Department: College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology ![[clear]](close-x.png "Remove this limiter")
163 matches in the database.
These are records: 1 - 30.
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1.
Aakre, Jennifer Marie.
Attributional style in schizophrenia: Associations with suspiciousness and depressed mood.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2010, Kent State University
► A relationship between a pronounced “self-serving” attributional style and persecutory delusions has…
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▼ A relationship between a pronounced “self-serving” attributional style and persecutory delusions has been demonstrated in research on social cognition and psychosis. One explanation for this relationship is that external attributions are used to assign blame outside of the self for negative events, thereby protecting self-esteem. The tendency of these external attributions to also be personal, i.e., to blame specific others rather than chance, may be due to an impaired Theory of Mind (ToM). Ultimately, this tendency to misattribute the mental states of others and thus to attribute negative events to external-personal causes is hypothesized to lead to persecutory delusions. The current study has tested the relationships among suspiciousness, externalizing bias, and personalizing bias in a sample of individuals with schizophrenia, expecting to find positive associations between suspiciousness and the attribution variables and to find differences between schizophrenia patients and nonpsychiatric controls. This study also tested the hypothesis that ToM, personalizing bias, and suspiciousness are related, and that the relationship between ToM and suspiciousness is mediated by personalizing bias. This study sought to explore the relationship between depression and attributional style in individuals with schizophrenia, as there is little known about the role of attributional style in depression in this patient group. Finally, this study has investigated the convergent validity and relative utility of three different methods of attributional style measurement. Results indicate that a personalizing bias is related to suspiciousness. ToM was related to personalizing bias in the patient group, but the proposed meditational model was not supported by the data. Externalizing bias and depression were not related, regardless of the method used to measure attributional style. The measure of attributional style based on patient’s own categorizations of their attributions proved to be related to suspiciousness, while the other methods of measuring attributional style were not. Variables based on the three measures of attributional style were only modestly related to one another. This study replicates previous findings on attributional style in schizophrenia, while providing new information on the measurement of attributional style in this patient group.
Advisors/Committee Members: Docherty, Nancy.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: schizophrenia; attributional style; social cognition; Theory of Mind; delusions; suspiciousness
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2.
Abraham, Michelle M.
Early Adolescent Friendship and Self-Esteem.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2008, Kent State University
► The study goal was testing several competing hypotheses regarding how positive and…
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▼ The study goal was testing several competing hypotheses regarding how positive and negative friendship qualities and stability relate to early adolescent self-esteem. Hypothesis 1, Consensual Validation Model, proposed participating in higher positive quality friendships enhances self-esteem. Hypothesis 2, Differential Association Model, proposed higher positive quality friendships increases impact of negative quality, resulting in lower self-esteem. Hypothesis 3, Engagement Model, proposed friendships lower in positive and negative quality would lower self-esteem. Hypothesis 4, Embeddedness Model, proposed stable friendships bolster self-esteem through social standing. Hypothesis 5, Moderation Model, proposed stability moderates the relationship between friendship quality and self-esteem, such that the first hypotheses would be supported only if friendship was stable.143 seventh and eighth graders completed questionnaires, in fall and in spring. At Time 1, students reported friendships, friendship quality, and self-esteem. At Time 2, students reported friendship stability, self-esteem, and socially desirable responding. Hypotheses were tested using positive and negative quality and stability of the best friendship predicting global self-esteem. When best friendship quality and stability were used to predict global self-esteem, none of the hypotheses were supported. Post hoc analyses tested the hypotheses using best friendship to predict perceived social acceptance rather than global self-esteem. These subsidiary analyses found best friendship positive quality predicted reporting higher perceived social acceptance. In addition, best friendship negative quality demonstrated a marginal association with lower perceived social acceptance. Best friendship positive quality interacted with best friendship stability to predict higher perceived social acceptance, with stable friendships higher in positive quality reporting highest self-esteem. Additional post hoc analyses were performed with the best friend network predicting perceived social acceptance. Friendship network positive quality predicted higher perceived social acceptance, and network negative quality predicted lower perceived social acceptance. Both findings suggest quality and stability are important to consider with adolescent friendship and self-esteem. Reports support the Consensual Validation Model which suggests participating in higher positive quality friendships would enhance self-esteem. There was no support of interaction of positive and negative quality, which suggests independent on self-esteem. A final conclusion was it is important to consider the friendship network when examining early adolescent friendship and self-esteem.
Advisors/Committee Members: Kerns, Kathryn.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: adolescence; friendship; friendship quality; negative friendship quality; positive friendship quality; friendship stability; self-esteem; perceived social acceptance
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3.
Ajayi, William E.
Real Men Don’t Cry: Examining Differences Between Externalizing Depressed Men in the Symptomatic Presentation of Depression in Psychiatric Inpatients.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2011, Kent State University
► Previous research suggests that a large proportion of depressed men who are…
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▼ Previous research suggests that a large proportion of depressed men who are seeking treatment are misdiagnosed during initial assessments because they present with externalizing dysfunction such as substance abuse. The current study examined whether the MMPI-2-RF substantive scales adequately differentiate between depressed substance abusers (DSA), substance abusers who do not have diagnoses of depressed (SA), and depressed individuals who do not have substance abuse diagnoses (D). Diagnostic group membership was determined based on intake diagnoses assigned by psychiatrists and psychiatry residents. The archival sample consisted of 1,315 male and 495 female psychiatric inpatients. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) and subsequent follow-up ANOVAs as well as Logistic Regression analyses were conducted to address whether individuals in the three identified diagnostic groups scored differently on conceptually relevant MMPI-2-RF scales and whether the identified scales classified individuals into appropriate diagnostic groups. Parallel analyses were conducted for men and women to determine whether the results would generalize across gender. Results indicated that the MMPI-2-RF scales that assess internalizing and externalizing dysfunction were related to the diagnostic groups as hypothesized. Specifically, the depressed substance abuser group (DSA) scored significantly higher than the substance abuse group (SA) on all of the scales that assess internalizing dysfunction and similar to the SA group on all of the scales that assess externalizing dysfunction. These data suggest that some of the includedMMPI-2-RF scales are useful in classifying individuals into the diagnostic groups examined in this study. The odds of being classified into a particular diagnostic group were significantly related to differences in scores on the MMPI-2-RF scales. Although some different findings were observed for men and women, gender did not significantly interact with MMPI-2-RF scales in classifying individuals into diagnostic groups.
Advisors/Committee Members: Graham, John.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: Externalizing depressed men; Psychiatric inpatients; MMPI-2-RF
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4.
Anderson, Nicholas L.
A test of two models of non-suicidal self-injury.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate, direct destruction or alteration of body…
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▼ Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate, direct destruction or alteration of body tissue without conscious suicidal intent (Pattison & Kahan, 1983; Favazza, 1998). Recent reviews on NSSI (Suyemoto, 1998; Klonsky, 2007) have suggested multiple functions of NSSI, with affect-regulation models having the most support. However, no research has directly tested whether NSSI regulates affect in more than one way. It is possible that there are multiple pathways through which affect may be regulated. Two recent models of NSSI incorporate affect regulation as a function of NSSI. Nock and Prinstein (2004) recently proposed a two-dimensional functional model of NSSI. These authors argued that there are four primary functions of NSSI that range along two dimensions, reinforcement and contingencies. The second recently proposed theoretical model, the Experiential Avoidance Model (EAM; Chapman, Gratz, & Brown, 2006), argues that NSSI is maintained by negative reinforcement in the form of escape from, or avoidance of, unwanted emotional experiences. The first goal of the present study was to simultaneously examine components of two affect-regulation models of NSSI. The second goal of the present study was to investigate the unique and joint contribution of worry and rumination in a model of NSSI. Participants were 95 undergraduate students from the Kent State University General Psychology Subject Pool who reported engaging in at least one NSSI act during their lives. Following informed consent, participants completed measures of worry, rumination, functions of NSSI, avoidance, and NSSI behaviors. Path analysis and structural equation modeling were used to investigate affect-regulation functions of NSSI and avoidance as mediators of the relationship between brooding, worry, and NSSI. Results suggested the initial hypothesized model and a post-hoc model provided the best fit to the data, although there was no support for mediation. Results generally lend stronger support to the functional model than the experiential avoidance model. Further, results suggest that brooding, but not worry, may better serve as a variable of heightened affect in affect regulation models of NSSI.
Advisors/Committee Members: Crowther, Janis.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: worry, rumination, experiential avoidance, non-suicidal self-injury, functional model
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5.
Ariel, Robert.
The Contribution of Past Test Performance, New Learning, and Forgetting to Judgment-of-Learning Resolution.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2010, Kent State University
► When people judge their learning of items across study-test trials, their accuracy…
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▼ When people judge their learning of items across study-test trials, their accuracy in discriminating between learned and unlearned items improves on the second trial. We examined the source of this improvement by estimating the contribution of three factors—memory for past test performance (MPT), new learning, and forgetting—to accuracy on trial 2. In Experiment 1, during two trials, participants studied paired associates, made a judgment of learning (JOL) for each one, and were tested. During the second study trial, we manipulated two variables: When the JOL was made (either immediately before or after studying an item) and whether participants were told the outcome of the previous recall attempt. In Experiment 2, the same procedure was used with a one week retention interval between study and test on trial 2. In both experiments, JOL resolution was higher on trial 2 then on trial 1. Fine-grained analyses of JOL magnitude and decomposition of resolution revealed several important findings. First, MPT contributed most to boosts in JOL magnitude and improvements in resolution across trials. Second, JOLs and subsequent resolution were sensitive to new learning and forgetting, but only when participants’ judgments were made after and not before study. Thus, JOLs appear to integrate information from multiple factors, and these factors jointly contribute to JOL resolution.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dunlosky, John.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: Metacognition, Judgments of Learning, Monitoring, memory for past tests
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6.
Ariel, Robert.
Learning what to learn: The effects of task experience on strategy shifts in the allocation of study time.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2012, Kent State University
► Learners typically allocate more resources to learning items that are higher in…
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▼ Learners typically allocate more resources to learning items that are higher in value than they do to items lower in value. For instance, when items vary in point value for learning, participants allocate more study time to the higher point items than they do to the lower point items (Ariel, Dunlosky, & Bailey, 2009). The current experiments extend this research to context where the value of items are not explicitly labeled by evaluating whether learners’ study allocation decisions are sensitive to statistical regularities in the testing environment that signal which items are valuable to learn. In 3 experiments, participants studied English-English and Swahili-English paired associates across 4 study-test trials. However, on each trial, they were tested on only one type of item (e.g. only Swahili-English pairs), and hence, only one type of item was valuable for performance. Some participants were cued to which information was valuable and other participants had to learn from task experience. Experiment 2 examined the effect of performance incentives on study allocation strategies and Experiment 3 examined the role of working memory span, fluid intelligence, and need for cognition on these strategies. Findings indicated that some people can learn from task experience which items are important to study. However, many learners fail to do so (in particular, learners with low working memory spans) and as a consequence, they dysregulate their study by allocating time to items that are not valuable to performance.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dunlosky, John.
Subjects: Cognitive Psychology
Keywords: self-regulated study, agenda-based regulation, item value, item selection
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7.
Armelie, Aaron P.
The Impact of Verbal Victimization on Psychopathology in LGB Youths who have Experienced Trauma: The Roles of Self-Criticism and Internalized Homophobia.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are more likely than their heterosexual…
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▼ Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience physical, sexual, and verbal victimization. While several studies have provided information regarding prevalence rates and consequences of victimization among LGB youth, research has yet to examine mechanisms through which victimization may lead to psychopathology in this population. Prior research in the general population has indicated that verbal victimization, the most frequent form of victimization experienced by LGB youth, increases risk for psychopathology by leading to the development of a maladaptive pattern of cognitions. The present study investigated the role of maladaptive cognitions regarding the self, specifically self-criticism and internalized homophobia, in the relationship between verbal victimization, and depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in LGB youth. Study results indicate that verbal victimization from relatives and non-relatives was significantly related to depressive and PTSD symptoms. Relative verbal victimization, but not non-relative verbal victimization was related to self-criticism. Neither relative verbal victimization nor non-relative verbal victimization were significantly related to internalized homophobia. Self-criticism and internalized homophobia were both significantly related to depressive symptoms, but only self-criticism was significantly related to PTSD symptoms. Self-criticism was found to partially mediate the relationship between relative verbal victimization and depressive symptoms and to mediate the relationship between relative verbal victimization and PTSD symptoms. Implications of findings, study limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Delahanty, Douglas.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: LGB youth; trauma; PTSD; depression; self-criticism; internalized homophobia
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8.
Armey, Michael F.
The influence of traumatic life events, affect, cognitions, emotion regulation processes, and coping on the occurrence of self-injurious behavior: An episodic experiential model.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► The present study introduces an episodic-experiential model of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in…
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▼ The present study introduces an episodic-experiential model of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in which episodes of self-injury occur in response to a combination of dispositional and situational factors, such as aversive affect, negative cognitions about the self, and emotion regulation deficits. Following informed consent and completion of an initial assessment battery, 36 participants who reported SIB completed a one-week experience sampling protocol in which participants provided several assessments of affect, cognition, and behavior each day. Participants also completed an experience sampling assessment following episodes of SIB. While results indicated that nonacceptance of emotional experiences, a willingness to engage in goal-directed behavior while experiencing aversive affect, low positive affect, and negative affect failed to significantly predict future episodes of SIB, the amount of variance explained by the model suggests that future development of the model is merited. Participants experienced significant increases in aversive affect prior to SIB episodes, which gradually diminished following SIB. Taken together, the results of this study represent an in vivo examination of the factors that influence the occurrence of SIB. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Crowther, Janis H.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: non-suicidal self-injury; self-mutilation; deliberate self-harm; emotion regulation
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9.
Babyar, Heather Michelle.
Informant Discrepancy in Cystic Fibrosis: Comparison Between Child, Parent, and Physician Report.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2010, Kent State University
► The present study investigated whether informants (children with cystic fibrosis, parents, and…
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▼ The present study investigated whether informants (children with cystic fibrosis, parents, and physicians) differ in their report of specific medical treatment adherence behaviors. Furthermore, comparisons of reported adherence among a variety of specific treatment behaviors were examined to determine specific behaviors that may be differentially adhered to. The current study suggests reported adherence to treatment varies as a function of informant, and with respect to the specific component of the treatment regimen. Specifically, ratings of greater adherence among all informants were found for pancreatic enzymes, oral antibiotics, and airway clearance techniques. The current study found ratings of poor adherence among all informants for nutritional supplements. Contrary to study hypotheses, children and parents had discrepant reporting of specific adherence behaviors. Specifically, children reported greater levels of adherence than their parents for airway clearance and aerosol medication adherence. However, consistent with study hypotheses, physicians significantly differed from parents and children in their report of adherence behaviors by reporting lower levels of adherence than parents and children for airway clearance and aerosol antibiotic adherence. Implications for medical management and future research are discussed. In sum, this work highlights the importance of assessing different informants’ reports of adherence, in order to adopt interventions targeting those treatments, and aid in the improvement of treatment success.
Advisors/Committee Members: Wildman, Beth.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: Cystic Fibrosis; adherence, multiple informants
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10.
Baker, Julie Marie.
The Effects of Cue Diagnosticity on Accuracy of Judgments of Text Learning: Evidence Regarding the Cue Utilization Hypothesis and Momentary Accessibility.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2008, Kent State University
► This study investigated the relationship between cue diagnosticity and judgment accuracy for…
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▼ This study investigated the relationship between cue diagnosticity and judgment accuracy for judgments of text learning in three experiments. Experiment 1 examined the influence of processing matches between a "practice" test (which also served as a measure of the cue) and a criterion test. Results reported that the type of criterion test influenced cue diagnosticity but not judgment accuracy. Experiment 2 extended these results by investigating the influence of the lag between the study session and the judgment session on cue diagnosticity and judgment accuracy. Results from Experiment 2 reported statistically significant differences for both cue diagnosticity and judgment accuracy. In particular, higher levels of cue diagnosticity were associated with higher levels of judgment accuracy. Experiment 3 investigated the influence of the lag between the trial on which cues were measured and the time at which the final criterion test occurred. Experiment 3 replicated results reported in Experiment 2.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dunlosky, John.
Subjects: Psychotherapy
Keywords: metacognition; metacomprehension; metamemory for text; cue diagnosticity; relative judgment accuracy
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11.
Banou, Evangelia.
How personal resources and psychological distress interact with and AIDS/HIV program to reduce HIV risk behaviors among inner-city women.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2007, Kent State University
► The current study investigated the protective role of personal resources (self-efficacy and…
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▼ The current study investigated the protective role of personal resources (self-efficacy and self-esteem) and the potentially exacerbated impact of psychological distress (depressive mood and PTSD symptoms) on a theoretically based, AIDS preventive intervention with inner-city women. Participants were 357 inner-city women who were randomly assigned to either a 6-session general health promotion intervention group or a 2-session standard control group. Both personal resources and psychological distress were found to be important predictors of sexual risk behaviors. Women in both groups seemed to have benefited. Overall, women in the intervention group seemed to benefit independent of their personal resources or psychological distress. Only the number of reexperiencing symptoms interacted with the intervention and predicted change in substance use prior to sex at 12 months. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hobfoll, Stevan.
Keywords: psychological, distress, resources, inner-city, women, AIDS, HIV, program
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12.
Barnes, Gary W.
Retrograde amnesia and reconsolidation of a context-no US association.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2011, Kent State University
► Maintenance and organization of memories is of paramount importance to understanding the…
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▼ Maintenance and organization of memories is of paramount importance to understanding the brain. Evidence suggests that memories persist after amnesic trauma, but are no longer accessible to the animal due to failure of retrieval mechanisms. In Experiment 1 latent inhibition of a context-no US association was demonstrated using a PA paradigm. The experiment failed to demonstrate amnesia for this association with hypothermic trauma. Experiment 1 did reveal an enhancement of the LI effect when reactivation of the context-no US association was followed by hypothermic body-cooling treatment. Experiment 2 failed to demonstrate any effect of varying the “age” of the “context-no US” association in conjunction with body-cooling treatment. Experiment 2 also failed to demonstrate any effect of varying the duration that a context-no US and a context-US association were processed simultaneously, in conjunction with hypothermia treatment, on latent inhibition.
Advisors/Committee Members: Riccio, David.
Subjects: Experimental Psychology; Neurosciences; Physiological Psychology; Psychobiology; Psychology
Keywords: memory; learning; amnesia; reconsolidation, conditioning; latent inhibition
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13.
Bartholomew, Christie Lee.
Retention of Specificity of Memory for Context using Reinstatement.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► Any learning episode includes a variety of features that range from background…
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▼ Any learning episode includes a variety of features that range from background context to specific cues that can predict an event. These stimulus attributes are important and play a role in maintaining retention of memory. This study used the Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm and incorporates reinstatements of the original training context into the design. Experiment 1 had multiple and one reinstatement groups that were tested in the original or shifted context on day 5 of the experiment. Experiment 2 had multiple and one reinstatement groups that were tested in the original or shifted context on day 14 of the experiment. Experiment 3 had multiple and one reinstatement groups that were tested in the original or shifted context on day 6 or day 14 of the experiment. There were significant differences between groups in this study meaning that the multiple reinstatements create a trend toward improvement of memory retention. The implications of this research can apply to a vast majority of human learning and memory research.
Advisors/Committee Members: Riccio, David.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: Memory for stimulus attributes; Reinstatements; Context Shift Effect
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14.
Benitez, Andreana.
Executive Functioning Abilities are Differentially Associated with Anhedonic Depression and Anxious Arousal.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2010, Kent State University
► Studies have identified executive functioning deficits in individuals with unipolar depression and…
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▼ Studies have identified executive functioning deficits in individuals with unipolar depression and anxiety disorders, although it is unclear whether these deficits are unique to either disorder. Their high degree of comorbidity and the dearth of research examining shared and unique features of these disorders have been limitations in previous research on cognitive functioning in depression and anxiety. The primary aim of this dissertation was therefore to examine the associations between the underlying dimensions of depression and anxiety (i.e. Anhedonic Depression [AD] and Anxious Arousal [AA], defined in the Tripartite Model [Clark & Watson, 1995]) and measures of executive functioning, expecting that these dimensions would be differentiable on this cognitive domain. A secondary aim was to examine the clinical utility of the AD and AA scales by identifying the classification accuracy of these scales to executive dysfunction. Undergraduate participants were recruited when their scores on AD and/or AA from the Mood And Anxiety Questionnaire (MASQ) exceeded one standard deviation above the mean score of a control group. Each participant who met inclusionary and exclusionary criteria was classified into the AD, AA, or AD & AA group depending on which scale/s they produced high scores. Participants were given a battery of executive functioning measures and were compensated. Contrary to expectations, very few between-group differences using analyses of variance procedures were observed across the control, AD, AA, and AD & AA groups; only SCWT Color-Word differentiated the groups, wherein the AA group named fewer Color-Word pairs than the AD group. Chi-square analyses revealed that the AA group had significantly more participants impaired on Trails B, whereas the AD & AA group, though expected to have more participants with impaired performance, did not demonstrate this trend. Correlations revealed a significant association between Letter-Number Sequencing and SCWT Color-Word with AD and AA, respectively. However, neither the AD nor the AA scale emerged as a good predictor of executive dysfunction using area under the curve analyses. Although this study’s findings were likely limited by the use of a non-clinical, largely cognitively-resilient sample, it represents a unique model with which cognitive functioning in depression and anxiety may be examined.
Advisors/Committee Members: Gunstad, John.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: Executive functioning; depression; anxiety; cognitive; neuropsychology; anhedonic depression; anxious arousal; tripartite model
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15.
Biehle, Susanne N.
Preparing for Parenthood:Individual and Couple Models of Anxiety and Marital Satisfaction.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► One of the most significant life transitions in adulthood is becoming a…
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▼ One of the most significant life transitions in adulthood is becoming a parent. Many prior studies found that many couples experiencing the transition to parenthood have a decrease in marital satisfaction following the birth of their first baby (e.g. Belsky & Kelly, 1994); however, few studies attempt to examine what factors during pregnancy impact antenatal marital satisfaction. If declines in relationship satisfaction can be prevented during pregnancy, couples may experience less difficulty in the transition to parenthood. One way to help is when couples engage in behaviors to prepare for the birth of their baby. Yet, little is known about the role of proactive coping both individually and communally and their relation to anxiety and marital satisfaction. Additionally, parenting efficacy has been found to be important with new parents after the birth of their baby to predict role satisfaction, mood, and marital adjustment (e.g. Teti & Gelfand, 1991). Because few prior studies have examined parenting efficacy during pregnancy, the current study will examine the role that parenting efficacy has on feelings of responsibility for the pregnancy and proactive coping efforts. Some researchers argue that the transition to parenthood cannot be examined solely through one partner, or only the couple, because there are three different viewpoints in a marriage that need to be examined: his, hers, and theirs (Cowan et al., 1985). The current study will use this approach to explore how preparing to have a baby can impact both the individual and the couple. Structural equation models will be used to examine the pathways between feelings of responsibility about the pregnancy, parenting efficacy, and proactive coping on anxiety and marital satisfaction.
Advisors/Committee Members: Mickelson, Kristin.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: parenthood, pregnancy, coping, parenting efficacy, gender differences, marriage
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16.
Biehle, Susanne N.
Coping from Pregnancy to Parenthood.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2012, Kent State University
► One of the most significant transitional stressors in adulthood is becoming a…
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▼ One of the most significant transitional stressors in adulthood is becoming a parent. For most expectant parents, parenthood is a life transition that is filled with excitement in anticipation of the baby’s arrival. However, parenthood is also a major life change with an increased risk of stress. One way that expectant parents can minimize stress is through effective coping strategies. Despite this knowledge, few studies have examined how first-time parents cope with the transition to parenthood. The current dissertation examines two methods of coping during this transition: reactive and proactive. In Study 1, reactive coping was examined in a sample of 104 first-time parents to determine if: 1) coping mechanisms are unique for mothers and fathers; 2) the same types of strategies are used during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period; and, 3) how reactive coping influences mental health. In Study 1, I found mothers and fathers utilized different coping strategies and these strategies changes across the transition to parenthood. In Study 2, proactive coping was examined in a sample of 118 first-time mothers during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period. In Study 2, potential predictors and correlates of proactive coping are examined, as well as the influence proactive coping has on mental health. In Study 2, I found mothers with high internal locus of control and more optimism reported engaging in more proactive coping. Finally, both studies found proactive and reactive coping techniques to be related concurrently to mental health in new parents. Both studies provide new insights into how first-time parents cope with the changes and stresses of the transition to parenthood.
Advisors/Committee Members: Mickelson, Kristin.
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17.
Boarts, Jessica M.
Psychological Predictors of Health Risk Behaviors in Minority Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Adolescents.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2008, Kent State University
► Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) adolescents represent a high risk, yet…
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▼ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) adolescents represent a high risk, yet underserved and underresearched population. LGBT youth are at increased risk for numerous mental and physical health problems, including posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, substance use, and unsafe sexual practices. Additionally, given the stigma associated with being an African American LGBT individual, these adolescents may struggle with their homosexual/bisexual orientation more than Whites or other ethnic minorities. Prior research has failed to examine mechanisms that could be influencing high risk behaviors among African American LGBT. The current study aimed to address these issues by examining the relationships between posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, internalized homophobia, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors in one hundred African American LGBT adolescents and young adults (aged 15 to 24). Participants were recruited from a local LGBT community center in Cleveland, OH and were asked to complete an anonymous survey. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to test the relationships between mental health issues (posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms), internalized homophobia, and physical health risk behaviors (substance use and sexual behaviors). Findings indicated a relationship between number of prior traumatic events experienced and risky sexual behaviors. Further, internalized homophobia appeared to differentially impact the relationships between number of traumatic events, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors. Number of traumatic events was significantly related to number of lifetime sexual partners, however, the relationships with substance use were not significant among participants with low or high levels of internalized homophobia. While among participants with moderate levels of internalized homophobia, number of traumatic events was significantly related to substance use and substance use was significantly related to number of lifetime sexual partners, but number of traumatic events was not related to lifetime sexual partners. Results suggest the need to address traumatic experiences and internalized homophobia when developing interventions designed to reduce high risk behaviors in African American LGBT adolescents.
Advisors/Committee Members: Delahanty, Douglas.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: trauma; PTSD; depression; risk behaviors; LGBT adolescents
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18.
Bogart, Adam R.
Varied Suseptibility of Reconsolidated Memories to Retrograde Amnesia.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2011, Kent State University
► BOGART, ADAM R., AUG 2011 PSYCHOLOGY VARIED SUSEPTIBILITY OF REACTIVATED MEMORIES TO…
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▼ BOGART, ADAM R., AUG 2011 PSYCHOLOGY VARIED SUSEPTIBILITY OF REACTIVATED MEMORIES TO RETROGRADE AMNESIA (97 pp) Director of Dissertation: David C. Riccio The present series of experiments was an examination into the effects of repeated reconsolidations of a fear memory. Reconsolidation is provoked in the laboratory by re-exposure of the animal to the context it was trained in. This is known as reactivation. It is important to determine whether each reconsolidation provides additional strength to the memory, or weakens it since many behavioral scientists hold the belief that reconsolidation and extinction have many commonalities. In Experiment 1, the effect of one to three reactivations in a Passive-Avoidance chamber was examined. The reactivations were given 10 minutes apart. It was found that the second and third reconsolidation were immune to the retrograde amnesia produced by hypothermia. Differences in the spacing of reactivations might introduce changes in a reconsolidated memory’s propensity to develop retrograde amnesia. Thus, Experiment 2 was identical in all respects to Experiment 1 except the intertrial interval was increased to 24 hours. The findings that fear memories in the twice and thrice reactivated groups were still no longer susceptible to retrograde amnesia with 24 hour spacing between reactivations necessitated a 3rd experiment to determine why. Experiment 3 showed that if small changes in the configural elements of the training context were made, repeated reconsolidations would generate a memory susceptible to RA. Consideration of the lack of behavioral changes subsequent to great variation of the intertrial interval in Experiments 1 and 2, while large changes in behavior resulted from small configural changes in Experiment 3 suggests clues to the etiology of repeatedly reconsolidated memories becoming resistant to the induction of retrograde amnesia.
Advisors/Committee Members: Riccio, David C.
Subjects: Psychobiology; Psychology
Keywords: retrograde amnesia; reactivations; hypothermia; passive avoidance; contextual reminders
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19.
Bradshaw, Meggan Ruth.
Emotions in Marriage: Understanding Marital Exchanges and the Impact of Stress.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► The deleterious effects of negative emotions on relationships are well documented. However,…
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▼ The deleterious effects of negative emotions on relationships are well documented. However, while researchers have shown that positive emotions can buffer negative emotions, the process by which positive emotions influence negative emotions in marital exchanges is less clear. Researchers have examined positive sentiment override (PSO) in marital exchanges and found that PSO effectively buffered against low intensities of negative affect, but with high-intensities of negative affect, PSO was ineffective and marital dissolution was predicted. The current thesis uses two studies to examine the role positive emotions play in marital exchanges: 1) a nationally representative sample of 2,286 married/cohabiting individuals, and 2) a more in-depth examination of 104 married/cohabiting couples expecting their first child. Results from multiple linear regression analyses for the first study suggested that for destructive marital exchanges, positive emotions moderated negative emotions, such that positive emotions buffered low and moderate levels of negative emotion while losing its impact at high levels of negative emotion. Results from multiple linear regression analyses for the second study only found main effects and no interactions. The lack of an interaction between positive and negative emotions and marital exchanges may be due to a limited sample size or it may be indicative of a different relationship between positive and negative emotions in marital exchanges during the transition to parenthood. Overall, results support the importance of positive emotions in marital exchanges. Future research using a longitudinal study should examine the role of positive emotions in marital exchanges beyond pregnancy and childbirth, and also identify the directional nature of the relationship between emotions and marital exchanges.
Advisors/Committee Members: Mickelson, Kristin.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: marriage; marital relationships; stress; positive emotions; negative emotions; parenthood; pregnancy
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20.
Brumariu, Laura Elena.
FAMILY FACTORS AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS IN PREADOLESENCE. A MEDIATION MODEL.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2007, Kent State University
► Attachment patterns (secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized) and parenting (acceptance and psychological…
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▼ Attachment patterns (secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized) and parenting (acceptance and psychological control) are related to internalizing symptoms. We examined the unique and combined contribution of attachment and maternal parenting practices to anxiety symptoms in preadolescence. In addition, we assessed whether children’s cognitive distortions (catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, and personalizing) explained these relations. Eighty-seven 10 to 12 year-old children completed questionnaires of attachment and parental practices and an attachment story-stem interview. Results suggested that security, but not maternal acceptance, is a protective factor for developing anxiety. In addition, more disorganized or ambivalent children, and those experiencing higher levels of psychological control, reported more anxiety symptoms. Attachment and maternal rearing behavior each had a unique effect on anxiety level, and cognitive distortions mediated some of these effects.
Advisors/Committee Members: Kerns, Kathryn A.
Keywords: attachment, parenting, anxiety
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21.
Brumariu, Laura Elena.
Mother-Child Attachment in Early Childhood and Anxiety Symptoms in Preadolescence: The Role of Peer Competence and Emotion Regulation.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2010, Kent State University
► Literature suggests that early attachment security is associated with later development of…
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▼ Literature suggests that early attachment security is associated with later development of anxiety symptoms. Little is known about relations of insecure attachment patterns (ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized) with anxiety symptoms in preadolescence. The goal of the current study was to explore, using a longitudinal design, the role of mother-child attachment in the development of preadolescent anxiety symptoms and to assess whether peer competence (i.e., peer efficacy) and emotion regulation (i.e., the ability to manage the intensity of emotions) at early school age explain this relation. The relation of temperament (negative emotionality and behavioral inhibition) with anxiety was also evaluated. Attachment security and disorganization were related to later anxiety, however, these results were qualified by nonsignificant associations in models controlling for temperament and other variables. Peer competence partially explained the relations between security, avoidance, and disorganization with anxiety, and emotion regulation also partially explained the relation between security and anxiety. In addition, peer competence partially explained the relations of negative emotionality and behavioral inhibition with later anxiety and emotion regulation partially mediated the relation of negative emotionality with anxiety. These findings extend previous research by highlighting the importance of investigating specific mechanisms that are responsible for the relations of mother-child attachment and of temperament with anxiety symptoms. The results have implications for prevention programs or treatment processes when working with children at risk for developing anxiety symptoms. The study also suggests that it is important to examine models of the development of anxiety that incorporate attachment in combination with other risk factors.
Advisors/Committee Members: Kerns, Kathryn.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: mother-child attachment; anxiety symptoms; emotion regulation; peer competence
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22.
Brusnighan, Stephen M.
Semantic Transparency and Contextual Strength in Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition of Novel Compounds during Silent Reading: Evidence from Eye Movements and Recall.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2010, Kent State University
► The purpose of the present research was to determine whether readers benefit…
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▼ The purpose of the present research was to determine whether readers benefit from combining contextual and morphemic information in the process of incidental vocabulary acquisition during reading, using the semantic transparency of compound words and sentence contextual strength as a test case. Monitoring skilled readers’ eye-movements while they silently read sentences containing new vocabulary items and then testing post-reading recall for meanings of new items provide both a measure of real-time processing during incidents of vocabulary acquisition and of word-learning success in the form of meaning retention data. Previous reading studies have revealed little evidence for semantic transparency effects in the processing of familiar English compounds (Frisson, Niswander-Klement, & Pollatsek, 2008). Evidence is mixed for benefits of combining contextual and word cues in vocabulary acquisition; some found that readers most successfully interpret novel Kanji compounds using both sources of information (Mori & Nagy, 1999), while others found no benefit from combining sources after direct instruction of unfamiliar English words (Wysocki & Jenkins, 1987). In the current study, participants read sentence pairs containing novel and known English compounds that were either semantically opaque or transparent (e.g., milkshake, cocktail, drinkblend, deskdoor) in neutral and strong sentence contexts. Readers showed processing and retention advantages for novel transparent compounds in strong contexts and disadvantages for novel opaque compounds in strong contexts. This suggests that readers’ success in deriving word meanings for novel English compounds benefits from pooling sources of contextual and morphemic information.
Advisors/Committee Members: Folk, Jocelyn.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: vocabulary acquisition; incidental word learning; reading; eye movements; semantic transparency; contextual strength; morphemes; compounds
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23.
Bryan, Kathryn J.
Restraint Stress, Learning, and Memory.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2006, Kent State University
► Activation of the stress response by a period of restraint stress induces…
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▼ Activation of the stress response by a period of restraint stress induces cognitive alterations in humans and animals. Either cognitive enhancements or deficits can result after restraint stress. The reason for the inconsistencies in the stress literature may be due to the variety of restraint lengths and intensities used. Therefore, the aims of our study were to 1.) determine if thirty minutes of restraint stress enhanced or decreased performance on a passive avoidance task, 2.) rule out pain sensitivity alterations that may have contributed to performance changes, and 3.) to examine time-dependent and reinstatement measures with restraint stress. In order to examine the effect of acute restraint stress on learning of a passive avoidance task in male Long-Evans rats, 30 minutes of restraint was administered either immediately prior to training or after training in Experiment 1. Thirty minutes of restraint stress decreased performance at test in stressed rats if restraint was administered immediately prior to training, but did not affect the animal’s performance if the stressor was administered immediately after training. Experiment 2 replicated the deficit in performance found in Experiment 1, and determined that the effect of restraint stress was short-lived. If 30 minutes of restraint was administered either 30, 60, or 90 minutes prior to training, restrained rats performed as well as controls at the 24 hour test. Restraint has been shown to alter pain sensitivity in rats and because two mild footshocks were administered during conditioning, Experiment 3 was done to determine if 30 minutes of restraint altered the rat’s pain sensitivity. The mA to first vocalization did not differ between restrained and non-restrained rats, which indicate that restraint did not significantly alter the rat’s pain sensitivity. Experiments 4 and 5 showed that the deficit at the 24 hour test was not an acquisition failure because restrained rats performed as well as controls if tested immediately after training. The deficit occurred 24 hours after training and neither a reminder cue of non-contingent footshock nor restraint administered 10 minutes prior to test reversed the deficit.
Advisors/Committee Members: Riccio, David C.
Keywords: Restraint; stress; passive-avoidance
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24.
Buchholz, Laura J.
BODY IMAGE DISSATISFACTION AND THE USE OF COMPENSATORY BEHAVIORS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKERS.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2012, Kent State University
► Two prevalent behaviors among college women include dietary restraint (Keel et al.,…
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▼ Two prevalent behaviors among college women include dietary restraint (Keel et al., 2007) and alcohol use (Dawson et al., 2004), which is problematic, given their association with adverse consequences such as binge eating (Stice, 2002) and risky behaviors after drinking (Wechsler et al., 1994, 1995). Although eating disorders are often comorbid with alcohol use disorders (Gadalla & Piran, 2007), very few studies have examined the relationship between dietary restraint and alcohol use (Krahn et al., 1992; Luce, 2001; Stewart et al., 2005), as well as between dietary restraint and alcohol-related consequences (Krahn et al., 2005). This study examined drinking quantity and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as mediators between dietary restraint and alcohol-related consequences. This study also examined impulsivity and self-regulation as moderators between dietary restraint and drinking quantity, as well as dietary restraint and BAC. Participants were 206 undergraduate women (89.8% Caucasian) who completed surveys regarding their dietary restraint, alcohol use, alcohol-related consequences, impulsivity, and self-regulation during an online mass testing procedure. Results indicated that drinking quantity partially mediated the relationship between dietary restraint and alcohol-related consequences (Sobel test: z = 2.088, p < .05), while BAC did not mediate this relationship. Additionally, neither impulsivity nor self-regulation moderated the relationships between dietary restraint and drinking quantity or dietary restraint and BAC. Higher impulsivity was associated with consuming more drinks (β = .210, t (202) = 2.880, p = .004) and having a higher BAC (β = .191, t (202) = 2.549, p = .012). Exploratory analyses indicate dietary restraint is positively related to drinking to cope with appearance concerns (r = .26) and decreasing caloric intake on drinking days (r = .44). Women who diet may use alcohol to cope with their negative affect regarding their appearance and decrease their caloric intake on drinking days in anticipation of their intended alcohol consumption, subsequently placing them at a higher risk of experiencing consequences after drinking.
Advisors/Committee Members: Crowther, Janis.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: Dietary restraint; alcohol use; self-regulation; impulsivity; college women
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25.
Burchett, Danielle L.
The Need for Validity Indices in Personality Assessment: A Demonstration Using the MMPI-2-RF.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► We examined the impact of overreporting on the validity of Minnesota Multiphasic…
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▼ We examined the impact of overreporting on the validity of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scale scores by comparing the strength of correlations with external criteria for a control group of individuals who completed the MMPI-2-RF under standard instructions with correlations of individuals who completed the instrument under instructions to (a) feign psychopathology or (b) feign somatic complaints. Correlations between MMPI-2-RF substantive scales and criteria were much weaker for feigners than for controls. We also examined mean profiles, which were more elevated for feigners than for controls. Overall, results were more extreme for psychopathology feigners than for somatic feigners. Our results demonstrate the detrimental effect that overreporting psychopathology or somatic problems has on the validity of MMPI-2-RF scale scores. The findings emphasize the critical need for validity indices in self-report personality assessment so that test interpreters can detect individual protocols that are likely to have extremely invalid scale scores due to invalid responding.
Advisors/Committee Members: Ben-Porath, Yossef.
Subjects: Criminology; Mental health; Psychological tests; Psychology
Keywords: validity scales; validity indices; overreporting; feigning; invalid responding; scale score validity; protocol validity; MMPI-2-RF
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26.
Burchett, Danielle L.
MMPI-2-RF Validity Scale Scores as Moderators of Substantive Scale Criterion Validity.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2012, Kent State University
► The current study examined the ability of scores on the MMPI-2-RF overreporting…
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▼ The current study examined the ability of scores on the MMPI-2-RF overreporting Validity Scales, F-r, Fp-r, Fs, and FBS-r to moderate the criterion validity of scores on the instrument’s Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales. These analyses were conducted in four samples: (a) combined college overreporting simulation and control participant sample, (b) outpatients, (c) inpatients, and (d) criminal forensic examinees. Although results were strongest in the college sample, there was evidence that all four Validity Scales moderated RC Scale criterion validity across all four samples, with moderating effects occurring due to both slope and intercept differences. The findings illustrate the utility of the overreporting Validity Scales to serve their purpose: to elevate and help identify when the results of the instrument’s substantive scales overestimate the examinee’s level of psychopathology. The conceptual meaning of slope and intercept differences in this context is explored and suggestions are made for best statistical practice when examining the ability of validity indices to moderate substantive scale criterion validity.
Advisors/Committee Members: Ben-Porath, Yossef S.
Subjects: Psychological Tests; Psychology; Quantitative Psychology; Statistics
Keywords: MMPI-2-RF; Validity Scales; Criterion Validity; Overreporting; Moderated Regression; Slope and Intercept Bias
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27.
Caserta, Donald Albert.
Parent Expectations in the Treatment of Children with ADHD.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2008, Kent State University
► Although researchers have begun to investigate the potential mediators and moderators that…
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▼ Although researchers have begun to investigate the potential mediators and moderators that impact the treatment responses of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), limited information has been published regarding the role of parental expectancy effects. Previous research has indicated that the desired effects parents hold at baseline about their children's treatment do not likely contribute to variation in actual outcome ratings. The present study prospectively assessed the role of baseline parent expectations of treatment benefit in actual, post-treatment ratings of 1) symptom severity and 2) global improvement in a sample of 85 children and adolescents who participated in an intensive summer treatment program. Results revealed that parent expectations predicted post-treatment scores on both narrowband and broadband measures, but not on a measure of global improvement, after controlling for baseline scores. These findings suggest that clinicians and researchers may consider parent expectations of treatment benefit when developing future research and treatment protocols.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dowd, E. Thomas.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: expectations; treatment; children; ADHD
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28.
Casey, Elizabeth C.
Depression Predicts Failure to Complete Phase-II Cardiac Rehabilitation.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2007, Kent State University
► Reduced adherence to medical treatment regimens has been reported among depressed patients…
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▼ Reduced adherence to medical treatment regimens has been reported among depressed patients with heart disease. Given that depression is associated with increased risk of mortality among cardiac patients, poor medical adherence, such as failure to complete a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program may help to explain this relationship. The present study examined the hypothesis that increased levels of depression would be associated with a failure to complete a 12-week phase-II CR program. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was prospectively administered to 600 patients at the time of enrollment in a phase-II CR program and program completion was coded based on number of sessions attended and patient’s meeting discharge criteria. A logistic regression showed that depressed patients were 2.2 times less likely to complete CR compared to non-depressed patients, after controlling for age and gender. Lower completion rates by patients who reported higher levels of depression supports the theory that treatment adherence may be a mechanism by which depression is associated with increased mortality among cardiac patients.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hughes, Joel.
Keywords: cardiac rehabilitation; depression; adherence
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29.
Casey, Elizabeth C.
The role of physical fitness in the relationship between depressive symptoms and chronic Inflammation in patients enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation.
Degree: PhD, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2012, Kent State University
► Depression often accompanies cardiovascular disease and is related to increased risk of…
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▼ Depression often accompanies cardiovascular disease and is related to increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Inflammation is a proposed mechanism that may link depression and increased risk of mortality among cardiac patients. Depression is associated with reduced vagal control, which may lead to the nervous system’s impaired ability to properly regulate inflammation. Exercise and physical fitness are associated with improved vagal control, as well as with reductions in depression, inflammation, and mortality risk. The present study examined the roles of physical fitness and vagal control in the relationship between depression and inflammation. Depression, physical fitness, indices of vagal control, and stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were assessed in 96 patients enrolled in phase-II cardiac rehabilitation. There were no overall significant relationships between depression and IL-6 or TNF-α. However, physical fitness appeared to have a moderating effect as depression was related to elevated stimulated production of IL-6 only among patients with lower levels of physical fitness. Depression was related to lower physical fitness, elevated body mass index, and lower age. Given that treating depression through medication or therapy has not led to reduced risk of mortality among patients with cardiovascular disease, additional emphasis on improving physical fitness in this patient population may be warranted.
Advisors/Committee Members: Hughes, Joel.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: depression; inflammation; physical fitness; cardiovascular disease
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30.
Castellanos, Patricia.
The Impact of Partner Social Support and Relationship Strain on the Psychological Well-being of Latina Adolescent Mothers.
Degree: MA, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology, 2009, Kent State University
► One hundred and thirty five Latina adolescent mothers (of primarily Puerto Rican…
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▼ One hundred and thirty five Latina adolescent mothers (of primarily Puerto Rican origin) and their young children participated in this study. Relations between partner support, relationship strain, and psychological adjustment were examined. The romantic relationships of these young mothers were also explored. Results indicated that mothers were likely to have a partner (74.1%) and to have long-lasting (3 or more years) relationships (42%) with them. Results also indicated that strain had an independent effect on psychological distress and social support did not. In addition, the interactive effects of support and strain in predicting psychological distress were explored. The association between partner support and psychological distress was moderated by relationship strain. Greater support was related to less distress when levels of strain were high. However, it was related to higher distress at low levels of strain. Results also suggested that social support moderated the relation between relationship strain and psychological distress. The relation between strain and distress was stronger at lower levels of support than at higher levels of support. Results are discussed in light of Latino cultural values, developmental issues, and implications for intervention.
Advisors/Committee Members: Grau, Josefina.
Subjects: Psychology
Keywords: support and strain, Latina adolescent mothers
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