Don’T Stop Believin’: Emotion Beliefs And Daily Affective Experiences Across Adulthood,
2025
Wilfrid Laurier University
Don’T Stop Believin’: Emotion Beliefs And Daily Affective Experiences Across Adulthood, Jocelyn A. Rutledge
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Emotion control beliefs reflect the extent to which people believe emotions “should” and “can” be controlled and have been linked to psychological well-being. Research has yet to examine age-related differences in these beliefs and their daily associations with affective experiences. The present study examines age differences in daily emotion control beliefs and their within-person associations with positive and negative affect. The study used 14-day daily diary data from an adult lifespan community sample (younger adults: 18-36 years old, N = 72; older adults: 66-92 years old, N = 66). The results revealed that older adults reported …
Contrasting Trajectories In Adolescent Pro-Environmentalism: Qualitative Differences Between “Engagers” And “Disengagers”,
2025
Wilfrid Laurier University
Contrasting Trajectories In Adolescent Pro-Environmentalism: Qualitative Differences Between “Engagers” And “Disengagers”, Jaida Brown
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
This qualitative study extends Krettenauer and colleagues' (2024) longitudinal research by examining how different developmental contexts shape divergent trajectories in adolescents' environmental engagement. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nineteen adolescents, focusing on two distinct groups: "Engagers" who showed remarkable increases in pro-environmental behavior from ages 13 to 17, and "Disengagers" who exhibited substantial decreases inengagement during the same period. While all participants reported meaningful childhood nature experiences, supportive family sustainability practices and access to environmental information through media, their developmental paths diverged significantly. Disengagers gradually deprioritized environmental concerns as other life goals took precedence, while Engagers actively expanded their environmental …
Examining Gender Differences In Heritage Language Maintenance And Loss Among South Asian First-Generation Canadians, And The Effect On Well-Being,
2025
Wilfrid Laurier University
Examining Gender Differences In Heritage Language Maintenance And Loss Among South Asian First-Generation Canadians, And The Effect On Well-Being, Amreen Sangha
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Language is prevalent in various aspects of life. Not only is it often essential for communication, but it also has deep roots within cultural contexts. Specifically, within South Asian culture knowing one’s heritage language is considered to be necessary when it comes to connecting with one's cultural group and identity. Heritage language maintenance can be seen differently within different individuals and have different implications for them. This study was designed to explore gender differences in heritage language loss as well as the role language may play in one’s well-being. Canadian-born South Asian children and young adults aged 10-25 completed an …
Technology-Enhanced Professional Development For Early Literacy: A Comparative Study Of Online Teacher Learning Models In Kenya,
2025
Wilfrid Laurier University
Technology-Enhanced Professional Development For Early Literacy: A Comparative Study Of Online Teacher Learning Models In Kenya, Constanza Uribe-Banda
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Growing recognition of early literacy as essential for lifelong learning, along with evidence that teachers’ mastery of foundational literacy instruction influences student outcomes (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; UNESCO, 2020), has led to increased investment in teacher professional development. Despite these efforts, many educators face significant challenges in accessing high-quality training, particularly in resource-constrained settings where geographical barriers and limited institutional support persist. This is especially true in rural Kenyan communities, where teachers often work in under-resourced schools with unreliable electricity and internet connectivity yet bear responsibility for laying critical literacy foundations. The present study examines the potential to deliver effective …
A Pilot Study Examining Children’S Evaluations And Reasoning About Concealment And Instrumental Forms Of Antisocial Lying,
2025
Wilfrid Laurier University
A Pilot Study Examining Children’S Evaluations And Reasoning About Concealment And Instrumental Forms Of Antisocial Lying, Noah Battaglia
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Children as young as 4 years of age judge self-benefitting lies (i.e., antisocial lying) as wrong. Although this has traditionally been interpreted as evidence that young children view honesty as a moral obligation, contemporary moral development theory and research suggests that right/wrong judgments fail to capture important aspects of children’s social cognition. Research from a perspective known as social domain theory (Smetana et al., 2014; Turiel, 1983) has shown that children’s understanding of morality (i.e., norms concerning others’ rights and wellbeing) is distinct from their understanding of other types of socially unacceptable behaviour. While children judge many social events as …
The Developmental Impact Of Childhood Abuse: Heart Rate Variability, Adult Psychopathology, And The Protective Role Of Social Engagement,
2025
University at Albany, State University of New York
The Developmental Impact Of Childhood Abuse: Heart Rate Variability, Adult Psychopathology, And The Protective Role Of Social Engagement, Rachel R. Mitchell
Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)
Childhood abuse is a prevalent experience that can have a profound impact on health and well-being. Extensive literature has linked childhood abuse to an elevated risk of psychopathology, including suicidality and substance use. Recent neuroimaging and psychophysiological research suggest that childhood abuse may influence the development of the body’s stress response systems. Exposure to chronic and uncontrollable stress, such as childhood abuse, has been implicated in the dysregulation of neural circuits that govern autonomic control and emotion regulation. This study examined resting high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) as an index of physiological regulation and its associations with adult mental health …
Associations Between Community Violence Exposure And Internalizing Outcomes: The Moderating Role Of Racial Identity,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Associations Between Community Violence Exposure And Internalizing Outcomes: The Moderating Role Of Racial Identity, Kimberly S. Lazarus
Theses and Dissertations
Community violence continues to be an ongoing public health crisis, driven by structural inequities and systemic disinvestment. Due to historical discriminatory policies and ongoing systemic barriers, Black adolescents are disproportionately affected, placing them at heightened risk for adverse mental health outcomes, particularly post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms. While existing literature highlights racial identity as a promotive factor linked to a lower likelihood of negative health outcomes, less is known about its protective role in buffering the mental health effects of adversity. There is an increasing call for public health researchers to consider racial-ethnic factors as potential moderators in …
Maternal Postpartum Depression And Affect Incongruence: Exploring Early Developmental Pathways To Emotion Dysregulation,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Maternal Postpartum Depression And Affect Incongruence: Exploring Early Developmental Pathways To Emotion Dysregulation, Laura E. Boylan
Theses and Dissertations
Emotion dysregulation, or responses to emotions that do not meet the needs of the situational demands or social standards, has been noted as an early risk factor for later psychopathology. Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) has been shown to increase children’s risk of developing maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) strategies. One potential mechanism linking PPD to these outcomes is affect incongruence, or a mismatch between biological and emotional responses to stress. While such incongruence may be adaptive in older individuals who consciously mask their internal stress (e.g., suppressing biological arousal while appearing calms), it may be maladaptive in infants and young children …
The Role Of Context Sensitivity On The Association Between Racial Discrimination And Emotional Dysfunction Among Black American Adolescents,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
The Role Of Context Sensitivity On The Association Between Racial Discrimination And Emotional Dysfunction Among Black American Adolescents, Summer C. Bryant
Theses and Dissertations
Black adolescents are at an increased risk of experiencing racial discrimination due to a developmental period marked by increased time away from parents and caregivers and increased time with peers (Fisher et al., 2000). Empirical research has shown that Black adolescents’ experiences of racial discrimination are associated with emotion dysfunction (Benner et al., 2018; Seaton et al., 2009; Sellers et al., 2006). Although previous research has identified racial factors such as racial socialization and racial identity as protective factors by reducing the impact of racial discrimination on Black adolescents’ emotion dysfunction (Gibson et al., 2021; Neblett et al., 2008), we …
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 …
A Multimethod Approach To Examining Racial Coping Socialization Among Black Adolescents,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
A Multimethod Approach To Examining Racial Coping Socialization Among Black Adolescents, Rachel J. Davis
Theses and Dissertations
Experiences of racial discrimination are pervasive in the lives of Black youth and result in race-related stress. Racial coping has been found to mitigate the negative physical and mental health effects of racial discrimination; thus, it is imperative that we understand the process that Black youth undertake to navigate racialized experiences by utilizing a person-centered approach. Additionally, parents socialize their Black youth to navigate racialized experiences, indeed, previous research has investigated racial and emotion socialization as separate phenomena, however, this does not reflect the integrated nature by which racial and emotion socialization processes are interconnected during parents’ and youths’ discussions …
Attachment And Delusional Ideation: A Systematic Review And Proposed Model Of The Association Between Attachment Insecurity And Delusion Symptoms,
2025
Long Island University
Attachment And Delusional Ideation: A Systematic Review And Proposed Model Of The Association Between Attachment Insecurity And Delusion Symptoms, Ryan Sparks M.S.
Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-
Early repeated child-parent experiences impact the emergence of children’s reality testing by providing them with secure, trusting relationships with reality-oriented caregivers in which beliefs can be evaluated and refined. These relationships facilitate open and reciprocal communication about thoughts and feelings. Caregivers facilitate the development of children’s reflective capacities by helping them connect their inner experiences to their behavior. This process encourages them to assess whether their thoughts and feelings accurately reflect reality by remaining attuned to the perceptions of reality that are shared with others. Given the centrality of early caregiving experiences to one’s development of reality testing, attachment theory …
Risk, Promotive, And Protective Factors In Adolescence For Incarceration In Adulthood: A 20 Year Longitudinal Study,
2025
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Risk, Promotive, And Protective Factors In Adolescence For Incarceration In Adulthood: A 20 Year Longitudinal Study, Carlos Espinoza
All ETDs from UAB
The high rate of incarceration in the United States presents a public issue that affects individuals, families, and communities. Empirical research has identified several adolescent risk factors linked to an increased likelihood of incarceration in adulthood, such as individual delinquency, peer delinquency, parental antisocial behaviors, and neighborhood disorder. However, much less is known about factors that might promote or protect against incarceration specifically. Factors associated with a reduced likelihood of delinquent behavior (a precursor to incarceration) include higher empathy, prosocial peers, parental nurturance, and neighborhood connectedness. These factors may similarly reduce the risk of incarceration, just as they reduce the …
An Exploratory Study Into The Utility Of Toca Boca's Creative Play Model In Enhancing Social Skills And Creative Play For Autistic And Non-Autistic Children,
2025
University of Alabama at Birmingham
An Exploratory Study Into The Utility Of Toca Boca's Creative Play Model In Enhancing Social Skills And Creative Play For Autistic And Non-Autistic Children, Braden Laboret
All ETDs from UAB
This study examines the potential of Toca Boca World, a creative play app, to enhance social skills and creative play in autistic and non-autistic children aged 4-13. As children's screen time continues to rise, particularly among autistic individuals, it is essential to examine the quality and impact of digital media. The study included 18 children (7 autistic, 11 non-autistic), who participated in eight 5-minute sessions, monitored remotely by caregivers. Social skills were assessed before and after the sessions, while creative play was measured via touch efficiency during the sessions. Enjoyment was also tracked through brief post-session surveys. Results showed significant …
Multidimensional Health Outcomes In Lgbtq+ Older Adults In The United States: Individual And Community-Level Protective Factors,
2025
University of Kentucky
Multidimensional Health Outcomes In Lgbtq+ Older Adults In The United States: Individual And Community-Level Protective Factors, Emily P. Lapidus
Theses and Dissertations--Psychology
Despite a lifetime of systematic barriers, LGBTQ+ individuals age into late adulthood, likely due to various protective factors. Guided by the Iridescent Life Course Framework (ILCF; Fredriksen-Goldsen & Muraco, 2019), I analyzed unique protective factors at two levels: (1) individual psychological factors (i.e., resilience, identity management) and (2) community-level factors (i.e., LGBTQ+ community connectedness, social support). Health was operationalized as mental health, physical health, and health-promoting behaviors. The present study accounted for covariates (i.e., financial barriers to healthcare, felt subjective age discrepancy, lifetime discrimination). I hypothesized that both stronger individual and community factors would be associated with better physical and …
"We Talk About It At The Dinner Table": Parent Discussions Of Identity And Politics In Diverse Adoptive Families In The United States,
2025
University of Kentucky
"We Talk About It At The Dinner Table": Parent Discussions Of Identity And Politics In Diverse Adoptive Families In The United States, Abigail L. Moore
Theses and Dissertations--Psychology
Parents discussing identity and politics with their diverse adolescents can be protective against experiences of political stress and negative outcomes (Anderson, 2023). Identity discrepancies between parents and adolescents may complicate these conversations (McCrimmon et al., 2024). However, this research often only focuses on only one identity (e.g., race or gender; Mendez, 2022). Because negative political climates affect multiple identities simultaneously (Kassing et al., 2021), the current study explores political conversations in diverse, adoptive family contexts with varying (un)shared identities. Through reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021), 7 major themes were developed. Results suggest that identity discrepancies may underlie a …
Associations Between Queer Parent Family Socialization And Adolescent Outcomes Among Diverse Lgbtq+ Parent Families In The U.S.,
2025
University of Kentucky
Associations Between Queer Parent Family Socialization And Adolescent Outcomes Among Diverse Lgbtq+ Parent Families In The U.S., Nita U. Kulkarni
Theses and Dissertations--Psychology
Queer parent family socialization refers to the way LGBTQ+ parents talk with their children about what it means to be queer in society, how to handle discrimination, and ways to have pride in their family’s identity. This construct has been linked with positive well-being outcomes in children, and this study used a strengths-based, mixed- methods framework informed by Minority Stress Theory and intersectionality to examine how queer parent family socialization related to several adolescent well-being outcomes, namely internalizing behaviors, social competence, and adaptive coping. Participants recruited across two projects were 191 queer parents with an adolescent and 114 adolescents with …
Living With Flying Colors: Associations Among Lgbtq+ Identity, Religiosity, Spirituality, Community, And Overall Well-Being Among Lgbtq+ Older Adults,
2025
University of Kentucky
Living With Flying Colors: Associations Among Lgbtq+ Identity, Religiosity, Spirituality, Community, And Overall Well-Being Among Lgbtq+ Older Adults, Madison T. Diomede
Theses and Dissertations--Psychology
Experiences of discrimination and prejudice place LGBTQ+ individuals in older adulthood (i.e., 55 years old and older) at risk for poor overall well-being. This risk can be especially salient in the Southern and Midwestern U.S., where LGBTQ+ individuals enjoy fewer legal protections than in the Northeast and Western regions of the U.S. In defiance of these odds, LGBTQ+ individuals in older adulthood cultivate overall well-being through psychological-level constructs, like LGBTQ+ identity affirmation, and community-level constructs, LGBTQ+ community connection. Yet, little research has examined these avenues of strength among LGBTQ+ individuals in older adulthood. Guided by Iridescent Life Course Theory and …
Weighted Family History Density Of Substance Use: Influence On Participant Substance Use Onset, Escalation, And Duration,
2025
University of Kentucky
Weighted Family History Density Of Substance Use: Influence On Participant Substance Use Onset, Escalation, And Duration, Carleigh A. Litteral
Theses and Dissertations--Psychology
Substance use disorders impose a staggering toll on the United States (U.S.), straining healthcare systems, destabilizing communities, and profoundly impacting both individuals and families. Approximately one in six Americans aged 12 and older had a past-year substance use disorder in 2022 (Key Substance Use, 2022), and nearly one-third of adults experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime (Wu, 2010), contributing to an economic burden exceeding $400 billion annually (National Drug Threat Assessment, 2011). Family history of substance use disorders is a key predictor of vulnerability, with individuals who have affected relatives being 2–8 times more …
