College for Health, Community and Policy
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Browsing College for Health, Community and Policy by Department "Psychology"
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Item A Differential–Developmental Model (DDM): Mental Speed, Attention Lapses, and General Intelligence (g)(2017-06-12) Coyle, Thomas R.The aim of this paper is to provide a parsimonious account of developmental and individual differences in intelligence (measured as g). The paper proposes a Differential–Developmental Model (DDM), which focuses on factors common to intelligence and cognitive development (e.g., mental speed and attention lapses). It also proposes a complementary method based on Jensen’s box, a chronometric device. The device systematically varies task complexity, and separates two components of mental speed that differentially predict intelligence and cognitive development (reaction time and movement time). The paper reviews key assumptions of DDM, preliminary findings relevant to DDM, and future research on DDM.Item Acculturative Orientations Among Hispanic/Latinx Caregivers in the ABCD Study: Associations With Caregiver and Youth Mental Health and Youth Brain Function(Elsevier, 2023-02-17) Meca, Alan; Peraza, Julio A.; Riedel, Michael C.; Hale, Willie; Pettit, Jeremy W.; Musser, Erica D.; Salo, Taylor; Flannery, Jessica S.; Bottenhorn, Katherine L.; Dick, Anthony S.; Pintos Lobo, Rosario; Ucros, Laura M.; Greaves, Chelsea A.; Hawes, Samuel W.; Sanchez, Mariana; Gonzalez, Marybel R.; Sutherland, Matthew T.; Gonzalez, Raul; Laird, Angela R.Background: Population-based neuroscience offers opportunities to examine important but understudied sociocultural factors such as acculturation. Acculturation refers to the extent to which an individual retains their cultural heritage and/or adopts the receiving society’s culture and is particularly salient among Hispanic/Latinx immigrants. Specific acculturative orientations have been linked to vulnerability to substance use, depression, and suicide and are known to influence family dynamics between caregivers and their children. Methods: Using data from first- and second-generation Hispanic/Latinx caregivers in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (N = 1057), we examined how caregivers’ acculturative orientation affects their mental health, as well as the mental health and brain function of their children. Neuroimaging analyses focused on regions associated with self- and affiliation-based social processing (ventromedial prefrontal cortex, insula, and temporoparietal junction). Results: We identified 2 profiles of caregiver acculturation: bicultural (retains heritage culture while adopting U.S. culture) and detached (discards heritage culture and rejects U.S. culture). Bicultural caregivers exhibited fewer internalizing and externalizing problems than detached caregivers; furthermore, youth exhibited similar internalizing effects across caregiver profiles. In addition, youth with bicultural caregivers displayed increased resting-state brain activity (i.e., fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity) in the left insula, which has been linked to psychopathology; however, differences in long-range functional connectivity were not significant. Conclusions: Caregiver acculturation is an important familial factor that has been linked to significant differences in youth mental health and insula activity. Future work should examine sociocultural and neurodevelopmental changes across adolescence to assess health outcomes and determine whether localized, corticolimbic brain effects are ultimately translated into long-range connectivity differences.Item Development and psychometric validation of the Dispositional Recovery and Dysfunction Inventory: a tool to assess for positive and negative cognitions following trauma exposure(Cambridge University Press, 2021-05-31) Moore, Brian A.; Hale, Willie J.; Ludkins, Jason L.; Peterson, Alan L.Background: Recovery from trauma can be naturally occurring or facilitated through psychotherapy. Few brief measures exist to provide clinicians with dispositional, empirical assessments of patient’s sentiments during psychotherapy. Aims: This manuscript presents the Dispositional Recovery and Dysfunction Inventory (DRDI), a measure created to assist clinicians in evaluating patient’s treatment progress during psychotherapy, as well as evaluate its factor structure, reliability estimates, measurement invariance, and correlates. Method: The DRDI was created based on feedback from experts with experience treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was structurally validated in two distinct populations. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted in sample 1 consisting of (n=401) university students. Confirmatory factor analysis, measure validity and structure validation were then conducted in sample 2 (n=249) composed of 49% individuals with clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the DRDI was best represented by a two-factor correlated traits model representing sentiments related to dispositional recovery and dysfunctional cognitions. The recovery subscale exhibited relationships with convergent measures including authenticity and psychological hardiness (r values of .30 to .60). The dysfunctional beliefs subscale exhibited relationships with convergent measures: PTSD, depression, suicidality and stress (r values of .55 to 80). Measurement invariance across gender and PTSD status was observed. Conclusion: Initial findings indicate that the DRDI has the potential to be a useful tool to assess individuals’ beliefs about their propensity to recover from and thrive through adversity.Item Effect of Feedback on Hexaco & Learning Styles on Academic Behaviors(Office of the Vice President for Research, 2019) Copisarow, Emma; Previc, FredPersonality and learning style tests have been known to predict academic success. However, self awareness (metacognition) of these results could predict achievement still further. The HEXACO personality test measures different trait spectrums, which can give recommendations for various professions, while a learning styles assessment analyzes how a person learns in the most efficient manner. If students receive feedback concerning their results, will they have more applicable study skills, declared major and career choice, and higher attendance than those who do not receive feedback? To calculate this, a binary logistic regression was used to predict differences between students who exhibit certain academic behaviors and choices. Participants were recruited through the UTSA subject pool (SONA) and were given online versions of HEXACO test, a learning styles explanation, and a brief demographic questionnaire; subsequently a self report to measure a person’s class attendance, study skills, academic confidence, declared major, and career choice was administered. In addition to the feedback variable being used, gender, SAT/ACT scores, college classification, and age were also measured as covariates in the regression equation. The results determined, if administering and providing feedback concerning the HEXACO and the learning styles explanation improved study skills and attendance, increased confidence, and led to solidified choices of both major and career.Item Evaluating the Impact of the Synar Program: Tobacco Access and Use among Youth in Mississippi, the South, and the U.S.(2019-12-22) Avery, Jerri S.; Bartkowski, John P.; Xu, Xiaohe; Kohler, Janelle; Mason, Melissa(1) Background: This study examines the impact of Synar policy adoption on youth commercial access to tobacco products in Mississippi, the South, and the remaining U.S. The principal focus on youth commercial access is complemented by analyses of Synar's impact on minors' non-commercial access to tobacco and tobacco use patterns. Mississippi has been especially aggressive in implementing Synar, as evidenced by its unusually low retailer violation rates (RVRs). Synar, a mandatory, enforceable regulation meant to limit youth's retail access to tobacco, was implemented nationwide in 1997. This study is governed by a combination of conceptual insights from a diffusion of health innovation perspective and structuration theory. (2) Methods: Repeated cross-sectional data from 1995 to 2011 from the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey are analyzed using a pre/post-implementation, quasi-experimental analytic strategy. Tobacco access and use in the pre-Synar era (1995–1997) are compared with two post-Synar periods (1999–2005 and 2007–2011), thereby highlighting diffusion effects related to this policy innovation within Mississippi, the South, and the remaining U.S. (3) Results: Analyses of temporal trends reveal that Mississippi and other study regions effectively restricted commercial access to tobacco. Positive outcomes associated with Synar adoption were observed several years after initial implementation, thus supporting a diffusion of innovation perspective. However, results also reveal that Mississippi youth were more inclined than their counterparts elsewhere to gain access to tobacco through non-commercial means after Synar implementation, and that declines in tobacco use among Mississippi youth were less robust than those observed elsewhere. Such variegated effects are in line with expectations linked to structuration theory. (4) Conclusions: Synar policy implementation has been generally effective at deterring youth access to tobacco and, in many cases, has yielded declines in tobacco use. However, there is no evidence that especially aggressive retailer compliance checks in Mississippi have yielded distinctive benefits for youth in this state.Item Interactive Associations between Physical Activity and Sleep Duration in Relation to Adolescent Academic Achievement(2022-11-24) Brown, Denver M. Y.; Porter, Carah; Hamilton, Faith; Almanza, Fernanda; Narvid, Christina; Pish, Megan; Arizabalo, DiegoPurpose: The present study aimed to examine independent and interactive associations between physical activity and sleep duration with adolescent academic achievement. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2019 cycle of the US-based Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. A total of 13,677 American adolescents in grades 9 through 12 (M(AGE) = 16.06 ± 1.24 years; 50.9% female) self-reported their sleep and physical activity behavior as well as their grades. Linear regression models fit with cubic splines were computed to capture potential non-linear associations. Results: Findings for the independent effect models revealed significant curvilinear relationships between physical activity and sleep with academic achievement wherein optimal grades were associated with 7–9 h/night of sleep and 5–7 days/week of physical activity. A significant physical activity by sleep interaction was also observed for academic achievement, which demonstrated that the association between sleep duration and academic achievement is not uniform across levels of physical activity engagement, and tradeoffs may exist. Conclusions: Overall, the results help to identify different combinations of physical activity and sleep behavior associated with optimal academic achievement and suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach to physical activity and sleep recommendations may not be adequate for promoting academic achievement during adolescence.Item Navigating Identity Uncertainty: Identity Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic(SAGE Publications, 2023-09-30) Meca, Alan; Allison, Kelsie K.; Passini, Julia; Veniegas, Taryn; Cruz, Bethany; Castillo, Linda G.; Schwartz, Seth J.; Zamboanga, Byron L.; Michikyan, Minas; Bessaha, Melissa; Regan, Pamela C.; Subrahmanyam, Kaveri; Bartholomew, John; Piña-Watson, Brandy; Cano, Miguel Ángel; Martinez, Charles R. Jr.The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have only recently begun to be explored. Among college students, who were faced with sudden and unprecedented changes and challenges, it is likely that COVID-19 detrimentally impacted the establishment of a sense of self, a key developmental task of the college years. However, no research has examined the relationships among COVID-19 related worries, identity distress, and psychological and academic adjustment. To address these gaps in the current study, we examined the prevalence of identity distress, the relationship between COVID-19 related worries and identity distress, and the direct and indirect associations between COVID-19 related worries and psychological and academic adjustment among a sample of 1627 college students (Mage = 20.51, SD = 2.21). Findings indicated that over a third of the sample reported high levels of identity distress and that COVID-19 related worries were negatively associated, both directly and indirectly through identity distress, with psychological and academic adjustment.Item Non-g Factors Predict Educational and Occupational Criteria: More than g(2018-09-07) Coyle, Thomas R.In a prior issue of the Journal of Intelligence, I argued that the most important scientific issue in intelligence research was to identify specific abilities with validity beyond g (i.e., variance common to mental tests) (Coyle, T.R. Predictive validity of non-g residuals of tests: More than g. Journal of Intelligence 2014, 2, 21–25.). In this Special Issue, I review my research on specific abilities related to non-g factors. The non-g factors include specific math and verbal abilities based on standardized tests (SAT, ACT, PSAT, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). I focus on two non-g factors: (a) non-g residuals, obtained after removing g from tests, and (b) ability tilt, defined as within-subject differences between math and verbal scores, yielding math tilt (math > verbal) and verbal tilt (verbal > math). In general, math residuals and tilt positively predict STEM criteria (college majors, jobs, GPAs) and negatively predict humanities criteria, whereas verbal residuals and tilt show the opposite pattern. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research, with a focus on theories of non-g factors (e.g., investment theories, Spearman's Law of Diminishing Returns, Cognitive Differentiation-Integration Effort Model) and a magnification model of non-g factors.Item Perceived Family Support Buffers the Impact of PTSD-Depression Symptoms on Suicidal Ideation in College Students(SAGE Publications, 2023-05-22) Blessing, Alexis; Russell, Patricia; DeBeer, Bryann B.; Morissette, Sandra B.Students reporting symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are at increased risk for suicidal ideation, putting them at greater risk for suicidal behavior and attempts. Perceived social support is a robust protective factor against the impact of PTSD and depression on suicidal ideation in college students, however different forms of social support (family, friends, significant others) may have greater influence on this association. In the current study, the influence of the different types of perceived social support on the relationship between PTSD-depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in college students were examined. College students (N = 928; 71% female) were recruited in part of a cross-sectional survey study examining the role of mental health on education functioning. A hierarchical regression indicated that PTSD-depression symptoms (b = .27, p < .001) and perceived family support (b = −.04, p < .01) were significantly associated with current suicidal ideation, while perceived support from friends (b = −.02, p = .417) and significant others (b = −.01, p = .301) were not. Perceived family support interacted with PTSD-depression symptoms (b = −.03, p < .05) to weaken the positive influence of symptoms on current suicidal ideation. Perceived family support appears to be the significant component of social support that moderates the relationship between PTSD-depression symptoms and suicidal ideation. Future research should focus on strengthening family support as a potential mechanism to mitigate suicide risk among college students who may be away from their families for the first time.Item Predictive Validity of Non-g Residuals of Tests: More Than g(2014-03-11) Coyle, Thomas R.This comment argues that an important issue in intelligence research is to identify constructs with validity beyond g, and that non-g residuals of tests represent a promising target.Item Psychosocial Predictors of Current Counseling/Therapy Use in College Students(Office of the Vice President for Research, 2019) Rouska, Ashton; Knight, Cory; Soto, Andrew; McNaughton-Cassill, MaryFindings from the Center of Collegiate Mental Health (2017) suggest that anxiety and depression are the most prevalent psychosocial stressors affecting college students today. Other frequently reported problems include general stress (Beiter et al., 2015), difficulty sleeping (Gress‐Smith, Roubinov, Andreotti, Compas, & Luecken, 2015), homesickness (Sun & Hagedorn, 2016), and in some cases, suicidal behavior (Milazzo-Sayre, McKeon, & Hughes, 2016). Protective factors such as a supportive university environment might increase counseling attendance (Prince, 2015), but additional research is needed. Finally, demographic factors might contribute to current counseling/therapy use in a meaningful way (Wang & Castañeda‐Sound, 2008). The aim of the current study is to examine which psychosocial stressors increase the likelihood of college students attending counseling/therapy. We hypothesized that students with depression or anxiety would be the most likely to currently use counseling/therapy services, followed by insomnia, homesickness, stress, and suicidal behavior. Finally, students who felt supported by their university environment, would be more likely to use counseling/therapy.Item Racial Differences in Breastfeeding on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Making Sense of a Promotion-Prevalence Paradox with Cross-Sectional Data(2022-12-03) Bartkowski, John P.; Kohler, Janelle; Xu, Xiaohe; Collins, Tennille; Roach, Jacinda B.; Newkirk, Caroline; Klee, KatherineBreastfeeding is less prevalent among African American women than their white peers. Moreover, breastfeeding rates in the South lag behind those in other regions of the U.S. Consequently, various efforts have been undertaken to promote breastfeeding among groups for which this practice is less common. This study examines African American and white racial disparities concerning (1) exposure to breastfeeding promotional information and (2) reported prevalence of breastfeeding in primary social networks. The survey combines a randomly selected sample of adults representative of the population and a non-random oversample of African Americans in a predominantly rural tri-county area on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. An initial wave of 2019 Mississippi REACH Social Climate Survey data collected under the auspices of the CDC-funded REACH program (Mississippi's Healthy Families, Mothers, and Babies Initiative; 2018–2023) is used to examine racial disparities in these two key outcomes for Mississippians in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. The results show that African American respondents are more likely to be exposed to breastfeeding promotional messages than their white counterparts. However, the reported prevalence of breastfeeding in African American respondents' primary social networks is significantly lower than that indicated by their white peers. These paradoxical results underscore the limitations of promotional efforts alone to foster breastfeeding. While breastfeeding promotion is important, the reduction of racial disparities in this practice likely requires a multi-pronged effort that involves structural breastfeeding supports (e.g., lactation spaces, peer networking groups, and pro-breastfeeding employment policies and workplaces). This study provides a promising model of innovative methodological approaches to the study of breastfeeding while underscoring the complex nature of racial disparities in lactation prevalence.Item The Legacy of Blood Atonement? Gauging Mormon Support for the Death Penalty(2023-02-03) Bartkowski, John P.; Kohler, Janelle; Hoffmann, John P.American support for the death penalty has declined over time, but conservative religious groups have exhibited more favorable attitudes toward this practice than their mainline religious and secular peers. Scholars have generally overlooked Latter-day Saint (LDS, Mormon) support for capital punishment. However, this faith tradition is a case worthy of careful examination. Historically, LDS leadership was supportive of the death penalty, which was congruent with their teachings on blood atonement, i.e., theological rationales for capital punishment as a just response to murder. However, Mormon leaders have more recently adopted a neutral position toward the death penalty. To what degree might changing social attitudes and flagging LDS leader endorsements of the death penalty have contributed to diminished grassroots Mormon support for capital punishment? This study uses data from the General Social Survey to test three hypotheses: (1) those with an LDS affiliation will exhibit greater support for the death penalty when compared with their non-Mormon peers, including other religious conservatives; (2) LDS support for the death penalty will diminish over time; and (3) LDS support for capital punishment will be bolstered by frequent Mormon worship service attendance. Using cross-tabulations, logistic regression, and time series analyses, the results indicate support for all three hypotheses. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.