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- Creators: Department of Psychology
Description
The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between the constructs of motivational theories, Self-Determination Theory and Health Belief Model, and adherence to a home exercise program. The constructs of Self-Determination Theory are autonomy, competence, and social relatedness. The constructs of Health Belief Model are perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived severity, and perceived susceptibility. Participants were receiving therapy at two outpatient clinics located in the Phoenix metropolitan area (n=40). Autonomy was assessed with a modified Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire. Competence was assessed with a modified Perceived Competence Scale. Social relatedness was assessed with a modified Health Care Climate Questionnaire. Perceived benefits and barriers were measured with a modified Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. Perceived severity and susceptibility were measured with a modified Health Beliefs Questionnaire. Adherence was measured with one Likert-type question that was created by the researchers. The data was scored and analyzed with the scoring guidelines provided by the questionnaires and the statistics software, IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The results showed that competence was the only construct that was significantly correlated with home exercise program adherence. The results from this study should be used for further research that focuses on creating a competence-supportive environment in physical therapy settings.
ContributorsAutrey, Makenna Noelle (Co-author) / Hamilton, Marissa (Co-author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Background: This paper details the development of screening and education tools for finding Social Determinants of Health (SDH) in Maricopa County’s vulnerable population. SDH is known as structural or physical differences that hinder everyone to have an equal opportunity for improved health, and one of the steps to overcome the differences is through understanding what SDHs are prevalent in the targeted community, so that the community can develop the needed resources. SDH screening process was developed in collaboration with Student Health Outreach for Wellness (SHOW), a student-run organization whose aim is to provide healthcare for underserved populations. SHOW has a unique multi-disciplinary approach of treating each of their patients, and this screening is planned to be implemented during the treatment.
Methods: A literature review was conducted and SDH screening tool were adapted from known SDH screeners, such as Health Leads, PRAPARE, and CLEAR, to fit to the general population that SHOW serves. Training was also developed to educate the student volunteers who will be conducting the SDH screening and included necessary education about the population and the importance of SDH in general. Training materials include a practice scenario, a resources guide, SMART goal sheet, an introduction to the resource guide, and a process flowchart.
Outcomes: This project consists of different versions of screening tools, a training presentation, activities, handouts, and implementation ideas required to succeed in accurate SDH determination.
Methods: A literature review was conducted and SDH screening tool were adapted from known SDH screeners, such as Health Leads, PRAPARE, and CLEAR, to fit to the general population that SHOW serves. Training was also developed to educate the student volunteers who will be conducting the SDH screening and included necessary education about the population and the importance of SDH in general. Training materials include a practice scenario, a resources guide, SMART goal sheet, an introduction to the resource guide, and a process flowchart.
Outcomes: This project consists of different versions of screening tools, a training presentation, activities, handouts, and implementation ideas required to succeed in accurate SDH determination.
ContributorsChung, Min Kyung Rebecca (Author) / Harrell, Liz (Thesis director) / Essary, Alison (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Studies on urban heat island (UHI) have been more than a century after the phenomenon was first discovered in the early 1800s. UHI emerges as the source of many urban environmental problems and exacerbates the living environment in cities. Under the challenges of increasing urbanization and future climate changes, there is a pressing need for sustainable adaptation/mitigation strategies for UHI effects, one popular option being the use of reflective materials. While it is introduced as one effective method to reduce temperature and energy consumption in cities, its impacts on multi-dimensional environmental sustainability and large-scale non-local effect are inadequately explored. This paper provides a synthetic overview of potential environmental impacts of reflective materials at a variety of scales, ranging from energy load on a single building to regional hydroclimate. The review shows that mitigation potential of reflective materials depends on a portfolio of factors, including building characteristics, urban environment, meteorological and geographical conditions, to name a few. Precaution needs to be exercised by city planners and policy makers for large-scale deployment of reflective materials before their environmental impacts, especially on regional hydroclimates, are better understood. In general, it is recommended that optimal strategy for UHI needs to be determined on a city-by-city basis, rather than adopting a “one-solution-fits-all” strategy.
ContributorsYang, Jiachuan (Contributor) / Wang, Zhi-Hua (Correspondent) / Kaloush, Kamil (Contributor)
Created2015-06-11
Description
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by a wide range of symptoms and severities, affecting communication, behavior, and social interactions. With the prevalence of ASD rising to affect nearly 1 in 36 children in the United States, understanding and addressing the multifaceted needs of those with ASD is increasingly critical. This review explores the interplay between genetic, environmental, and immune factors in the onset of ASD, focusing on metabolic dysfunctions and the role of the gut-brain axis. Emerging research highlights the significance of abnormal metabolites and gut microbiota imbalances in contributing to the pathophysiology of ASD, suggesting that these factors may influence neurological function and behavior through modulating immune responses.
Recent analyses have uncovered metabolic disturbances in ASD, affecting amino acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, glycolysis and the TCA cycle, homocysteine metabolism, ketone body synthesis, and lipid metabolism. These disturbances offer insights into how metabolic dysfunctions may contribute to the neurological and behavioral features of ASD. Furthermore, the gut microbiota's role in immune responses and the controversial impact of antibiotic use on gut flora composition is important to the complexity of ASD and the need for a nuanced understanding of treatment effects.
This review delves into the current understanding of metabolic dysfunctions in children with ASD, emphasizing the critical role of gut microbiota and the impact of antibiotic use. Specifically, this review discusses SCFAs, para-cresol, amino acid metabolites, and glutathione and their respective specific treatments. It also explores the potential of vitamin/mineral supplementation as a therapeutic strategy, highlighting significant improvements in metabolic markers and behavioral symptoms associated with ASD. The findings from key studies, including those by Adams et al., suggest that targeted nutritional interventions and careful management of gut health could offer promising avenues for improving the quality of life for individuals with ASD. The review also acknowledges the need for further research to confirm the long-term effects of these interventions and to develop personalized treatment approaches that consider the unique needs in individuals with ASD.
ContributorsNandakumar, Keshav (Author) / Adams, James (Thesis director) / Flynn, Christina (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Mental health perceptions within the Somali community are shaped by cultural, educational, geographical, and religiosity factors. This study aimed to explore the mental health views of Somalis in Somalia and those in the United States, considering the influence of culture and religion. A comprehensive survey was conducted, and data from 44 participants were analyzed using paired t-tests and correlations. Results revealed diverse beliefs among participants, with some attributing distress to spiritual causes like possession by Jinn or punishment by Allah, while others viewed it as a result of loss of faith or biological factors. Despite limitations such as a small sample size and recruitment challenges, the study contributes to understanding the views of an understudied group. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to address the changing mental health views as well as the needs within the Somali community.
ContributorsNur, Istarlin (Author) / Cohen, Adam (Thesis director) / Johnson, Kathryn (Committee member) / Aglozo, Eric (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by memory decline and dementia, and conclusively diagnosed postmortem from tangles and plaques. Plaques come from β-amyloid protein (Aβ), which damages the brain, especially the hippocampus, a structure vital for memory formation. However, whether plaques and tangles cause or result from AD is unclear. Our goal was to use a preclinical AD model to identify the early stages of cognitive dysfunction before AD becomes severe to enhance targeted interventions. We used a transgenic mouse (APP/PS1) that slowly develops plaques, with minimal expression around 5-6 months (young adult) with more expression by 12 months (middle-age). Our aim was to determine whether young adult mice would show cognitive symptomatology that could be used as a future metric for targeted treatment before AD advances further. We had three independent variables: Sex (Male, Female), Age (5-6, 8-10 months) and Genotype (APP/PS1, wildtype, WT). We used behavioral assays to assess spatial memory (hippocampal function), working memory (prefrontal cortex function), and anxiety (amygdala function). For my honor’s thesis, I focused on using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) to assess hippocampal function and the Open Field (OF) to assess anxiety and locomotion. In MWM, all groups were given four trials/day for four days with a probe trial to assess strategy immediately after the last trial on day 4. All groups swam shorter distances across days to show they were learning and revealed sex differences. The APP/PS1 males (young and old) learned the task more slowly than their WT male counterparts, but were using spatial strategies as demonstrated by the probe trial. For the females, all groups learned the task similarly, but the probe trial revealed that the APP/PS1 females (young and old) were using non-spatial strategies. Moreover, the males significantly swam shorter distances than the females, learning faster. The use of the visible platform task confirmed that the mice were capable of performing the swim task. For the OF, mice were placed in a square arena and given 10 minutes to explore and found sex differences in anxiety profile. All the female mice expressed similar anxiety profiles, whereas the APP/PS1 males had higher anxiety profiles than their WT males counterparts. These results revealed that there were sex-specific differences in cognition and anxiety profiles in the APP/PS1 mouse model. This indicates that individual characteristics are important to consider when using tailored interventions. In summary, these findings emphasize the potential for early detection and targeted treatment strategies to help mitigate AD progression.
ContributorsMontero, Martina Anne (Author) / Conrad, Cheryl (Thesis director) / Gewirtz, Jonathan (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) accounts for 10% of patients on dialysis and leads to a complete life transformation, as patients suffer from pain, fatigue, and isolation. With 22% of ADPKD patients experiencing depression, this study hoped to unveil specific coping strategies that mediate the link between patients’ sources of social support and levels of depression (Simms et al., 2016). Online survey data was collected with a sample of ADPKD adults (N= 81, 67.9% female), administering measures that capture social support (SS), coping strategies (CS), and depression. Mediation analyses revealed that the relationship between three types of social support (e.g., family, friends, and significant others) and depression, were significantly mediated by two types of coping strategies: acceptance (p < 0.05 - 0.01) and planning (p < 0.001). More specifically, acceptance coping partially mediated the link between the social support of family and significant others and depression, whereas acceptance coping demonstrated a trend towards partial mediation in the link between friends’ social support and depression, with acceptance mitigating depression. Interestingly, utilizing planning coping masked the link between familial social support and depression, such that planning increased depression. Taken together, ADPKD patients who learn to accept their diagnosis are less depressed, while those who plan ahead experience greater depression.
ContributorsFusciello, Chiara (Author) / Taylor, Teri (Thesis director) / Flores, Valerie (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Caregiving for a disabled or ill relative can be an extremely stressful role, leading to increased acute physiological responses to stress and also chronic cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Furthermore, an important consideration for studying CVD and daily stress in caregivers is less is known about gender differences in the effects of caregiving. The aims of this study were to examine the associations between gender and daily stressors on cardiovascular health in caregivers. A sample of 1,841 respondents (ranging from 33-84 years) from the Midlife in the United States study answered a question about caregiving and participated in both a daily diary and biomarker subprojects. Within the sample, only 13.04% of respondents classified themselves as caregivers. Regression analysis was used to test 1. whether stressor exposure and stressor reactivity, which is the emotional response to stress, differ by caregiver status and gender, 2. cardiovascular health as indicated by the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple Seven measure (on scale of poor, intermediate, or ideal) is predicted by caregiving status and gender, 3. whether daily stress is associated with Life’s Simple Seven, and 4. whether daily stress moderates the associations between caregiving and gender with cardiovascular health. Important findings of the study included that caregivers and women experienced more daily stressors, while caregivers and men had greater cardiovascular risk, but this was not related to experience of daily stressors. These results are discussed within the context of study limitations and opportunities for future research building upon daily stress and caregiving.
ContributorsBiernot, Kelsey (Author) / Koffer, Rachel (Thesis director) / Gómez-Morales, Abigail (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Objective: Previous studies have expressed that individuals with dyslexia may be hypersensitive to stimuli when compared to typical individuals, creating the neural noise hypothesis. This study uses electroencephalogram (EEG) to look at participants' mismatch negativity (MMN) response to the distinctive English phoneme /æ/ and an allophone of the phoneme /æ/, measuring their reaction to the variation between these two sounds.
Methods: Twenty-two adults, fourteen with dyslexia and 8 controls partook in an auditory oddball EEG experiment measuring MMN with the amplitudes and latencies being collected.
Results: Five participants demonstrated a large MMN response, four of which were in the dyslexic group. These participants’ results indicate an increased sensitivity to phonetic differences.
Significance: Understanding how some individuals with dyslexia process phonetic differences may be key to comprehending how a dyslexic subtype takes in auditory information.
ContributorsOvaska, Madeline (Author) / Peter, Beate (Thesis director) / Daliri, Ayoub (Committee member) / Kim, Yookyung (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Latinx youth experience increased risk of depressive symptoms (DS) due to cultural and universal risk factors. Acculturative family distancing (AFD) and mother-adolescent conflict (MAC) are significant in predicting depressive symptoms (DS) among Latinx adolescents. Guided by resilience frameworks, this study examined the effects of AFD and MAC on Latinx adolescent DS, and whether family cohesion (FC) moderated these relations. Self-reported survey data was gathered from 207 Latinx students and analyzed using regression analyses. Results indicated that MAC and AFD were significant and positively related to DS. However, family cohesion (FC) did not emerge as a significant moderator for these relations.
ContributorsTimmons, Isabella (Author) / Nair, Rajni (Thesis director) / Bauer, Richard (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2024-05