The Impact Of Framing Effects And Moral Values On Prosocial Engagement, Olajuwon Olagbegi

Dissertations

Framing effects can shape perceptions, beliefs and behavior, particularly in prosocial contexts. The current study examined how language framing (social justice, social activism, volunteerism) and moral values influence interest in prosocial engagement across low- and high-cost helping scenarios. Participants (N = 219) were randomly assigned to one of three framing conditions and reported willingness to help in both low- and high-cost situations. They also completed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire. Replicating prior work (Olagbegi and colleagues, 2024), participants were more willing to engage in low- than high-cost helping. Across conditions, social justice framing elicited the greatest willingness to help. Higher fairness …

Christian-Based Community Engagement And Loneliness Among College Students, Ayodeji Fayemi

Master's Theses & Other Graduate Student Works

Loneliness among college students is a growing public health concern with significant implications for mental and physical well-being. Despite living in highly connected environments, many students report profound feelings of loneliness, which can exacerbate mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. Loneliness also influences cognitive and social processes and has been linked to physical health risks, highlighting the need for effective interventions. This study examined whether Christian-based community engagement served as a protective factor against loneliness among college students. Grounded in Social Support Theory, the study assessed associations among loneliness, general social support, church-based support, religious coping, institutional integration, …

Utilizing Self-Determination Theory In Therapy For Veterans With Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Carlos A. Tinoc

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Substance use disorder (SUD) has increasingly affected U.S. veterans, with rising misuse of alcohol and opioids. Many veterans also confront mental health issues, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To explore this issue further, the researcher will investigate the effectiveness of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in addressing substance use and mental health disorders (dual diagnosis) among veterans. Previous research on the implementation of SDT for dual-diagnosis patients has not sufficiently addressed the veteran population. The researcher will review existing systematic literature reviews on the topic of SDT implementation in the treatment of SUDs and mental health disorders among both civilian and veteran …

The Effects Of Excessive Smartphone Use On Interpersonal Relationships, Lisa M. Whitesell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Smartphones are integral to daily life, generating a propensity for overuse that raises concerns about the potentially adverse effects on social connections and communication. Previous research is primarily quantitative, focused on male subjects outside the United States, and has not explored the impact of smartphone use on relationships from the perspective of close friends and family. This study addresses the gap by applying qualitative methodologies using a more balanced gender sample in the United States. Semi-structured interviews will capture participants’ experiences and perceptions of how excessive smartphone use affects their interpersonal relationships. Open-ended questions will explore smartphone use patterns, the …

Volunteer Spotlighting: Costly Signaling To Promote Volunteerism, Clyde A. Raible V

Master's Theses

Prosocial behaviors, because they are initially costly and do not guarantee a direct benefit to the actor, can nonetheless increase social status by signaling a willingness to incur cost on behalf of another. Given this signal value, nonprofit organizations may be able to leverage this knowledge to increase donations, such as through the provisioning of attention to, and recognition of, volunteers through social media. I predicted that the costliness of spotlighted behavior and the target signal clarity (i.e., individual vs. group spotlight) would interact with participants’ dispositional dominance and prestige-based status motives to influence volunteerism interest. To explore these associations, …

Susceptibility To Memory Errors Created By Leading Questions Based On The Perceived Authority Of Interviewer, Clay K. Wollard

Undergraduate Honors Theses

It has been well established that memory of an event can be modified by introducing misinformation through questioning. This study fills a gap in the research literature by testing the potential relationship between perceived authority and susceptibility to misinformation. This was measured through showing participants a video of a traffic accident and asking them questions about the events they witnessed. Participants were also asked to rate their confidence in the correctness of each answer to determine if there are any correlations between authority, correct answers, misinformation, and confidence. Authority was conveyed through the clothing worn by the researcher during each …

The Effect Of A 14-Day Digital Nudge-Based Sleep Hygiene Intervention On Behavioural, Cognitive, And Emotional Well-Being In College Students: An Experimental Approach, Tracy X. Chen, Chi-Ying Cheng, Michelle Koay, Chin Boon Soh, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Sleep is essential for one's cognitive, psychological, and physical health. Yet, college students often face sleep deprivation due to academic demands, social obligations, and extracurricular commitments. This study implemented a 14-day Digital Nudge-Based Sleep Hygiene Intervention, delivered via a digital platform, to encourage healthier sleep practices among college students. Grounded in nudge theory, the digital intervention used subtle behavioural prompts to improve participants' sleep hygiene without imposing restrictions, demonstrating high adherence and scalability. Participants were guided through daily tasks to enhance autonomy and motivation, such as creating calming bedtime routines. The digital intervention led to positive outcomes across four domains: …

Log Off To Level Up: The Effect Of Social Media Hiatus On Goal Pursuit, Nekysha L. Y. Jalil, Yong Han Tan, Andree Hartanto, Eddie M. W. Tong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Concerns are growing that social media, with its constant notifications and attention-grabbing content, may distract individuals and hinder progress toward important goals. Despite its pervasive presence in our lives, the impact of social media on goal achievement has not been thoroughly studied. This within-subject experimental study aims to investigate the effects of social media hiatus (SMH), a short abstinence from social media usage, on goal pursuit processes. Participants (N= 107) completed daily diaries over three consecutive days of SMH and three days of regular social media use. SMH was manipulated by blocking participants’ access to multiple social media platforms. The …

Perception Of Socioeconomic Status: A Meta-Analysis Of Manipulations, Jacinth Jia Xin Tan, Yong En Amos Tai

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The causal effects of one’s socioeconomic status (SES) on outcomes are typically examined by experimentally manipulating SES self-perceptions based on one of three SES dimensions—absolute resource, relative resource, and general social position. We investigated the efficacy of these manipulations by systematically meta-analyzing their effects on SES self-perceptions. Based on 107 eligible samples (N = 26,203), manipulations of SES self-perceptions across the three SES dimensions were effective overall (g = 0.56–0.95). Explicit priming of absolute resource and relative resource manipulations comparing high versus low SES were consistently effective—although bias-corrected effects were attenuated—suggesting the importance of salient SES information and social comparisons. …

The Impact Of Traditional Machismo On Mental Health Outcomes: Depression And Suicide Risk Among Latino Immigrant And Non-Immigrant Men, Yesenia A, Romero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditional masculine norms have long been recognized as influential factors in men’s psychological well-being. Within Latino cultures, the construct of machismo represents a culturally specific form of masculinity characterized by ideals of masculinity and characterized by ideals of strength, dominance, and emotional restraint. While these norms may promote resilience and family responsibilities, rigid adherence to traditional machismo has also been associated with emotional suppression, reduced help-seeking behaviors, and increased psychological distress. The present study conducted a meta-analysis to examine the relationship between traditional machismo and mental health outcomes among Latino men, with particular attention to depressive symptoms as well as …

Exploring The Role Of Online Spaces In Understanding Young Adult Mental Health Attitudes: Internalizes Stigma, Help Seeking Behaviors, And Mental Health Centered Content, Harley Thomas

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Mental Health is an ever-rising concern in the United States, with many people experiencing some form of mental health concerns. One new tool used to fight the mental health crisis has been online content on social media sites. Few studies have been done to see the actual effect of the rise of mental health content and terminology used online, especially through the lens of those who have lived experience. We conducted an online survey via Prolific to gather quantitative and qualitative data from 287 young adults in the United States, ages 18-25, to examine their exposure to mental health content, …

Unveiling The Longitudinal Dynamics Of Discrimination, Identity, And Mental Health Over Time Within U.S. Muslims Among On-Going Palestine Genocide, Manal Aboargob

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Discrimination is a pervasive stressor that shapes mental health through both direct experiences and indirect, or vicarious, exposure. In contemporary contexts marked by global media saturation, individuals may repeatedly witness discrimination and violence directed toward their social group, amplifying psychological burden. The present longitudinal study examined how direct and vicarious discrimination were associated with affective well-being among U.S. Muslims during the ongoing genocide in Palestine, and whether religious identity and religious coping moderated these associations over time. Participants (N = 103) completed a baseline survey and up to 11 weekly surveys over a three-month period. Multilevel mixed-effects growth models were …

Overwhelmed By Competing Priorities: Exploring Women’S Motivational Conflict Across The Menstrual Cycle, Arial S. Bloshinsky

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether the biological context of the menstrual cycle predicted overwhelming feelings due to competing bonding and achievement motivations (i.e., motivational conflict). Building on the motivational shift hypothesis, it was predicted that the luteal phase, characterized by elevated progesterone and heightened bonding motivation, would be associated with more overwhelming feelings from motivational conflict. To assess potential changes across the menstrual cycle, a within-person design was used where women reported their overwhelming feelings daily. Primary analyses did not support the hypothesis. Overwhelming feelings from motivational conflict did not differ across cycle phases. However, the expected mid-cycle peak in sexual …

The Role Of Commuting Stress On Job Satisfaction: Burnout As Mediator, Andreas Ari Kristiyanto, P. Tommy Y. S. Suyasa

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Abstract

This study examines the role of commuting stress on job satisfaction, with burnout as a mediating variable. Data were collected from 113 commuting employees in urban areas, primarily within Greater Jakarta, an area known for severe traffic congestion, using a quantitative approach. Participants completed three validated questionnaires: the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) for job satisfaction, the Multimodal Commuting Stress Scale (MCSS) for commuting stress, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for burnout. Data were analyzed using SEM-PLS and processed using SmartPLS 4.0. The results indicate that CS has a direct negative effect on job satisfaction and is positively associated …

Synthesizing Evidence And Testing The Militant Extremist Mindset Across Scales Version, Haykal Hafizul Arifin, Aly Lamuri, Aryodi Wahyu Kurniawan, Mirra Noor Milla, Ali Mashuri, Bagus Takwin

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Extremist violence continues to pose serious risks in urban areas, yet tools for understanding these radical mindsets on the general population remain underdeveloped. Research on the Militant Extremist Mindset (MEM) is fragmented, with no synthesis of findings, unclear factor structure across shifting subscales, and little evidence from contexts with a documented history of extremist activity like Indonesia. This study addresses these gaps through two studies. First, we conducted a systematic review of empirical studies and a meta-analysis of 11 studies (N total = 5293) to examine the correlates of MEM’s three components - nastiness (endorsement of violence), grudge (hostile outlook), …

From Authenticity To Sacrifice: Investigating The Link Through Identity Fusion, Aryodi Wahyu Kurniawan, Hamdi Muluk, Mirra Milla

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Urban environments, with their dense networks, mobility, and exposure to diverse ideologies, create conditions that can strengthen group attachment but also heighten vulnerability to religious extremist recruitment. Understanding the psychological processes behind such commitment is therefore essential. Identity fusion, a deep sense of oneness with a group and its members, is a key mechanism underlying willingness to sacrifice for the group. This study investigates how fusion develops through fulfillment of the psychological need for authenticity, defined as the need to be one’s true self within the group. Two studies were conducted among Muslim participants in Indonesia. Study 1 (N = …

Emotions In Urban Society: A Call For Papers For Psychological Research On Urban Society (Proust), Debora Eflina Purba

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Emotions in Urban Society: A Call for Papers for Psychological Research on Urban Society (PRoUSt)

Prosecutorial Discretion: The Effect Of Social Dominance Orientation (Sdo) And Right-Wing Authoritarianism (Rwa) On Understanding And Support Among Americans, Jamie Shelton

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

The U.S. prison system is plagued by an overrepresentation of the country’s residents, at twenty percent of the world’s prison population. The discretion of prosecutors to determine when and which charges to file has been linked to the immense prison growth of the U.S. since the late 1970s, especially given their lack of judicial and public oversight. In this study, participants were asked to answer survey questions made up of four scales: knowledge of the prosecutorial role (Prosecutor Knowledge), support for policy curtailing prosecutorial discretion (Policy Support), Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), and Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA). Findings included significant results for …

A Daily Assessment Of Food And Alcohol Disturbance And Alcohol Intoxication As Predictors Of Sexual Violence Victimization, Amanda Elizabeth Baildon

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Alcohol-involved sexual violence (SV) is a common and detrimental experience for young adult women. To supplement SV prevention strategies aimed at perpetrators, who are fully responsible for the occurrence of SV, risk reduction programs that target women’s drinking have been implemented with limited efficacy. To improve these programs, research must examine novel predictors like food and alcohol disturbance (FAD) that contribute to SV risk. FAD refers to compensatory behaviors (e.g., restricted eating, excessive exercise) to offset alcohol’s calories or enhance intoxication. Approximately 45% of young adult women engage in FAD, a practice that likely heightens SV risk by facilitating rapid …

Beyond Victimhood, Expanding Narratives: A Generative Inquiry With Trafficking Survivors, Giacomo Chiara, Celiane Camargo-Borges, Diego Romaioli, Alberta Contarello

The Qualitative Report

This study is a generative inquiry with survivors of trafficking from a social constructionist perspective. Inspired by the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, its focus is collaboration between researchers and trafficking survivors with a view to shaping and understanding their trafficking experiences together, expanding understanding of the topic and co-constructing a relational space in which counter-narratives on victimhood can be generated. It consisted of 10 interviews with women survivors of trafficking at the Italian Anti-Trafficking System. These women were from a range of nations and their experiences of exploitation varied. Taking a constructionist approach to research, we formulated an episodic-generative interview …