Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Validating A Scale Of Psychological Flexibility And Inflexibility For Older Adolescents, Caleb Douglas Farley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Psychological flexibility (PF) is a skill that is related to various mental health experiences in adults. Higher levels of PF seem related to greater wellbeing. Given increases in mental health problems with youth, measuring PF and its inverse, psychological inflexibility (PI), might be useful for identifying those teenagers at risk for mental health challenges and referring them to appropriate interventions. To date, most measures of PF and PI are only available for adults older than 18, and, while theory suggests PF and PI are important for adolescent mental health, little research has examined the validity of these claims. This multipaper …

It's Just A Game! Effects Of Fantasy In A Storified Test On Applicant Reactions, Marie L. Ohlms, Klaus G. Melchers, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

There is increasing attention to storification of assessments (i.e., embedding a storyline into a non-storified assessment) in research and practice and to gamified and game-based assessment in general. However, there is a surprising lack of agreement and of recommendations regarding what level of fantasy of the storyline one should choose for the storification from the perspective of applicant reactions. A distinction is typically made between fantasy (e.g., fighting aliens) and realistic (e.g., workday simulations) storylines, with both choices having their advantages and disadvantages. In this study, a sample of 195 participants was shown either a storified realistic test, a storified …

Psychological Science And Immigration Today: Apa Task Force Report On Immigration And Health, American Psychological Association, Alfonso Mercado, Amanda Venta, Dina Birman, German Cadenas, Gail Ferguson, Luz M. Garcini, Giselle A. Hass, Maryam Kia-Keating, William Martinez

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The report emphasizes the importance of culturally competent mental health services and explores the impact of anti-immigration policies on mental wellbeing. In today’s climate in which immigration is often met with hostility, it is crucial that we, as researchers and mental health professionals, understand the unique challenges faced by immigrants and use this understanding to foster positive change. Together, we can better support the wellbeing and resilience of our immigrant communities by using psychological research to inform and advance practice and policy.

Affirmative Reproductive & Gynecological Healthcare For Transgender And Nonbinary Individuals, Deja Imani Fitzgerald

Masters Theses

Health disparities in gynecological and reproductive healthcare persist as a critical concern for the transgender and nonbinary (TNB) community. There is a significant dearth of education and training for healthcare providers regarding TNB gynecological and reproductive healthcare needs, which negatively impacts quality of healthcare and patient experiences. Thus, gynecological and reproductive healthcare is often experienced as inaccessible, poorly informed, and stigmatizing for TNB communities. This qualitative study aimed to identify and share self-reported TNB-affirming interpersonal and environmental factors within gynecological and reproductive healthcare settings as informed by the transmasculine community. Data were collected through online qualitative surveys, and thematic analysis …

High Fat Diet & Social Isolation: Interactive Effects On Pain, Cognition, & Neuroinflammation, Ian M. Campuzano

Research Psychology Theses

Prior research has established a role for both social isolation and exposure to high fat Western diets in altering a range of behaviors from reduced memory performance to increased depression-like behaviors. The present study scrutinizes the interplay among these variables during the peri-adolescent developmental phase, utilizing Long-Evans rats as the experimental model. Our overarching hypothesis is that rats exposed to either social isolation, a high-fat diet, or both will result in heightened pain sensitivity, diminished cognitive flexibility, and increased neuroinflammatory responses within brain regions implicated in sociability, cognition, memory, and pain processing. Behavioral flexibility will be assessed using a maze-based …

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder And Anxiety: An Evidence-Based Approach Exploring Interventions For Minimally Verbal Children With Asd And Anxiety, Zolzaya Batjargal

Research Psychology Theses

With approximately 1 in 100 children worldwide affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (WHO, 2023), the urgency for effective interventions is underscored. This study investigates evidence-based interventions for anxiety in minimally verbal children with ASD. The study examines CBT and ABA therapy effectiveness over 10 months for children with ASD, aiming to enhance their quality of life and well-being with tailored interventions. This research proposal hypothesizes reduced anxiety symptoms post-treatment, stable intellectual functioning, improved adaptive behavior skills, and better outcomes with higher parental involvement.

Examining The Association Between Parental Attachment, Fictive Kin Bonds, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Emotional Distress, And Subjective Well-Being Among Black Americans, Roxanne Watts

Dissertations

Secure attachment with parents predicts less emotional distress and greater subjective well-being across the lifespan. One mechanism by which parental attachment supports mental health outcomes is through psychological needs satisfaction (PNS). In addition to the attachment to parents, relationships with fictive kin caregivers are prevalent and important among Black families. The present study investigated the association between parental attachment, fictive kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction and mental health outcomes (i.e., emotional distress and subjective well-being) in a sample of Black American adults. Two hundred twenty-three (N = 223) participants completed measures of parental attachment, fictive-kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Career Decision Making In College Students: Investigating The Moderating Effects Of Perceived Covid-19 Impact And Ambiguity Tolerance, Kendall Klumpp

Dissertations

College students face many difficult decisions as they navigate adulthood, including making a decision about their career. Although much research has already been conducted to explore these difficulties, little has explored the potential impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on one’s career-related cognitions. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new context in which difficulties with career-related decisions may be exacerbated. Through the lens of psychological stress, the current study examined the responses of 231 undergraduate students using a university-based online participant recruiting site, SONA. It was predicted that level of ACEs would be positively related with levels of negative …

Evaluating The Treatment Utility Of Universal Screening For Social-Emotional And Behavioral Risk, Rebecca Wagner Lovelace

Dissertations

Universal screening is a proactive method used by schools to identify social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) difficulties experienced by students to inform necessary intervention supports and practices. Early detection of SEB problems in young children is imperative to effective treatment, but there is currently little guidance and research to support effective use of universal screening data, particularly for SEB risk, to inform treatment. The current study followed up on studies that examine the use of universal screening to inform intervention decision making (e.g., treatment utility) for SEB risk. An alternating treatment design was used to assess treatment effectiveness of matched and …

Beyond Initial Engagement: Investigating Factors That Contribute To Continued Participation In Social Movements, Alejandro Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Historically, social movements have been important in addressing social issues and driving social change, particularly in challenging both systemic racism and structural inequalities faced by minority groups. However, these movements require sustained participation to be effective. While it is important to understand the psychological factors as to how and why one engages in social movements, few empirical studies have evaluated the psychological factors that influence ongoing participation in social movements. This study examines predictors of continued engagement in social movements among individuals who have participated in two or more in-person demonstrations. A sample of 305 participants involved in four different …

Disparities Surrounding The Availability Of Feminine Hygiene Products In The Workplace, Marlene Ventura

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Menstrual inequality in the workplace continues to exist, affecting financial welfare, mental health, physical health, and access to care. Women have been enduring disparities related to menstruation, including stigma, shame, and period poverty, which are often exacerbated in the workplace. This study aims to explore the experiences of women who do not have access to free feminine hygiene products in the workplace.

The researcher conducted one-to-one interviews in person with employed women (n=9). The questions were semi-structured and based on a survey with nineteen questions addressing areas of menstrual inequality in the workplace. Seven themes were identified: 1) work performance, …

Presentations Of Value: Evaluative Outlooks And Practical Reason, Michael Ebling

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, I argue for an evaluative outlook account of human practical reason by developing a viable representational psychology that vindicates the following key claims. First, some mental states are evaluative representations with ineliminably evaluative representational content. Second, any successful explanation of a rational action must appeal to evaluative representations. Third, many evaluative representations are products of subrational processes and capacities. Fourth, in humans evaluative representations function to be elements in an overall evaluative understanding. And fifth, evaluative representations by nature have motivational efficacy. In addition to these five foundational claims, I add two more speculative points. Some evaluative …

“If They Look At Me And Land At He/Him, It's The Consolation Prize”: Transmasculine Nonbinary Individuals’ Conceptualization Of Passing, Lex Pulice-Farrow

Doctoral Dissertations

The present study sought to understand how transmasculine nonbinary individuals conceptualize and understand passing for themselves and for other transmasculine nonbinary individuals. Much of the literature on this topic focuses on binary identified trans women or men, while the ways that nonbinary individuals conceptualize passing remains largely unexplored. Utilizing a critical-constructivist grounded theory framework, 20 transmasculine nonbinary individuals participated in semi-structured interviews that centered on how this population understood passing for themselves and for other transmasculine nonbinary people. Using minority stress and intersectional theories as frameworks, the following core category was identified: for transmasculine nonbinary individuals, passing includes a cognitive …

Preschool Executive Control And Adolescent Dietary Outcomes: Highlighting The Role Of Context, Marla Lopez

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

Research has identified executive control (EC) as an important predictor of dietary outcomes among youth. Executive control in preschool age has been shown to predict important outcomes across development for youth, indicating that good, foundational EC abilities are associated with successful development in later life. Dietary outcomes across adolescence, an important transitional period for establishing healthy eating behaviors, are understudied. Therefore, the current study sought to link two critical developmental periods, examining how preschool EC is associated with dietary trajectories across adolescence. Further, the study aimed to identify how contextual factors, specifically indices of socio-economic status and the home and …

Praying To Tiktok, Seeking The Self: How Rhetoric Reveals And Conceals The World’S Most Powerful Guru Of The Postindustrial Age, Samantha L. Gillespie-Hoffman

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

Imagine a world where the most powerful leader is a wellness guru that runs an elaborate church with millions of followers. The guru is so powerful that everyone believes they can read minds and make ordinary people rich and famous. The guru controls forms of communication, media channels, consumer tastes, and what people eat, drink, say, and even think. What if this guru was not human but actually an algorithm? Does this sound like the plot of a science fiction novel? I argue that this scenario is closer to reality than most will admit. In this project, readers encounter a …

Economic Development In Legacy Cities: Current And Emerging Challenges And Opportunities, Neil Reid, Sujata Shetty, Jane Adade

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

As manufacturing employment has declined in the traditional manufacturing regions over the past decades, many communities have experienced population loss and overall economic decline. Local economic development professionals have had to grapple with long-term structural changes in the economy as well as short-term jolts. To gain insights into the changing landscape of economic development, we interviewed economic development practitioners in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The interviews focused on their perception of current and emerging challenges and opportunities with respect to economic development in their respective communities. Having identified the major challenges and opportunities, we asked them to articulate the …

The Presence Of Diversity Initiatives Leads To Increased Pro-White Hiring Decisions Among Conservatives, Zeinab A. Hachem, Tessa L. Dover

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite the push and pull between pro-diversity advocates and conservative resistance, most organizations have implemented diversity initiatives in an effort to promote equitable and fair organizational practices. Past work has shown that these diversity initiatives may not be as effective as expected and may instead result in unintended negative consequences for the very individuals they are meant to support. In three novel experiments (total N = 3,664), we investigated whether and when the presence of pro-diversity messages in organizational job recruitment materials might facilitate versus hinder the hiring of underrepresented racial minorities. Participant race and political ideology were also investigated …

Evaluating The Impact Of An Experimental Intervention On Reducing Social Anxiety Through Impression Efficacy Changes, Alexandria Dismuke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social anxiety is a prevalent and harmful experience, predicting negative outcomes even for those not reaching clinical levels. While evidence-based treatments are well-documented for Social Anxiety Disorder, simple and accessible interventions for subclinical samples are a valuable endeavor for research. The current study aimed to test an experimental task for reducing social anxiety through increasing participants’ impression self-efficacy. A secondary goal was to explore the impacts of and responses to positive and neutral feedback. The primary hypothesis was that condition would predict changes in social anxiety indirectly through changes in impression self-efficacy. Participants (n=127) completed a structured interaction with a …

Intersections Of Culture And Romantic Relationships: A Thematic Analysis Of College Students' Inter-Identity Romantic Relationships, Rachel Miriam Maskin

Doctoral Dissertations

Emerging adulthood is a critical period for identity development. Emerging adults who date outside of their social identity groups (e.g., race, class, sexual orientation) must negotiate issues related to identity difference in their relationships while exploring and refining their own identities. The current study explored the messages emerging adults receive about their own identities and the ways in which they navigate identity-related issues within inter-identity relationships. Undergraduate inter-identity couples (N = 25 couples; N = 50 participants) participated in a semi-structured interview regarding their individual and dyadic experiences of identity. Thematic analysis yielded four themes related to messages individuals …

Policy, Practice, And Perceptions Of K-12 Social-Emotional Learning, Janice Filer, Ebony C. Cain, Della Thompson-Bell

Education Division Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of K-12 school staff who participate in social-emotional learning (SEL). Since the global pandemic, several school districts have included SEL as part of the school curriculum. Teachers, counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and school administrators participate in SEL instruction and/or practices. Classroom teachers instruct students in SEL instruction and other school staff practice the SEL components of self-awareness, self-management, decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills through their daily interactions with students. This study was conducted in various schools throughout the Los Angeles area using open-ended interview questions that utilized focus …

A Village: Examining The Associations Between Social Support, Aggravation In Parenting, Child Behavioral Problems, And The Mother-Child Relationship., Natalie Christine Blocher

Doctoral Dissertations

The following study examines the relationships between maternal social support (measured individually by instrumental, policy, and emotional), aggravation in parenting, child behavioral problems (CBPs), and the mother-child relationship during middle childhood (ages 6 to 12) and adolescence (13-18). The purpose of the study was to create nuance in the social support literature of the unique role of different types of maternal social support. The study collected data from a subsample of mothers and their children from Wave 5 (2007-2010) and Wave 6 (2014-2017) from the Future Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW), when the child participants were 9 and 15-years-old, …

The Impact Of Perceived Administrative Support On Teacher Burnout, Madison L. Kelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teachers are crucial to many facets of life (Güneyli, 2012). Due to current occupational requirements and emotional demands, many educational professionals experience burnout (Roethler, 2021). Burnout occurs when daily occupational challenges overpower one's ability to maintain a healthy emotional state and meet professional demands (Roethler, 2021). Previous studies have been conducted on the levels of teacher stress and burnout (Agyapong et al., 2022; Chang, 2009; Lindqvist et al., 2021; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2021), while few studies explored the impact of administrative support and its contribution to burnout within the teacher population (Howard et al., 2017; Jacob, 2007; McCray-Davis, 2022; Tickle …

College Students' Perceptions Of The Student-Teacher Relationship, Lauren E. Biggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Humans, as social creatures, pursue relationships with others to fulfill various needs. As such, when we enter school, we naturally seek to establish relationships with teachers, who act as significant individuals in our lives. In general, research has shown that students with close, warm relationships with their teachers tend to experience more favorable outcomes related to academic achievement, behavior, and social-emotional factors. Students with more negative relationships with their teachers conversely tend to experience poorer outcomes. Though decades of research have consistently shown this correlation, few studies have examined the relationships between college students and their professors. The current study …

(Don’T Fear) The Factors: An Item-Level Meta-Analysis Of The Fear Of Covid-19 Scale’S Factor Structure And Measurement Invariance, William P. Jimenez, Asiye Zeytonli, Yasmine Nabulsi, Xiaoxiao Hu

Psychology Faculty Publications

The global COVID-19 pandemic saw marked research and clinical interest in evaluating pandemic-related distress, namely fear and anxiety regarding infection and death. The most widely used and earliest developed measure of COVID-19 distress is Ahorsu et al. (2022) seven-item Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). To investigate the factor structure and measurement equivalence of the FCV-19S, we conducted an item-level meta-analysis synthesizing 1155 effect sizes across k = 55 independent samples comprising N = 71,161 individuals. We found that a two-factor measurement model comprising a four-item Emotional factor and a three-item Psychosomatic factor exhibits better fit than the originally proposed single-factor …

Displacement, Social Justice, And The Right To The City: A Review And Critical Reflections In The 21st Century, Tara Fitzgerald, Brij Maharaj

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

This paper aims to review the literature and themes relating to displacement, social justice, and the right to the city in the 21st century. Displacement, in its various forms, is central to understanding the human rights abuses and livelihood implications when urban rights are revoked, forcing inhabitants to the periphery, and is the focus of this paper. Whereas the city’s services, resources, and opportunities should be a collective right advanced by local authorities for all who occupy urban space, displacements lead to resettlement and impoverishment, especially as livelihoods are disrupted. Urban renewal, through mega-projects, clean-up campaigns, and speculative gentrification processes, …

General Psychology 2e, Will Stutterheim

All Open Educational Resources

General Psychology 2e offers an insightful exploration into the complexities of the field of psychology and all that it has to offer. This book provides a thorough introduction to the foundational principles of psychology, covering essential theories, research findings, and applications that illustrate the intricate workings of the mind.

The text begins with a historical overview of psychology, tracing its evolution from philosophical roots to its establishment as a scientific discipline. It then delves into essential topics regarding stress and mental health disorders and concludes with therapy and treatment approaches. It then covers research in psychology, biopsychology, consciousness, and perception. …

Derogatory, Racist, And Discriminatory Speech (Drds) In Video Gaming, Sean Woodford

Dissertations

Video games have been examined for their effects on cognition, learning, health, and physiological arousal, yet research on social dynamics within video gaming is limited. Studies have documented the presence of derogation, racism, and discrimination in this anonymous medium. However, gamers‟ firsthand experiences are typically examined qualitatively. Thus, this study aimed to establish a quantitative baseline for the frequency of derogatory, racist, and discriminatory speech (DRDS) in gaming. DRDS frequency, sexual harassment, and hate speech measures were administered to 150 individuals from online forums and social media groups. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to gauge which factors affected DRDS …

Caring For A Family Member With Dementia: Collectivism And Individualism As Predictors Of Caregiver Burden, Christina Wawrowski

Dissertations

Caregiver burden, often associated with physical, emotional, and financial strain, is a significant concern for family members who are providing care to their loved ones. This study involved exploring the experiences of serving as a caregiver to a family member with dementia to better understand the relationship of collectivistic and individualistic orientations with perceived caregiver burden, while considering the level of social support and dementia severity. The research involved a quantitative approach, administering the Individualism and Collectivism Scale (Cultural Orientation Scale), the Caregiver Burden Inventory, the Functional Rating Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and a demographic survey …

Identity Development In Black Caribbeans: A Proposed Model, Shenelle Frederick

Dissertations

The paper is a critical review of the literature exploring factors contributing to Black Caribbean identity development. The paper sought to understand Black Caribbeans’ migratory history, views on mental health, and factors contributing to their identity development in the United States. Migrating to the United States can be a harsh reality for many migrants because they eventually realize that their Black skin is associated with negativity. An exploration of Black Caribbeans’ history and growing up in predominately Black societies could provide some insight that contributes to some of their ideologies and beliefs regarding forms of racism and believing that hard …

Understanding The Barriers And Contributions To Success Among African American Graduate Students Pursuing Doctorate Degrees In Clinical Or Counseling Psychology: A Comparative Analysis Of Predominantly White Institutions And Historically Black Colleges And Universities In The U.S., Chelle' Thomas

Dissertations

This study investigated the barriers encountered by African American students in earning doctorate degrees in clinical or counseling psychology at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) compared to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This study aims to elucidate the challenges encountered by African American graduate students in their pursuit of doctoral degrees in clinical or counseling psychology. The study focused on analyzing the obstacles and positive impacts experienced by African American graduate students as they strive to obtain doctorates in clinical or counseling psychology. Multiple challenges and contributions have been identified in this a phenomenological qualitative study. The qualitative results indicate …