition And Interaction Training In First Episode Psychosis,
2025
The University of Texas at Tyler
Social Cognition And Interaction Training In First Episode Psychosis, David W. Rose Iii
Clinical Psychology Dissertations
Social cognition (SC) involves a suite of neurocognitive and neuropsychological functions that are relevant to and crucial for successful navigation and overall functioning. Within this suite are domains of function such as emotion processing/recognition, attributional style/bias, and theory of mind. In individuals with schizophrenia and first episode psychosis (FEP), these faculties are grossly impaired, and result in difficulties with occupational, social, and basic functioning. Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a treatment intervention that was developed to improve these SC domain impairments in individuals with Schizophrenia, but has not been experimentally applied to FEP populations as thoroughly, where the …
Therapy In The Age Of Ai: How Young Adults Seek Help, Support, And Solutions,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Therapy In The Age Of Ai: How Young Adults Seek Help, Support, And Solutions, Faith Maeba, Isabella Quilon, Abigail Adade
UROP Posters
Therapy has long been a foundational approach for addressing mental health, but advances in digital technology have led many young adults, especially Generation Z, to increasingly turn to AI tools for support. Rising costs, limited access to providers, and long wait times have further boosted the appeal of AI-based mental-health solutions. Despite this growing interest, the use of AI for emotional and psychological support raises important questions about trust, empathy, safety, and the ethical responsibilities of mental-health providers and developers. We conducted a brief scoping review of research on AI-based mental-health tools and student help-seeking behaviors. Searches were performed on …
Exploring Gender Disappointment: Social Stigma, Underlying Shame, And Grieving An Idealized Family… “Oh Well, As Long As It’S A Healthy Baby!”,
2025
Long Island University
Exploring Gender Disappointment: Social Stigma, Underlying Shame, And Grieving An Idealized Family… “Oh Well, As Long As It’S A Healthy Baby!”, Melanie Scaccio
Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-
Gender disappointment (GD) refers to the sadness parents feel when the sex of their child differs from their preference (Groenewald, 2016). While GD is a globally recognized phenomenon, research in the United States remains limited despite anecdotal evidence on social media and restrictive gender norms (Heise et al., 2019). This qualitative study explored the subjective experiences of GD in American mothers. Twelve biologically female participants, aged 18 and older, who experienced GD were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews conducted via video conferencing, averaging 40 minutes, were analyzed using grounded theory methodology (Auerbach & Silverstein, 2003). A member …
Emergency Shift To Remote Cbt: Clinicians’ Evolving Experiences,
2025
Long Island University
Emergency Shift To Remote Cbt: Clinicians’ Evolving Experiences, Angela Flanagan M.S.
Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-
Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote health services have surged in popularity. This study focuses on the initial experiences of CBT psychologists previously untrained in telehealth during the emergency shift to remote therapy, and how these attitudes and experiences have evolved over the last four years. Participants included nine licensed clinical psychologists previously untrained in remote therapy who were practicing CBT treatment for at least two years before the pandemic. This phenomenological qualitative research design involved semi-structured interviews with these nine psychologists. The analysis revealed three main interpretive themes: (1) Experiences Related to the Human Factor, (2) Experiences …
Racial Preference As A Moderator In The Match-Alliance Relationship: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Indian Immigrants,
2025
Long Island University
Racial Preference As A Moderator In The Match-Alliance Relationship: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Indian Immigrants, Sarika Agarwal M.S.
Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-
Patient preferences are defined as a patient’s desire for specific behaviors or attributes of the therapist or therapy (Arnkoff et al., 2002). Psychotherapy patients may hold a preference for a same-race therapist due to their perception that the therapist is similar to themselves, which may positively affect the therapeutic alliance (Cabral & Smith, 2011). However, since previous research has found mixed results on the positive effects of racial matching in psychotherapy (Cheng et al., 2023), another possible angle to examine the effects of racial matching on the therapeutic alliance is by taking patient preference into account. While data is limited …
