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- Title
- CRITICISM, HEALTH FUNCTIONING, AND MARITAL ADJUSTMENT IN COUPLES WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
- Creator
- Hicks, R. Elliott Iii
- Date
- 2017, 2017-07
- Description
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Destructive communication and hostile interactions between spouses are associated with poor behavior maintenance and can elicit substantial...
Show moreDestructive communication and hostile interactions between spouses are associated with poor behavior maintenance and can elicit substantial increases in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output in patients (Broadwell, & Light, 2005; Nealey-Moore et al., 2007; Ryan & Deci, 2000). This negatively impacts the cardiovascular health of the targeted partner (Nealey-Moore et al., 2007; Ryan & Deci, 2000; Smith et al., 2009). Constructive, non-hostile criticism between partners may bolster behavior change and maintenance (Zinbarg, 2007). The present study assesses the relationship between forms of criticism and reports of marital adjustment, autonomous support, health functioning, and health behavior change in a sample of couples participating in a cardiac risk reduction intervention. Results indicate that Hostile Criticism predicted Physical Health Functioning. Further, there were no significant moderating relationships. Interpretation of results and future directions are discussed.
Ph.D. in Psychology, July 2017
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- Title
- MEDIATORS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE IN SURVIVORS WITH BRAIN INJURY
- Creator
- Johnson, Kristina S.
- Date
- 2017, 2017-07
- Description
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Injury to the brain can range in cause, severity, and outcomes. Individuals with brain injury may experience both physical and cognitive...
Show moreInjury to the brain can range in cause, severity, and outcomes. Individuals with brain injury may experience both physical and cognitive impairments. Not only can a patient experience a wide range of symptoms, these symptoms also can vary drastically in severity. Research has shown that these symptoms play a role in a person’s quality of life following injury: the worse a person’s symptoms are, the lower they report their quality of life. However, recent research suggests that psychosocial factors may mediate the relationships between disability severity and quality of life across multiple rehabilitation populations. Two of the previously researched psychosocial constructs include social support and a sense of mastery over the disability or disease. The purpose of this study was to examine a structural model hypothesizing the mediating role of these two constructs on the relationship between symptom severity and quality of life among adults with brain injury. Participants in this study included 183 individuals with brain injury recruited through state brain injury organizations across the United States to participate in an online survey study. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), results demonstrated good model fit. (χ2(15, n = 183) = 13.68). Normed Bentler-Bonnet fit index (NFI) was .97; Goodness-of-Fit statistic (GFI) was .98; Adjusted-goodness-of-fit (AGFI) was .96; and Comparative fit index (CFI) was 1.00 (indices exceeding .90 indicate acceptable fit). Examination of the direct effects showed that perceived social support and sense of mastery are negatively associated with symptom severity (-.19 and -.66 respectively). Additionally, perceived social support was positively associated with mastery (.30). Both mastery and social support were moderately related to quality of life (.46 and .53, respectively). Rmediation analysis revealed perceived social support and mastery fully mediate the relationship between symptom severity and quality of life. Additionally, mastery partially mediated the relationship between social support and quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating these psychosocial factors into clinical interventions with hopes of increasing levels of perceived social support and mastery, and ultimately promoting quality of life. Further research is needed to explore the best strategies to increase support and mastery within the brain injury population and to identify additional psychosocial factors that may be mediators of quality of life.
M.S. in Psychology, July 2017
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- Title
- Comparing Complex Network and Latent Factor Models of Seasonal Affective Disorder
- Creator
- Smetter, Joseph
- Date
- 2019
- Description
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Research on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has produced several etiologicalmodels of SAD symptomatology, including a common cause model...
Show moreResearch on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has produced several etiologicalmodels of SAD symptomatology, including a common cause model that conceptualizessymptoms as the result of a single underlying disease process, and the Dual VulnerabilityModel (Young et al., 1991) which posits that psychological symptoms of depressionfollow the onset of vegetative symptoms (e.g. hypersomnia, increased appetite) inindividuals with a vulnerability to seasonal changes. Studies of the structure of SADsymptomatology have been limited in their ability to evaluate these models. This studyused exploratory factor analysis and network analysis to examine baseline winter SADsymptoms (using a modified BDI-II) in 177 adults participating in a randomizedcontrolled trial of light treatment and CBT for SAD (Rohan et al., 2015). The factoranalysis supported a four-factor model that included negative cognition/affect, loss ofvitality, dysregulation, and increases in weight/appetite. The complex network model ofSAD conceptualized the network as a system of interacting symptoms. Results of thenetwork model paralleled those of the factor analysis in producing four communities ofinter-correlated symptoms. In addition to the full symptom network, a directed acyclicgraph was constructed to model causal relations between symptoms. Results suggest thatvegetative symptoms (loss of vitality and appetite/weight) lead ultimately to cognitivesymptoms, with intermediate effects of dysregulation symptoms. This partially supportsthe Dual Vulnerability model. Findings from the factor analysis and the network analysisare compared, and their implications for and treatment of SAD is discussed.
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- Title
- Exploring the experience of work-family conflict among low-wage, immigrant workers
- Creator
- Pickett, Meghan
- Date
- 2019
- Description
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Work-family conflict is a well-studied and long-standing construct; however, there is a fundamental gap in our understanding of the construct...
Show moreWork-family conflict is a well-studied and long-standing construct; however, there is a fundamental gap in our understanding of the construct when it is applied to minority populations. The current study considered a unique group who sit at an intersection of challenges – low-wage, immigrant workers – to identify if traditional antecedents were predictive in this new group. Additional conceptualizations of work-family conflict are also considered. Results suggest that typical antecedents do not display the same significance and that alternative measures of work-family conflict should be considered. Conclusions and implications to the study of work-family conflict research are discussed.
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- Title
- Buried in stigma: Experimental investigation of the impact of hoarding depictions in reality television on public perception
- Creator
- Bates, Sage
- Date
- 2019
- Description
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Hoarding disorder (HD) has been newly classified as a distinct mental disorder and is a considerable public health concern. Treatment...
Show moreHoarding disorder (HD) has been newly classified as a distinct mental disorder and is a considerable public health concern. Treatment ambivalence is a problem in this clinical population, and stigma of HD may be one potential factor contributing to an unwillingness to seek treatment. However, stigma of HD has been understudied, despite the media often perpetuating severe and negative representations of individuals with HD. This study is the first to investigate experimentally the impact of a popular reality television show on attitudes and beliefs about individuals with HD. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions in which they watched popular television shows with varying degrees of clutter: Hoarders (high clutter depiction), Clean House (medium clutter depiction), and House Hunters (low clutter depiction). Participant attitudes and beliefs were evaluated before and after the episode viewing. Results of the study showed that participants who viewed A&E’s Hoarders desired more social distance from individuals with HD—an index of stigma—after viewing the television show, compared to the other groups. The interaction effects of two additional indices of stigma based on watching Hoarders approached statistical significance. There were also significant effects found for other indices of stigma. The present experimental study contributes to the very small body of research investigating stigma of HD and possible causes of treatment ambivalence in individuals living with HD.
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- Title
- Witnesses with Disabilities in Court: Differences in Mock Jurors' Perceptions of Credibility Between Disability Groups and Juror Factors Associated with Credibility Perceptions
- Creator
- Stevenson, Rebekah
- Date
- 2019
- Description
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Individuals with disabilities face multiple barriers and vulnerabilities in society, including violent crime victimization at a rate nearly 2...
Show moreIndividuals with disabilities face multiple barriers and vulnerabilities in society, including violent crime victimization at a rate nearly 2-3 higher than that of the general population. Despite these disproportionately higher rates of victimization, crimes committed against individuals with disabilities rarely result in criminal prosecution and conviction. One possible explanation for such a discrepancy is that jurors perceive individuals with disabilities as less credible witnesses than witnesses from the general population.The present study used a modified Credibility Comparisons Questionnaire to identify differences in potential juror perceptions of credibility between specific disability groups, including witnesses with intellectual disability and witnesses with deafness. Additionally, the study aimed to identify juror characteristics that may be associated with credibility perceptions. The survey was administered to 114 potential jurors recruited through SurveyMonkey Audience. The data were analyzed using a one-way within-subjects ANOVA and multiple regression analyses.The results of the study suggest that potential jurors may perceive witnesses with intellectual disability as less credible overall than witnesses with deafness and typical adult witnesses. Additionally, potential jurors may perceive witnesses with deafness as more accurate and less suggestible than witnesses with intellectual disability and typical adult witnesses. These findings highlight the important role rehabilitation psychologists may play in providing education to legal professionals and jurors regarding a witness’ abilities and limitations, as well as providing techniques to help witnesses compensate for specific deficits so that they are not precluded from testifying in court.
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- Title
- Emotion Regulation Flexibility and Eating Pathology
- Creator
- Dougherty, Elizabeth
- Date
- 2019
- Description
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Research suggests that individuals with eating disorders use more maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in response to emotional distress....
Show moreResearch suggests that individuals with eating disorders use more maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in response to emotional distress. However, these studies do not consider that the efficacy of emotion regulation strategies vary across situations. Recent evidence suggests that healthy emotion regulation is characterized by an ability to flexibly choose between emotion regulation strategies across changing contexts. Despite evidence supporting this conceptualization of healthy emotion regulation, no research has investigated it in relation to eating pathology. This study examined whether eating pathology and difficulties in emotion regulation were associated with emotion regulation choice patterns and flexibility. Female college students (N = 50) completed self-report questionnaires and a laboratory-based emotion regulation choice task to assess emotion regulation flexibility. Generalized estimating equations indicated that individuals with higher levels of eating pathology displayed similar emotion regulation choice patterns and flexibility as those with low levels of eating pathology. Individuals who displayed specific types of emotion regulation difficulties (i.e., emotional clarity, emotional awareness and impulse control difficulties) displayed different emotion regulation choice patterns and flexibility compared to individuals without such difficulties. These results suggest that specific difficulties in emotion regulation have a greater influence on emotion regulation choice patterns and flexibility than eating pathology.
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- Title
- The Moderating Role of Goal Orientation In Gamified Instruction : An Extension of The Theory of Gamified Learning
- Creator
- Garcia Marquez, Caribay
- Date
- 2019
- Description
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Despite the increasing interest in gamification, a review of the gamification literature by Seaborn and Fels (2015) found that very few...
Show moreDespite the increasing interest in gamification, a review of the gamification literature by Seaborn and Fels (2015) found that very few articles addressed the connection between theoretical considerations and empirical findings. Landers (2014) developed the theory of gamified learning to provide researchers with a framework to explore the effect of gamification on learning outcomes. The present study empirically tested the mediational process of Lander’s (2014) theory of gamified learning as well as proposed and tested an extension to examine the moderating role of an individual difference. Specifically, this study explored the moderating role of goal orientation on the mediational pathway from Assessment game attributes (i.e., badge, progress bar and combined) to self-efficacy to learning outcomes (i.e., declarative knowledge, skill demonstration and job-search self-efficacy). A gamified resume course was developed for this study on a gamification platform called Gametize. Participants were recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and instructed to respond to a pre-course questionnaire containing demographic information and the goal orientation assessment, they were then directed to the Gametize website to complete the gamified resume course after which they were re-directed to Qualtrics to complete a post-course questionnaire collecting job-search self-efficacy measures. Results show there was insufficient evidence to support the predictions based on the theory of gamified learning, and moreover the hypothesized moderating effect of goal orientation. Nonetheless, an interesting outcome of this study was the significant interaction of the badge condition with LGO and APGO, suggesting badges can help improve self-efficacy in a gamified learning experience. A unique contribution of this study is a blueprint for examining individual differences as an extension of the theory of gamified learning. Practical implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
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- Title
- Factor Analysis of a Stigma Measure for Adults with Autism
- Creator
- Beedle, Robert Brian
- Date
- 2019
- Description
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This study evaluates a measurement tool for public stigma of adults with autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability...
Show moreThis study evaluates a measurement tool for public stigma of adults with autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability affecting individuals’ sensory experiences, behaviors, and social interactions (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Current literature has examined public stigma of ASD through qualitative methods and select attitude and social distance scales, consistently reporting lower levels of negative attitudes when disclosure of ASD diagnosis is provided (Gray, 2002; Hennegan, 2010; Obeid et al, 2015). Other research suggests adults with ASD frequently experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives across settings (MacLeod, Lewis, & Roberson, 2013; Nicolaidis et al, 2015; Thibault, 2014). Previous research has not examined whether known processes of stigma (i.e., Attribution Theory, Danger Appraisal models) are applicable to understanding the stigma reported by this population. In the current study a commonly used measure of the stigma of mental illness (Attribution Questionnaire 27) was administered to determine its psychometric properties when applied to adults with ASD. Examination of a previous measurement model for this questionnaire on a sample of participants (N = 160) indicated lack of model fit. A larger sample (N = 306) was collected to determine the data-driven factor structure of this measure. A series of exploratory factor analyses indicates a three-factor, 24-item solution that displays strong psychometric properties, as well as convergent validity with other measures of attitudes towards disabilities and ASD. Results of this study suggest additional need to research the topic of stigma towards adults with ASD.
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- Title
- THE RELATION BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND TRAIT ANXIETY SYMPTOMS AND MATERNAL UTTERANCES DURING SONOGRAM PROCEDURES
- Creator
- Hamilton, Catharine Elizabeth
- Date
- 2018
- Description
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The present study examines the relation between depression and trait anxiety symptoms and women’s utterances during a routine ultrasound...
Show moreThe present study examines the relation between depression and trait anxiety symptoms and women’s utterances during a routine ultrasound procedure in the second trimester of pregnancy. Participants included a diverse group of 70 women seeking prenatal care at an academic medical center in the Midwestern United States. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) depression subscale and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), trait form were used to assess symptoms of depression and trait anxiety, respectively. Audio and video of participants’ faces during the ultrasound examination were used to assess the content, sentiment, and number of utterances. Results of regression analyses indicated that higher levels of depression symptoms were significantly related to a lower proportion of fetus-related utterances to total utterances. Higher levels of depression symptoms and trait anxiety were significantly related to a lower proportion of positive fetus-related utterances to total fetus-related utterances, after controlling for gestational age. Higher levels of depression symptoms were significantly related to a higher proportion of negative-fetus-related utterances to total fetus-related utterances, after controlling for education. These findings suggest that pregnant women who are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety may exhibit certain types and patterns of utterances during routine prenatal sonogram procedures. Thus, observation of pregnant women’s naturalistic speech may provide helpful supplemental information to the traditional self-report measure in screening for symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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- Title
- Exploring Growth After Vision Loss
- Creator
- BANGLE, MELISSA
- Date
- 2020
- Description
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Despite recent advances in our knowledge of positive growth following the onset of chronic illness or disability, little to no effort has been...
Show moreDespite recent advances in our knowledge of positive growth following the onset of chronic illness or disability, little to no effort has been made to understand how the phenomenon of growth might be experienced by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This not only limits our understanding of how growth is experienced, but also our understanding of the experiences associated with vision loss. This qualitative study explores the perspectives and experiences of growth held by 35 adults with acquired disability due to severe vision impairment and blindness. Additionally, participants discussed their views on how growth can be experienced within the context of adjusting to vision loss. Results indicate that some individuals do experience positive psychological growth after vision loss which can lead to positive changes in one’s life. They also demonstrate that the structure of growth after vision loss shares some similarities with existing growth models like the model for Post Traumatic Growth. Results also suggest that growth may be an outcome of becoming well-adjusted to vision loss; although, the nature of the transition from adjustment to growth remains less clear. Specific factors that may facilitate growth are explored and implications for facilitation of successful adjustment and growth in the context of vision rehabilitation are discussed.
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- Title
- Developing Leader Identity via Structured Reflection
- Creator
- Standish, Melanie P.
- Date
- 2020
- Description
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As leader identity research in the context of leader development continues to expand, it is important to understand the mechanisms through...
Show moreAs leader identity research in the context of leader development continues to expand, it is important to understand the mechanisms through which leader identity becomes more central to one’s self concept. Structured leadership reflection is proposed to positively impact leader development but has not been experimentally manipulated to understand what its impact is on leader identity change. In this study, 90 participants were assigned into one of three reflection conditions and were asked to respond to reflection prompts over the course of four days. Participants were divided into the control condition, the reflecting on others as leaders condition, or the reflecting on oneself as a leader condition. Results showed no significant differences between reflection groups and their impact on leader identity change. Though our results do not provide support for the use of structured reflection to elicit leader identity development, we suggest future research should further study structured self-reflection over a longer period of time.
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- Title
- A Network Analysis to Examine the Construct of Acculturative Stress in Mexican Americans
- Creator
- Mosqueda, Andrea I
- Date
- 2020
- Description
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Acculturative stress (AS) is a negative consequence of acculturation and occurs when acculturation is problematic for the individual. There is...
Show moreAcculturative stress (AS) is a negative consequence of acculturation and occurs when acculturation is problematic for the individual. There is a substantial variation in AS phenomena across different cultural/ethnic groups, across individual variables (e.g., sex, age, education, attitude, cognitive style), and across social variables (e.g., contact, social support, status). There does not seem to be one specific way in which AS affects all groups or individuals. Elevated levels of AS are associated with multiple manifest difficulties, including family dysfunction, geographical separation from family, low-income levels, and non-positive expectations for the future. AS has been associated with outcomes such as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and feelings of isolation and alienation. Using a network analysis approach, this exploratory study examined the structure of the construct of AS as represented in the Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental (SAFE) AS Scale, a measure used to assess the AS construct across four contexts. Results of the network analysis of AS aspects suggest that the AS construct is best understood as a latent variable rather than as a network of interacting AS aspects, and that distress is related to particular aspects of AS. The present study findings suggest a particular model of relations between latent AS, its manifest aspects, and clinical outcomes. Further research can help to better understand the relationship between individual AS aspects (i.e., treatment targets) and treatment goals of impacting AS-related outcomes (e.g., distress), as well as the mechanisms of change.
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- Title
- Attitudes of Adults Treated for Depression Toward Technology-Assisted Therapy
- Creator
- Johnston, Winter D.
- Date
- 2021
- Description
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Depression is associated with functional impairment (Saarni et al., 2007), high economic costs (Cuijpers et al., 2007; Greenberg & Birnbaum,...
Show moreDepression is associated with functional impairment (Saarni et al., 2007), high economic costs (Cuijpers et al., 2007; Greenberg & Birnbaum, 2005), and loss of quality of life (Rapaport et al., 2005), and has been named a major reason for illness-related disability worldwide (Vos et al., 2013). Barriers to treatment include being physically limited to access services (Apolinario-Hagen et al., 2018), fear of stigmatization, desire to handle the problem on ones’ own, lack of confidence in the healthcare system (Königbauer et al., 2017), lack of motivation to change, and negative perception of psychological and/or drug treatments (Richards et al., 2015). As technological options have advanced and become more reliable, they have become tools to improve access to care and reduce barriers. Clinicians’ attitudes have been studied pertaining to incorporating different technology modalities into traditional therapy; however, client attitudes are less explored. The present study aims to (1) explore client attitudes towards hypothetical technology-assisted interventions, (2) assess the relative preferences for various technology-assisted interventions, (3) identify correlates of the participant’s preference of different technology-assisted interventions, including: (a) attitudes towards technology-assisted therapy, (b) sociodemographic variables, (c) help-seeking variables (seeking health information, use of technology outside therapy, awareness of technology-assisted options for therapy), (d) previous therapy experience (therapeutic approach, helpfulness of therapy, number of previous therapists), and (4) assess if working alliance with participants’ most recent therapist moderated the effect of therapist condition (current/recent or new) on preferences. The technology options in this study are videoconferencing, online therapy, mobile phones, and virtual reality/avatars. Individuals were asked to imagine continuing therapy using these technological options. Participants viewed videos demonstrating how each technology is used in a therapeutic setting and provided their attitudes and preferences afterwards. The participants consisted of adults who currently or in the recent past have received therapy to treat any severity of depression. Overall, participants had a positive attitude towards technology-assisted therapy. Participants’ relative preference for various technology-assisted interventions and their first-choice modality of therapy did not differ by whether the participant was to keep their same therapist or start therapy with a new therapist. A variety of determinants were associated with greater preference towards the different modalities. Lastly, the strength of working alliance did not moderate whether preferences differed based on staying with the participant’s current/most recent therapist or starting with a new therapist. Limitations, strengths, and conclusions are also discussed.
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- Title
- UNDERSTANDING MARIJUANA USE AS A TREATMENT OPTION FOR PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY: USE, ATTITUDES, AND QUALITY OF LIFE
- Creator
- Johnson, Kristina
- Date
- 2021
- Description
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Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder worldwide with a heterogeneous range of negative symptoms. Current treatments for epilepsy...
Show moreEpilepsy is the most common neurological disorder worldwide with a heterogeneous range of negative symptoms. Current treatments for epilepsy have side effects that can negatively impact the quality of a person’s life. Alternative treatments are being explored, including marijuana. This study aimed to understand marijuana use in adults with epilepsy across U.S. states. Rates of use, preferred method of use, and reasons to use and not use marijuana were examined. Additionally, levels of comfort discussing marijuana compared to other treatment options and with different types of providers were explored. Lastly, this was one of the first studies to examine the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and marijuana use for people with epilepsy. Participants included 128 individuals with epilepsy from 26 states, with non-legal states having significantly fewer people who reported using marijuana. Smoking was reported as the primary method of use, knowing someone else that uses as their primary reason for using, and health concerns as the primary reason not to use. There was no difference in level of comfort discussing marijuana compared to other treatments, and participants reported feeling most comfortable discussing marijuana with neurologists compared to other providers. Finally, total QOLIE-31 and the social functioning subscale were significantly lower among marijuana users; however, this difference did not remain when anxiety was entered as a covariate. In fact, the relationship between anxiety and QOL was significant, with anxiety accounting for η2 = .12 to η2 = .57 of the variance in QOLIE-31 subscale scores, controlling for marijuana use. Findings from this study further the understanding of marijuana use by people with epilepsy in the United States.
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- Title
- FACTORS INFLUENCING INDIVIDUALS’ PROVISION OF AUTONOMY SUPPORT TO THEIR PARTNERS WITH CHRONIC PAIN: A PATH ANALYSIS MODEL BASED ON SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY
- Creator
- Ivins-Lukse, Melissa N.
- Date
- 2021
- Description
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Receiving autonomy support from a relationship partner has been associated with increased physical activity among individuals with chronic...
Show moreReceiving autonomy support from a relationship partner has been associated with increased physical activity among individuals with chronic pain (ICP), but no studies have explored what factors may influence partners’ use of an autonomy supportive interpersonal style with an ICP. Self-determination theory (SDT) posits that contextual, perceptual, and individual factors influence how much individuals use an autonomy supportive interpersonal style through the mediators of basic psychological need satisfaction and autonomous motivation. The present study used path analysis to test a SDT model of the relationships between a contextual factor (autonomy support from health care provider), a perceptual factor (partner’s perception of ICP motivation for physical activity), an individual factor (partner catastrophizing about ICP’s pain), and the sequential mediators of relationship need satisfaction and autonomous motivation with respect to the dependent variable of partners’ use of an autonomy supportive interpersonal style. 176 partners of ICPs completed a cross-sectional survey including the Health Care Climate Questionnaire, partner-report revised Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale – Significant Other version, Need Satisfaction Scale, Motivation to Help, and Interpersonal Behaviours Questionnaire-Self. The proposed model demonstrated poor fit to the data: χ2 (10) = 31.949, p < 0.001), RMSEA = 0.11 (90% CI = .07 to .16, p = 0.01), CFI = 0.81, and SRMR = .10. While the overall model was not supported, most individual pathways in the model were significant. Alternative analyses were conducted to identify a model with acceptable fit.
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- Title
- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SLUGGISH COGNITIVE TEMPO AND PERFORMANCE ON TASKS OF PROCESSING SPEED: INFLUENCE OF DEPRESSION
- Creator
- Kim, Jeong Hye
- Date
- 2021
- Description
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Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is often associated with reported difficulties in various functional areas, including daily activities,...
Show moreSluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is often associated with reported difficulties in various functional areas, including daily activities, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, academic performance, and sleep. However, there are only a handful of research studies on SCT and neurocognitive functioning in adult populations, and the neuropsychological profile of SCT in adults is unclear.The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of depression on the relationship between a self-reported measure of SCT and objective measures of SCT in adults by focusing on processing speed performance. The result of this research supports the previous notion that SCT is a novel and independent condition distinct from ADHD, and there are significantly positive relationships between symptoms of SCT and Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity. Furthermore, SCT and depression are also positively associated indicating the people who experience more symptoms of SCT report more symptoms of depression. However, results did not support the hypothesis that SCT significantly contribute to differences in performance on various types of neuropsychological tasks (WAIS PSI, Trail Making Test, and CPT-II Reaction Time) assessing processing speed after controlling for symptoms of ADHD (inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity) and symptoms of depression. It is notable that the significant model beta weights for SCT in the final regression model suggests that the relationship between SCT and processing speed is worthy of additional investigation.
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- Title
- Eating Pathology Among Ethnic Subgroups of Latinas: An Examination of Acculturative Stress and Ethnic Identity
- Creator
- Quinones, Isabel Cristina
- Date
- 2021
- Description
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Latin women (Latinas) in the U.S may experience acculturative stress if ethnic group pressures regarding body ideals differ from the U.S. body...
Show moreLatin women (Latinas) in the U.S may experience acculturative stress if ethnic group pressures regarding body ideals differ from the U.S. body ideal. As a population consisting of multiple countries, the distinct cultures and customs among subgroups may impact how women from heterogeneous Latino countries/cultures perceive acceptable body weight and shape, as body ideals are culturally constructed. Furthermore, an individual’s ethnic identity level may impact the way acculturative stress relates to eating pathology. This study investigated 1) acculturative stress as a mediator of the relationbetween ethnic group and eating pathology among specific Latina subgroups, and 2) ethnic identity as a moderator of the association between ethnic group and acculturative stress, acculturative stress and eating pathology, and ethnic group and eating pathology. Mexican (n=30), Puerto Rican (n=31), Cuban (n=29), and non-Hispanic, White (n=30) women living in the U.S. were recruited via Prolific Academic to complete self-report questionnaires regarding ethnic group, ethnic identity level, acculturative stress, and eating pathology. Moderated mediation analyses supported a significant indirect effect of ethnic group on body dissatisfaction, binge eating, purging, restricting, excessive exercise, and negative attitudes towards obesity through acculturative stress, such that group differences were mediated by acculturative stress levels. Further, the association between acculturative stress and body dissatisfaction was dependent on strength of ethnic identity; there was a positive simple slope for women with low and moderate levels of ethnic identification (low b = 2.30, moderate b = 1.36, both p <0.001) but not for those with high ethnic identity (b = 0.52, p = 0.22), suggesting that a higher ethnic identification may be protective against the development of body dissatisfaction in Latinas experiencing acculturative stress. Findings support the importance of separating heterogeneous subgroups of Latinas and explicitly assessing acculturative stress. Assessment and preventive action should include addressing increased acculturative stress and the risk it may pose for Latinas endorsing eating pathology given that the combination of ethnic group, acculturative stress, and ethnic identity may pose an increased risk for Latina individuals vulnerable to eating pathology.
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- Title
- The Relation Between Executive Functions and Academic Performance in Clinically-Referred Adolescents
- Creator
- Coultis, Nora Plumb
- Date
- 2021
- Description
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The literature on executive functioning (EF) and academic performance has focused on early academic performance in young children (Best et al....
Show moreThe literature on executive functioning (EF) and academic performance has focused on early academic performance in young children (Best et al., 2011). Few studies have assessed the relation between EF abilities and academics in adolescents, which is particularly important because the demand on EF skills greatly increases in middle and high school (Best et al., 2011). Environmental factors, including completing multiple assignments, managing increased independent work, and changing classes, exacerbate the EF burden and reduce cognitive resources (Langberg et al., 2013; Samuels et al., 2016). Academic tasks also become more complex during middle and high school, for example, requiring solving algebraic problems, reading comprehension, and expository writing (Bull & Scerif, 2001; Sesma et al., 2009). Thus, complex academic tasks in adolescence likely require a higher demand on EF abilities compared to academic tasks in early childhood. The extant literature also has several limitations, such as focusing on only a couple of EF or academic domains and using parent- or teacher-report ratings rather than performance measures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relation between four domains of EF (i.e., working memory, inhibition, shifting, and planning) and three areas of academic performance (i.e., reading, writing, math) in a sample (N = 87) of clinically-referred middle and high school students. Contrary to expectation, results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that the measures of EF did not contribute significant additional variance to scores in reading and writing performance after controlling for IQ. It is notable that the EF variables did contribute a significant amount of additional variance to math scores after controlling for IQ and diagnosis. However, only working memory was significantly associated with math performance. This finding suggests that strategies designed to enhance working memory may be effective in improving math performance in students who are underperforming.
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- Title
- BURNOUT AMONG SEXUAL MINORITIES: THE ROLE OF CONCEALMENT, RUMINATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES
- Creator
- Burke, Margaret
- Date
- 2021
- Description
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Employee burnout is detrimental to individuals (e.g., physical and mental health concerns), as well as to organizations (e.g., diminished...
Show moreEmployee burnout is detrimental to individuals (e.g., physical and mental health concerns), as well as to organizations (e.g., diminished performance). Although numerous studies have examined burnout across a variety of industries and populations, there are limited studies that have examined burnout specifically among sexual minority employees, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) workers. This study integrated Meyer’s (2003) Minority Stress Model and Hatzenbuehler’s (2009) Psychological Mediation Framework to investigate the role of concealment, rumination, and non-discrimination organizational policies on burnout among 406 sexual minority employees working in a variety of industries (e.g., healthcare, retail, education, etc.). To test the relationships between these variables, a mediation model and a mediation with moderation model was tested using Hayes’ (2018) Process macro. Results indicated that concealing one’s sexual orientation at work was positively related to rumination, and in turn, was positively related to burnout. Contrary to one of the hypotheses, organizational non-discrimination policies that were inclusive of sexual minorities did not moderate the relationship between concealment and burnout. Previous research, implications, and limitations to this study are discussed in detail.
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