Personality and Social Contexts Commons^™

Family Rejection Predicting Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors Among Sexual Minority Males: Indirect Effects Through Internalized Homophobia And The Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide Constructs, Brian Bulla

Dissertations

Past research has identified sexual minority males as presenting with more suicidal thoughts and behaviors in comparison to the general population, possibly due to additional stressors (e.g., family rejection, internalized homophobia) encountered throughout their lives that are specific to minority identities (Meyer, 2003). Extant literature has also examined constructs from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS; Joiner, 2005; Van Orden et al., 2008) with mixed support for each (e.g., perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, capability) predicting suicidal thoughts and behaviors among sexual minority males. The current study, therefore, sought to further existing literature by examining indirect effects of family rejection on …

The Neurotic Wandering Mind And Self-Efficacy During Training, Mario L. Arredondo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

AbstractPersonality is complex and dynamic, and because this attribute consists of a cluster of different distinctive traits, successfully predicting how personality predisposes individuals to different reactions and feelings during a learning activity is an equally complex and challenging task. For this thesis I will focus on the personality trait of low emotional stability, or neuroticism. Previous research has shown that people with lower emotional stability have a predisposition to be more stringent with self-perceptions across different domains of behaviors and feelings. Self-efficacy influences people’s confidence in their ability to exert control over their own behavior and impact their environment, all …

Compliance With Ostracism: How Excluding A Member Of A Despised Outgroup Affects Psychological Need Satisfaction, Emma Nettles

USC Aiken Psychology Theses

Ostracism is a social process through which individuals are excluded or ignored (Williams, 1998). While recent research has slowly shifted toward the perpetrators of ostracism, relative to the targets, there is still little research on the effects of complying with ostracism. While previous research suggests engaging in ostracism leads to negative affect and thwarted need satisfaction, ostracism was directed toward an otherwise underserving target (Legate et al., 2013). The current research examined the effects of being instructed to ostracize a member of a despised outgroup on affect and need satisfaction. Seventy-one participants were recruited to play Cyberball, in which they …

Examining Dehumanization Of Individuals With Schizophrenia, Brianna Drake

USC Aiken Psychology Theses

Objective: Previous literature examines dehumanization of marginalized groups; though, most of this work focuses on ethnic and racial groups. Currently, there is a gap in the literature examining the extent to which people with mental illness are dehumanized. This study examined whether people with schizophrenia are dehumanized (relative to other marginalized groups, such as drug addicts). Furthermore, this research will investigate if using “person-first” language can attenuate dehumanization.

Method: Participants (n = 310) were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk to complete a measure of dehumanization and demeaning needs for each of the nine targets (i.e., self, close friend, lawyer, elderly, …

A Latent Class Analysis Of Personality Traits With Educational Attainment, Tyler Minter

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The five-factor model of personality (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness to experience) is an empirically based personality model that has been utilized in multiple psychological assessments. Recent works have found Block & Block’s (1980) three personality profiles (resilient, overcontrolled, undercontrolled) within the context of the five-factor model. This study performed a latent class analysis using a short FFM assessment from the SAPA project, a free online personality test. The intention of this study was to replicate the three personality profiles within the five-factor model. Four latent classes were included in the final solution. Two of the three personality profiles emerged …

Individual Characteristics Of Postsecondary Underachievement, Natasha Godkin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Underachievement in postsecondary education has been a growing concern for educators and researchers. Higher education institutions have implemented early alert systems to identify students performing below standards. This early warning system has major limitations that confine it to an identification only approach. The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Student Attitude Assessment Survey-R (SAAS-R) in a postsecondary sample. First, a confirmatory factor analysis validated the SAAS-R in a postsecondary sample. Predictive validity was then investigated by identifying students as underachieving or achieving based on responses to the SAAS-R and via a regression-based discrepancy model (ability vs. …

Reevaluating The Factor Structure Of The Family Resilience Assessment Scale For African American College Students, Quandrea Rachelle Harper

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to reevaluate the initial validation process of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale (FRAS) and to validate the measure for use with African Americans. Although the FRAS has been previously validated using a sample from the general population in the U.S. and has demonstrated cross-cultural utility, its applicability for use specifically with African Americans is inconclusive, as demonstrated by preliminary research findings. In the current study, data were collected from a sample of African American college students to conduct an exploratory factor analysis using all 66 items initially included in Sixbey’s validation study, and a …

Enhancing Physician Perspectives Of Skilled Occupational Therapy Services For Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Valerie S. Trinidad

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project, with a focus in research, sought to identify a relationship between self-reported functional performance and participation restriction as described by satisfaction with one’s execution or participation in a described occupation. A correlational study design was employed under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Decker, EdD, OTD, OTR/L who oversaw all IRB processes, documentation, study development and deployment, as well as co-authored and provided mentorship for creation of a publishable manuscript of this project. The established Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and the newer Keele Assessment of Participation (KAP) were the two outcome measures of focus for surveying …

Promoting Body Positivity Through Stories: How Protagonist Body Size And Esteem Influence Readers’ Self-Concepts, Megan A. Vendemia, Melissa J. Robinson

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Through two experiments (N = 497), we documented how distinct portrayals of women in stories can impact readers’ engagement in social comparisons and influence important aspects of their self-concepts. Specifically, this research investigated the effects of character body size (thin vs. large), body esteem (low vs. high), and story ending valence (sad vs. happy) with two distinct storylines. Results indicated that high (vs. low) body esteem characters are not only rated more aspirational, but also led readers with greater self-discrepancy to report lower state body image, suggesting upward social comparison processes are at play. Further, results indicated that reading …

Regulating Behavioral Spillovers: Regulatory Focus Moderates The Link Between Perceived Goal Progress And Engagement In Subsequent Behaviors, Tengjiao Huang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Behavioral spillover occurs when performing an initial behavior increases the likelihood of performing a subsequent behavior (positive spillover) or decreases this likelihood (negative spillover). The current research focuses on negative spillovers of pro-environmental behaviors (PEB), which has the implication of limiting individuals’ environmental conservation efforts. To offer insights, three studies sought to explicate how and for whom negative spillovers would occur. I theorized that prior behaviors would negatively predict subsequent behaviors via greater perceived goal progress and that this negative association between perceived goal progress and subsequent engagement would be more pronounced for people with a strong (vs. weak) promotion …

Battling Self-Esteem Issues During Sns Use: A Multilevel Latent Variable Path Analysis Approach, Shi Ann Shuna Khoo

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Although studies have consistently indicated that heavier social networking sites (SNS) use perpetuates poorer self‑esteem outcomes, no study has examined potential intervention methods that can counteract the ill-effects of SNS use. We sought to examine whether SNS use in a self-affirmative manner could mitigate threats to self that are often experienced during its use. Specifically, we hypothesized that the viewing of one’s SNS profile (i.e., Instagram profile) would have self-affirmative effects on individuals and improve their self-perception, and these effects are mediated by self‑concept clarity. We tested these hypotheses through cross-sectional (Study 1) and intensive longitudinal (Study 2) studies. Across …

The Role Of Age And Time Horizon In Affect–Meaning Relations, Jun Sheng Keh

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Extant research has demonstrated robust positive relations between positive affect (PA) and meaning, although the strength of this relationship has been found to vary as a function of both chronological age and time horizon (Hicks et al., 2012). This can be explained by the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST), which posits that both older adults and those with a limited time horizon (i.e., perceive less remaining in life) tend to focus on emotional goals over knowledge goals. In the current paper, I sought to extend SST’s findings to the level of activities by examining how chronological age, time horizon (both existing …

Emotional Experiences Of Muslim Americans Regarding The Intolerance Displayed By Non-Muslims, Munder Abderrazzaq

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Muslims in the United States report experiencing unequal treatment and racial profiling from non-Muslims. Recent literature (Simon et al., 2018) suggests the need for further research on the intolerance displayed by majority members from the point of view of minority members in the United States. The unwillingness or refusal to respect or tolerate individuals from a different social group or minority groups, who hold beliefs that are contrary to one’s own, is referred to as intolerance. The display of intolerance among members of different cultural and religious backgrounds can hinder the discovery of new information needed to promote positive social …

The Relationship Between Grit And Growth Mindset In Professional Athletic Training Students, Haleigh M. Gray, Ryan Moran, Danae Delfin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose: The demands of athletic training students are substantial between academic and clinical responsibilities creating problems with commitment and retention. Grit and growth mindset have been associated with academic achievement and success; however, little research has assessed the presence of grit and growth mindset within athletic training students. Therefor the purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in grit and growth mindset between athletic training students and non-athletic training students majoring in general health sciences and to assess the relationship between grit and growth mindset in both athletic training students and non-athletic training students. Methods: A cross-sectional study …

Logos And Ethos: Heroism And Social Bildung In China, Jiarui Bai

Heroism Science

This article explores how heroism is constructed in China’s sociocultural context of values. It identifies a sociocultural novel, film, and heroic TV program as a mechanism for producing heroism for Chinese society. Furthermore, it explores the heroic principles that are generated by these media and how they inform expected actions in China. The article thus argues that the construction of Chinese heroism embodies specific representations of the expectations of humankind, a kind of “governing by worth” in heroism science. The function of these representations, forming heroic idols, could therefore help individuals become heroes with logos and ethos in pathos, subsuming …

Effects Of Positive Reappraisal And Self-Distancing On Meaning-Making In Negative Experiences, Yong Hao Clement Lau

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Scant research has investigated the impact of common daily adversities on one’s sense of meaning, and how one can cope and find meaning in these distressing events. Drawing on the meaning-making model and tripartite model of meaning, this study sought to examine how using a combination of coping strategies (i.e., positive reappraisal and self-distancing) can help individuals to derive greater situational meaning (i.e., meaning from the experience), greater global meaning (i.e., meaning in life)—across three facets (i.e., coherence, significance, and purpose). Specifically, it is proposed that the effects of positive reappraisal on promoting meaning would be enhanced by adopting a …

Linking Creativity To Psychological Well-Being: Theoretical Insights From Instrumental Emotion Regulation, Angela K. Y. Leung, Brandon Koh, Riyang Phang, Sean T. H. Lee, Tengjiao Huang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Research has recognized that people regulate their emotions not only for seeking pleasurable experiences but also for receiving instrumental gains. We draw on the theoretical framework of instrumental emotion regulation (IER; Tamir, 2005, 2009) to shed new light on the relationships among creativity, emotion, and psychological well-being. We outline propositions that explain why there are concurrent creative and well-being benefits when people experience emotional states that are consistent with their personality trait (e.g., worrisome emotions being consistent with trait neuroticism) even if such trait-consistent emotions are negative. The IER perspective offers new interpretations of the creativity—well-being relationship through motivating a …

Exploring Gender Identity In College Sports, Simone Cooper, Brandon Bernardi

Kean Quest

Awareness and research on gender and sexual identity has advanced significantly in the last decade. Within the sports context, increased understanding of diversity and inclusion has initiated conversations about the experiences of athletes as related to their gender identity. Facilitating inclusive, fair and equitable sport cultures is of utmost importance, and the role of one’s gender and sexual identity deserves further attention. While sports culture is often aggressive and competitive, it also provides athletes with a source of community, support and safety. In a context where masculinity thrives, female athletes and athletes who identify as gender and/or sexual minorities may …

U.S. Extremism And Media: How The New Age Of Politics Speaks To Media Usage, Josephine R. Haneklau

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

On January 6th, 2021, the nation watched from their television screens as a group of extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. An interesting emotion fell over the U.S. public – it was both shocking and not shocking at all. The attack on the Capitol was a by-product of years of internal division, catapulted by Trump’s presidency. Between racial divisions and the progression of Black Lives Matter, the advancement of COVID and its governmental policies, and Trump’s divisive nature of president at a peak, it seemed almost inevitable that an offense like this would occur.

As political conversations …

Effects Of Induced Optimism On Subjective States, Physical Activity, And Stress Reactivity, Ruijia Chen, Kareena Del Rosario, Alee Lockman, Julia Boehm, Kelb Bousquet Santos, Erika Siegel, Wendy Berry Mendes, Laura D. Kubzansky

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

This study examined effects of experimentally-induced optimism on physical activity and stress reactivity with community volunteers. Using an intervention to induce short-term optimism, we conducted two harmonized randomized experiments, performed simultaneously at separate academic institutions. All participants were randomized to either the induced optimism intervention or to a neutral control activity using essay-writing tasks. Physical activity tasks (Study 1) and stress-related physiologic responses (Study 2) were assessed during lab visits. Essays were coded for intensity of optimism. A total of 324 participants (207 women, 117 men) completed Study 1, and 118 participants (67 women, 47 men, 4 other) completed Study …