Multicultural Psychology Commons^™

The After Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Mental Health Of International V/S Domestic Students - A Qualitative Study, Keerat Sidhu Bhatti

Doctoral Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of both international and domestic graduate students, exacerbating social isolation, financial strain, and psychological distress. This qualitative study examines the long-term effects of the pandemic on these student populations, exploring shared and divergent experiences, coping strategies, and evolving priorities. While both groups faced heightened anxiety and academic disruptions, international students encountered additional stressors, including cultural displacement, visa uncertainties, and limited support networks. Domestic students, in contrast, struggled with routine disruptions but had greater access to familial and social support. Across both groups, the pandemic prompted a reassessment of personal and professional priorities, …

The Multicultural Orientation Framework In Couple Therapy, Jasmine R. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Couples’ cultural values and beliefs are important to their relational connection. Cultural values and beliefs can be sources of strength in relationships, but they can also lead to impasses. As such, clinicians and researchers could benefit from a cultural framework to inform conceptualization and treatment when working with couples. The Multicultural Orientation (MCO) framework has three pillars: cultural humility, cultural comfort, and cultural opportunities. The MCO framework is empirically supported for use in individual and group psychotherapy but has not been applied to couple therapy. This dissertation includes two parts. First, we outline a conceptual framework for the application of …

There Is No Finish Line: The Ramps Framework – An Evolving Model For Working With Racial Identities In Sport And Performance Psychology, Dylan Vas

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The field of sport psychology has persisted in its calls for action on increasing cultural competence, being more inclusive of underrepresented identities, and progressing towards social justice (AASP, 2024b; Bejar et al., 2022; Fisher et al., 2003; Martens et al., 2000; Quartiroli, et al., 2023; Ryba et al, 2013; Ryba et al., 2024). This work attempts to contribute to these calls by providing attention on racial identity – including the proposal of an actionable and novel model, The Racial Identity Model of Psychology in Sport (RAMPS) Framework. The proposed model incorporates publications from sport psychology, clinical psychology, and social justice …

A Religious Etiology Of Genito-Pelvic Pain And Pain With Penetration, Emily L. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Pelvic pain during penetration (PPDP) has been described using various diagnostic terms, including vaginismus, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia. The most recent and comprehensive classification is Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) which is characterized by psychological distress associated with pain during or in anticipation of vaginal penetration (DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). The etiology of PPDP is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and relational factors. Religious and cultural influences may play a significant role in shaping individuals’ experiences of sexual pain. This study investigated the etiology of PPDP in relation to the religious influences among women raised in Judeo-Christian …

The Illusion Of “El Chingon”: A Scoping Review On How Machismo Affects Mental Health And Behavior, Vanessa Estrada Garza

McNair Summer Research Program

Machismo is a set of cultural values tethered to the gender binary, defined by the specific gender roles and expectations that men have to act upon. These ideals create a male archetype based on aggression, stoicism, superiority, and the enabling of sexist attitudes. Research has shown that rigid hypermasculine attitudes have a negative effect on mental health (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms) and behavior (e.g., aggression and substance abuse). However, given its cultural context, much less is known about how machismo may manifest based on different demographic variables. Therefore, the goal of this scoping review was to understand the relation …

Historically Minoritized Racial Groups At A Midwestern University: Behaviors, Attitudes, And Beliefs Toward Mental Health And Well-Being, Kemmel Palmer

Dissertations

The rising prevalence of mental health concerns among college students, especially those from historically minoritized racial groups, underscores persistent disparities and substantial barriers encountered within Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). This qualitative inquiry examined the mental health behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of college students from five historically minoritized racial groups—Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American, Middle Eastern/Middle Eastern American, and Indigenous/Native American—at a midwestern university. Utilizing a phenomenological methodology, the study employed five focus groups comprising 51 participants representing a wide range of academic levels, gender identities, and sociocultural backgrounds.

The findings from this study reveal deeply embedded and …

"It Can Be Hard To Stand Up Straight In A Crooked Room:" Examining The Mediating Effects Of Black Women's Gendered Racial Identity On The Relationship Between The Strong Black Woman/Superwoman Schema And Collective Coping, Devin Willis

Dissertations

Prior research on the Strong Black Woman (SBW)/Superwoman (SW) schema has produced mixed findings. Both positive and negative outcomes of Black women’s internalization of this schema have been identified. These mixed findings may be linked to the measurement of the SBW/SW schema and the relationship with other culturally relevant variables. There have been significant positive relationships identified between Black women’s gendered racial identity (GRID) and the internalization of gendered racial stereotypes (i.e., the SBW/SW). Methods for coping with stereotypes have also been identified as influential when considering Black women’s coping behaviors.

The purpose of this study is to examine the …

Lgbt+ Poc Well-Being And Resilience, Terra Reynoso

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Historically, both LGBT+ individuals and People of Color have each been subjected to stressors linked to oppression, with those belonging to both groups experiencing a potentially higher degree of distress. This study examined factors that contribute to resilience and well-being in LGBT+ People of Color to highlight potential means to mitigate this distress, guided by queer theory and intersectionality theory in order to provide a relevant framework to inform preliminary research, interview questions, and content analysis. Interviews were conducted with twelve participants with subsequent content analysis revealing the use of social support networks, access to community, productive coping strategies, and …

Cross-Cultural Data On Romantic Love And Mate Preferences From 117,293 Participants Across 175 Countries, Marta Kowal, Piotr Sorokowski, Biljana Gjoneska, Katarzyna Pisanski, Gerit Pfuhl, Leonardo Aguilar, Steve M.J. Janssen, Benjamin Gelbart, Patrícia Arriaga, Jan Antfolk, Katarina Zvončáková, Linda H. Lidborg, Jorge Contreras-Garduño, Mikhail V. Kozlov, Taciano L. Milfont, Marco A.C. Varella, Valerija Križanić, Mahmoud Boussena, Tina Kavčič, Diana Ribeiro Da Silva, Brahim Hamdaoui, Fatima Zahra Sahli, Karlijn Massar, Eliane Deschrijver, Tatsunori Ishii, Hakan Cetinkaya, Oksana Senyk, Farida Guemaz, Koen Ponnet, Yahya Don, Dušana Šakan, Gyesook Yoo, Ravit Nussinson, Joaquín Ungaretti, Ali R. Can, Izzet Duyar, Jiří Čeněk, Joao Carneiro, Norbert Meskó, Luca Kozma, Ellen K. Nyhus, Mona Vintila, Oulmann Zerhouni, Farid Pazhoohi, Maja Zupančič, Sinem Söylemez, Austin H.-E. Wang, Marietta Papadatou-Pastou, Irena Pavela Banai, Pavol Prokop, Mohd Sofian Omar Fauzee, Reza Afhami, Jean C. Natividade, Roberto Baiocco, Mara Morelli, Toivo Aavik, Ezgi Toplu-Demirtaş, Singha Tulyakul, Anna Wlodarczyk, Razleh Chegeni, Anabela C. Santos, Dmitry Grigoryev, Dmitrii Dubrov, Dimitri Chubinidze, Gözde Ikizer, Nana Burduli, Johanna Czamanski-Cohen, Rizwana Amin, Petros Roussos, Evgeniya Hristova, Rūta Sargautytė, Ekaterine Pirtskhalava, Tenuunjargal Avirmed, Arooj Najmussaqib, Abdelilah Charyate, Shagufta Batool, Tatiana Volkodav, Yoshihiko Kunisato, Yuki Yamada, Asako Toyama, Mariia Perun, Seda Dural, Tetyana Mandzyk, Anna Studzinska, Ognen Spasovski, Felipe E. García, Caterina Grano, Merve Boğa, Mehmet Koyuncu, Sangeeta Singh, Ju Hee Park, Derya Atamtürk, Samuel Lins, Martin Pírko, David Lacko, Balazs Aczel, Ferenc Kocsor, Ádám Putz, Tobias Otterbring, Pavol Kačmár, Efisio Manunta, Théo Besson, Nasim Ghahraman Moharrampour, Çağlar Solak, Ignacio Estevan, Merve Topcu Bulut, Nicolas Kervyn, Moises Mebarak, Jackson G. Lu, Nejc Plohl, Bojan Musil, Adil Samekin, Kirill G. Miroshnik, Clément Cornec, Isabella Giammusso, Ulf-Dietrich Reips, Maria Rosa Miccoli, Miriam Parise, Sabrina Stöckli, Tiago Marot, Sibele D. Aquino, Amanda Londero-Santos, Antonio Chirumbolo, Aybegum Memisoglu-Sanli, Jaroslava V. Valentova, Cemre Karaarslan, Ivana Hromatko, Kevin S. Kertechian, Ogeday Çoker, Matheus F. F. Ribeiro, Carlota Batres, Ilker Dalgar, Stephanie J. Eder, Katarina Mišetić, Marios Argyrides, Vita Mikuličiūtė, Silvia Mari, Elisabeth Oberzaucher, Kathrin Masuch, Alan D. A. Mattiassi, Salma Samir Omar, Elena Piccinelli, Eda Ermagan Caglar, Diogo Lamela, David A. Frederick, Aleksander Kobylarek, Ma. Criselda T. Pacquing, Marc Eric Santos Reyes, Marcos Zumárraga-Espinosa, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Talía Gómez Yepes, Edgardo Etchezahar, Katarzyna Galasinska, Jan P. Röer, Ayşegül Şahin, Miguel Landa-Blanco, Arkadiusz Urbanek, Chee-Seng Tan, Rita Castro, Ksenija Cunichina, Anna Krasnodębska, Daniel Conroy-Beam, Franciszek Ostaszewski, Izabela Chałatkiewicz, Beatriz Abad-Villaverde, Bastien Trémolière, Alexios Arvanitis, Gulmira Topanova, Wiliam J. Chopik, Grace Akello, Ariela F. Pagani, Silvia Donato, Peter Fedor, Tomasz Frackowiak, Simon Ozer, Marlon Mayorga-Lascano, Farah Khan, Maryanne L. Fisher, Princess Lovella G. Maturan, Tatiana Semenovskikh, Sanjana Dutt, William Tamayo-Agudelo, Gulnara Ismukhanova, Laith Al-Shawaf, Luisa Angelucci, Adam Bode, Sercan Balım, Jovi C. Dacanay, Chiemezie S. Atama, Kai A. D. Morgan Campbell, Tchilissila A. Simões, Barış Özener, Paula Błauciak, Filipe Prazeres

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Psychological studies on close relationships have often overlooked cultural diversity, dynamic processes, and potentially universal principles that shape intimate partnerships. To address the limited generalizability of previous research and advance our understanding of romantic love experiences, mate preferences, and physical attractiveness, we conducted a large-scale cross-cultural survey study on these topics. A total of 404 researchers collected data in 45 languages from April to August 2021, involving 117,293 participants from 175 countries. Aside from standard demographic questions, the survey included valuable information on variables relevant to romantic relationships: intimate, passionate, and committed love within romantic relationships, physical-attractiveness enhancing behaviors, gender …

Research Proposal: Complex Relationship Of Religious Community, Psychological Health, And Socioeconomic Status Of Spanish Speaking Residents Ages 18-50 In Lynchburg, Va, Faith Park

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

Previous research has shown a clear quantitative correlation between socioeconomic status and religious gatherings as well as psychological health and religious gatherings. However, there have been few studies on the interconnectedness of mental health, socioeconomic stability, and religious identity and gathering. Research thus has not addressed the personal implications and the benefits of individual perspectives that can be offered through a qualitative methodology. Thus, this research proposes an ethnographic methodology which may provide insights that do not limit the subjectivity of mental health, religious experiences, and socioeconomic struggles.Through an integration of psychology, anthropology, and sociology, the proposed research hopes to …

Finding Meaning In Loss: The Role Of Attachment Styles, Coping Strategies, And Resilience, Salma Seyam

Theses and Dissertations

Grief is a deeply personal yet universal experience impacted by personal, social, and cultural factors. The present study examines how attachment styles, coping mechanisms, and resilience impact both grief intensity and the ability to find meaning after a loss, within an Egyptian sample. While previous studies have explored the experience of grief, few have looked at these factors within a Middle Eastern cultural context. A total of 140 bereaved Egyptians who experienced the loss of a loved one within the past three years completed standardized measures assessing grief intensity (Prolonged Grief Disorder-Revised; PG-13-R), coping strategies (Brief COPE), meaning-making (Grief and …

The Potential Mediating Role Of Perfectionistic Self-Presentation In The Relationship Between Other Stigma, Self-Stigma, And Attitudes Towards Mental Health Help-Seeking In Asian Americans, Trevor E. Taone

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

The importance of understanding why individuals decided to engage in mental health care cannot be overstated. This importance is further highlighted in the need to examine the different factors that may help researchers and clinicians to obtain more insight into why populations with a higher demand for mental health services, such as Asian Americans, possess negative attitudes toward seeking mental health care. Stigma has been identified as a significant barrier that influences these attitudes towards help-seeking. Other stigma and self-stigma, in particular, play an important role in understanding why individuals may possess negative views about mental health care help-seeking. With …

A Qualitative Case Study On Nature Relatedness In Advanced Alpinists And Members Of Subsistence Communities, Devon Martin

University Honors Theses

In light of the current possibility of climate disaster and ecological destruction, a branch of psychology has formed to investigate the human relationship with nature. Scaled surveys have been created to gauge nature relatedness with the hope that this construct might help predict environmental awareness and action towards environmental change. This undergraduate thesis aims to explore the concept of connection to nature through a detailed case study on two participants who are both advanced alpinists (high risk mountain recreationalists) and members of subsistence communities (procuring food directly from the environment). The participants were given scaled surveys of nature relatedness and …

Minority Stressors And Internalizing Symptoms In Sexual And Gender Minority Adolescents: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anni R. Subar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents are at elevated risk for internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, due in part to chronic exposure to minority stress. To provide a comprehensive synthesis of this literature, we conducted a meta-analysis of 32 studies, yielding 162 effect sizes from 41,360 participants aged 8– 22. All included studies examined the association between minority stress, defined as stigma-related stressors such as discrimination, victimization, and internalized stigma, and internalizing outcomes in SGM youth. The random-effects meta-analysis revealed a small but significant association (r = .25) between minority stress and internalizing symptoms, consistent across stressor …

Investigating The Effects Of Brief Video Interventions On White Undergraduate Students’ Racial Attitudes, Alyssa Powers

Dissertations

In this experimental study, a pretest posttest between-groups design was utilized to investigate the efficacy of two brief multicultural educational video interventions in improving the colorblind and affective racial attitudes of White undergraduate students. Ninety-eight self-identified White undergraduate students from a large, Midwestern university were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) viewing a video on the pervasiveness of individual racism and White privilege in the United States (True Colors); (b) viewing a video on institutional racism in the United States (Segregated by Design); (c) viewing a study tips video as the neutral control condition. Participants’ colorblind and affective …

Do Resiliency And Coping Skills Moderate The Relationship Between Mood Disorders And Parenting Styles Due To Parental Relationship Distress?, Tiffany Burks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parental relationship dynamics such as intimate partner violence (IPV), interpersonal distress (IPD), and parental alienation (PA) can significantly affect both mental health and parenting practices. This study examined whether personal strengths, specifically resilience and problem-focused coping, could help buffer these negative outcomes. Correlational analyses showed that IPV, IPD, and PA were positively associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. IPV and PA were also negatively associated with the use of an authoritative parenting style. In contrast, resilience and problem-focused coping were linked to fewer mood-related symptoms and greater use of authoritative parenting. Multiple regression analyses revealed that IPV significantly predicted …

Echoes Of Longing, Mahalexmi Mohan

Masters Theses

Loss lingers like a shadow, a weight no time can lift. Longing becomes a silent scream, echoing within, unanswered. Internal pain festers in the quiet, where unhealed wounds weave themselves into the fabric of being. Each breath is both survival and surrender, a fragile balance between hope and the hollow ache of what was, what will never be, yet could be.

Abstract

My work is deeply influenced by my experiences within a dysfunctional family structure and is explored through the relationship of emotional vulnerability and its effect on self-worth. Layered into the work is a confrontation with the scars, conflict …

Embodying Altruistic Love: The Role Of Emotions In Teaching Black Students With Disabilities Within An Inclusive Elementary School, Joshua Armentrout

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Teacher emotions play a pivotal yet understudied role in shaping the educational experiences of Black students with disabilities (SWDs). This study examines how five special educators in a fully inclusive elementary school understand, experience, and navigate their emotions in relation to Black SWDs. Using a qualitative approach grounded in portraiture, this study explores the intersection of race, disability, and emotion, revealing how teachers internalize, resist, and negotiate dominant ideologies within the broader educational system.

Guided by a three-dimensional space framework from the field of narrative inquiry—temporality, sociality, and spatiality—this study traces how educators’ emotions are shaped by past experiences, social …

A Qualitative Meta-Analysis Of The Experiences Of Clients In Psychotherapy For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Empirically Based Process-Oriented Staged Model, Nicholas A. Pierorazio

Graduate Masters Theses

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent and can be highly complex. Guidance for the treatment of PTSD has typically been based on quantitative meta-analyses of randomized controlled trial findings and has focused on the comparative efficacy of specific treatments, rather than how to deliver treatment. There is a need for clinical guidance that highlights moment-to-moment, in-session psychotherapy processes for psychotherapists working with clients with PTSD. In the current study, I conducted a qualitative meta-analysis, focusing on the qualitative literature investigating clients’ perspectives in order to develop an understanding of the preferences, values, and experiences of clients in individual psychotherapy for …

Give Them Their Roses: Honoring Student Affairs Professionals Of Color Combatting Secondary Racial Battle Fatigue At A Historically White Institution, Julián X. Latshang, Julián X. Latshang

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the phenomenon of Secondary Racial Battle Fatigue (SRBF) and its impact on student affairs professionals of color in higher education. Grounded in critical qualitative inquiry and the lived experiences of participants, this study examines how emotional, behavioral, and physiological effects of SRBF manifest both through professionals’ direct racialized experiences and their roles supporting students enduring racial trauma. Framed by Racial Battle Fatigue (Smith, 2010) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (Figley, 1995), the research addresses three guiding questions: (a) How does SRBF manifest in professionals of color? (b) In what ways does it emerge when supporting racially traumatized students? …