Browsing by Author "Olvera, Norma E."
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Item An Attachment Theory Perspective on the College Adjustment of International Students(2018-08) Kim, Mijin; Lopez, Frederick G.; Olvera, Norma E.; Wiesner, Margit F.; Leung, PatrickBackground: The number of international students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education has increased in the past few decades. Whereas prior studies have generally examined the influences of demographic and environment variables on international students’ college adjustment, few studies have considered the contributions of dispositional variables and intrapsychological processes that affect their transitional adjustment. Purpose: This study seeks to examine a theory-driven model using a short-term longitudinal design that investigates how international students’ parental and peer attachment orientations, cross-national grief and loss, and sense of coherence affect their psychological adjustment. Methods: A sample of 255 international undergraduate and graduate students in the United States completed online measures of these constructs at two time points, three months apart, and mediational structural models involving the contributions of attachment orientations and intrapsychological processes to psychological adjustment were tested using structural equation modeling. Results: The study model indicated an acceptable fit to the data. Among two attachment orientations, attachment avoidance significantly predicted international students’ psychological adjustment after three months, and sense of coherence fully mediated this association. Higher attachment avoidance was associated with lower cross-national grief and loss however, this association did not contribute to adjustment difficulties. Attachment anxiety did not associate with sense of coherence, cross-national grief and loss, and psychological symptoms. Conclusion: The findings imply that dispositional and situational variables such as attachment avoidance or sense of coherence should be considered in clinical work with international student clients to enhance their cross-national adjustment and coping.Item Associations among Perceived Stress, Stress Coping, and Eating Behaviors(2018-12) Posada, Alexandria; Wiesner, Margit F.; Arbona, Consuelo; Hein, Sascha D.; Olvera, Norma E.; Tolar, TammyBackground: Given the combined high prevalence of overweight and obesity (27%) among college students in the United States, particularly women, there is a need to study the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in this population. Although some biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors have been investigated, limited research has examined perceived stress, coping, sweet intake, and emotional eating among racially/ethnically diverse college women. Purpose: The present cross- sectional study’s research aims were: 1) to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and sweet intake, 2) to examine the relationship between perceived stress and emotional eating; and 3) to determine if coping strategies moderated these relationships. The following hypotheses were proposed: 1) higher levels of perceived stress would be associated with greater sweet intake; 2) higher levels of perceived stress would be associated with increased emotional eating; and 3) the relationships among perceived stress, sweets intake and emotional eating would be moderated by avoidant coping. That is, a stronger relationship between perceived stress and sweet intake and emotional eating would be observed among students with a higher use of avoidant coping. Methods: The sample consisted of 572 racially/ethnically diverse (30% Hispanic, 29% Asian, and 11% African American) undergraduate college women. Participants completed an online demographic survey and measures of dietary intake, emotional eating, perceived stress, and stress coping. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the factor structure of all latent constructs before study hypotheses were tested. Structural equation modeling indicated that perceived stress factors and avoidant coping did not significantly predict sweet intake. However, perceived stress factors such as perceived helplessness (β = .39, p = .005) and lack of stress self-efficacy (β = -.12, p = .002) were significantly associated with emotional eating. Furthermore, avoidant coping was significantly associated with emotional eating (β = .27, p < .001). Further, avoidant coping was not a significant moderator of the relationships among perceived stress, sweet intake, and emotional eating. Conclusion: Higher levels of perceived helplessness and avoidant coping were related to greater engagement in emotional eating in undergraduate women. Conversely, reporting less stress self-efficacy (i.e., more stress) was related to less engagement in emotional eating. Future research interventions should focus on reducing feelings of perceived helplessness and encouraging alternative coping styles which could lead to a reduction of emotional eating behaviors in undergraduate women.Item Childhood Obesity Prevention: Acculturation and Feeding Practices of Low-Income Latino Families(2021-12) Thompson, Yuridia Peralta; Arbona, Consuelo; Olvera, Norma E.; Fan, Weihua; Hughes, Sheryl O.Background: Latinx children are disproportionately affected by obesity in the United States, with second- and third-generation Latinx children having higher levels of obesity than first-generation immigrants. Parental feeding practices in response to children’s hunger and satiety cues have been associated with children’s weight status and may offer one possible explanation for these rising obesity rates among Latinx children. Purpose: The extent to which parental acculturation relates to feeding practices among low-income Latino families is not well documented. The proposed study examined to what extent maternal acculturation moderated the effects of a seven-week family-based childhood obesity prevention program (Strategies for Effective Eating Development) on parental feeding attitudes and behaviors. Methods: Participants (208 low-income Latina mothers and their preschool children) were part of a randomized control trial conducted in a large urban area in the Southern U.S. and a medium-sized town in the rural, Inland Pacific Northwest of the U.S. The study used a validated measure of English acculturation (the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale) and a comprehensive measure of feeding practices (the Food Parenting Inventory). Five separate two-way analysis of covariance (2-way ANCOVA) were implemented to test the moderating effect of English acculturation on the effect of the 7-week childhood obesity prevention program on components of parental feeding attitudes and practices (Family Meals, Structure, New Foods, External Control, and Responsiveness). Results: Results indicated that the intervention was effective in increasing mother’s feeding attitudes and practices in the area of Responsiveness (to children’s internal cues of hunger and fullness), only among mothers reporting higher levels of English acculturation. Conversely, the reduction of the use of excessive parental pressure/coercion or indifference/lack of involvement while feeding their children (i.e. External Control) only appeared to be effective among mothers endorsing low levels of English acculturation. The intervention was equally effective regarding the secondary goals of increasing exposure and acceptance of New Foods, increasing the Structure and predictability of how meals are prepared and served at home, and increasing the regularity and consistency of mealtimes and parental involvement in determining child’s portion size (Family Meals) among mothers reporting both high and low levels of English acculturation. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence of successful childhood obesity prevention efforts in four out of five components of examined maternal feeding attitudes and practices. Results highlight the possible shortcoming of the SEEDS prevention program in effectively and equitably targeting mothers reporting lower levels of maternal English acculturation as related to the parental feeding practice of Responsiveness.Item Disparities in Psychology: An Analysis of Demographics by Race and Ethnicity at Multiple Stages of Professional Development(2018-08) Alexander, Manju Elizabeth; Smith, Bradley H.; Hein, Sascha D.; Olvera, Norma E.; Hassett, Kristen S.Surveys of racial and ethnic representation indicate under-representation of minorities in psychology. However, published surveys are either outdated or use data from professional organizations that suffer from methodological problems that limit confidence in the conclusions. Nevertheless, professional organizations use these limited surveys to drive interventions and policies to increase diversity in psychology. This study examines the percentage of select racial and ethnic groups in psychology at undergraduate and graduate levels of education, and employment using federally collected data between 2001 and 2016. Data were extracted from the National Council of Education Statistics, the Current Population Survey collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the American Community Survey, collected by the United States Census. Gaps in the training pipeline are filled by data from the American Psychological Association and the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers. These data were analyzed graphically to understand trends in psychology education, training, and employment for Caucasians, as well as non-Caucasian groups including African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. Results indicate that at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the percentage of Caucasians in psychology decreased while the percentage of non-Caucasians increased. At the doctoral level, the percentage of non-Caucasians increased, but at a much lower level compared to overall doctorates completed and the population representation. Higher percentages of Asians completed degrees relative to their representation in the overall population but had relatively fewer psychology degree completions. Similar trends were observed at the internship level. However non-Caucasian representation was much lower in APA as well as the psychology workforce. Thus although gains are being made at some points in the psychology pipeline, representation of non-Caucasians in the doctoral and professional levels is declining. Implications are discussed in terms of educational policy, training and professional practice in psychology.Item Do Less Consistent Night-To-Night Sleep Patterns Impact Emotional Processing Among Healthy School-Aged Children?(2023-12) Myers, Annika Mariah; Alfano, Candice A.; Viana, Andres G.; Olvera, Norma E.While research has made considerable strides in understanding the complex, dynamic relationships between sleep and mental health, it remains hindered by simplified views of sleep and emotion across development (Meltzer, 2017). More recent research has instead attempted to examine sleep from a multidimensional “sleep health” perspective (Buysse, 2014). In the current study, we adopted this multidimensional approach by examining sleep regularity (i.e., variability of sleep patterns from night to night) in relation to the emotional processing of school-aged children. Among a sample of healthy school aged children (N = 53, 7-11 years, M age = 9.0; 56% female), we examined relationships between intra-individual sleep variability (IIV) of sleep across one week and various aspects of children’s emotional functioning, including anxiety and internalizing symptoms, and subjective and objective responses during two in-lab emotional tasks, one conducted after a night of healthy sleep and another after two nights of partial sleep restriction. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was assessed as an objective measure of emotional regulation during one task. Contrary to expectations, sleep IIV was unassociated with parent and child reported anxiety and internalizing symptoms, as well as subjective and objective measures of emotional functioning after baseline sleep. Sleep IIV significantly predicted change RSA after sleep restriction, such that greater sleep duration IIV and social jet lag predicted changes in RSA while watching negative emotional movies clips. Sleep regularity’s impact on emotional functioning across development warrants further exploration, especially its impact on emotional functioning after subsequent sleep restriction.Item Eating Disorder Symptomotology: The Role of Ethnic Identity in Caucasian and Hispanic College Women(2011-05) Avina, Vanessa; Arbona, Consuelo; Day, Susan X.; Armsworth, Mary; Olvera, Norma E.A relative large number of women on college campuses report experiencing eating afflictions. About 61% of college women indicated that they either occasionally or regularly used extreme measures to control their weight (Mintz & Betz, 1988). No clear consensus on the relative prevalence of eating disorder symptoms across ethnic groups has emerged (Franko et al., 2007). However, previous literature has accentuated the importance of BMI and the internalization of ideals for thinness as important predictive factors for eating disorder symptoms, and thus should be included in an analysis of symptomotology. Moreover, no studies were located that have taken into account ethnic identity when comparing the endorsement of eating disorder symptomotology among Caucasian and Hispanic women. The purpose of this study was to examine (a) to what extent college women from Hispanic and Caucasian ethnic groups differ in behavioral and attitudinal symptoms of eating disorders, respectively when controlling for BMI, (b) to what extent ethnic identity contributed to behavioral and attitudinal symptomotology, respectively, when controlling for BMI and the internalization thinness as a beauty ideal, and (c) whether ethnicity moderated the relation of ethnic identity to eating disorder behavioral and attitudinal symptoms. Participants in this study included 264 female students (45% Hispanic, N=119; 55% Caucasian, N=145) at a large urban university in the Southwest United States. The majority of the Hispanic participants identified themselves as second generation (N = 72, 62.2%, SD= 1.27), meaning they were born in the United States, and had one or both parents born in a Latin country. Participants completed Demographics questions, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ; Fairburn & Beglin, 1994), the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM; Phinney, 1999), and the Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ; Heinberg, Thompson, & Stormer, 1995). Bivariate correlations showed that behavioral and attitudinal eating disorder symptoms were positively and highly correlated to one another for both ethnic groups. For Hispanics, both types of symptoms were positively correlated to BMI and internalization, and negatively correlated to ethnic identity. Results differed for the Caucasian group, with positive significant correlations between attitudinal symptoms to internalization and to BMI. Behavioral symptoms were only significantly correlated with internalization and not BMI. Among Caucasians there were no statistically significant correlations of ethnic identity to any of the variables included in the study. The MANCOVA analysis showed no statistically significant differences in symptomotology between the two ethnic groups. Hierarchical Linear Regressions showed that ethnicity does not moderate the relation of ethnic identity and eating disorder symptoms.Item EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A FEAR APPEAL MESSAGE REGARDING CALLING WHILE DRIVING: THE ROLE OF PERCEIVED BEHAVIORAL CONTROL, SOCIAL NORMS, AND THE THIRD-PERSON PERCEPTION(2011-12) Chen, Meng; Xiao, Zhiwen; Yamasaki, Jill; Olvera, Norma E.Using a within/between experimental design, the current study attempted to examine 1) whether the ethnicity and call phone type can predict one’s frequency of calling while driving; 2) to examine the mechanism of how personal attributes, including perceived behavioral control, subjective social norms, and classic/reversed third-person perception, interact with a fear appeal message regarding the issue of calling while driving.Item Examining the Relationship between Children’s Weight Status and the Different Patterns of Educational, Emotional, and Behavioral Problem Outcomes: A Latent Class Analysis(2022-08-08) Kuno, Caroline Bena; Kim, Han Joe; Wiesner, Margit F.; Frankel, Leslie A.; Olvera, Norma E.Background: Health and education are essential to general wellbeing. However, emotional, and behavioral problems or health related issues like obesity and overweightness among children might interfere in the attainment of quality education, and quality of life in general. As such, there has been an increasing interest in studying obesity among children and the interconnectedness in the relationships between educational, and behavioral and emotional problem outcomes. Emerging evidence suggests that childhood obesity might have consequential effects on both schooling and emotional or behavioral outcomes of children. The relationships between children’s weight status and educational outcomes, and emotional or behavioral problem outcomes have been studied in isolation from each other, employing mainly variable-oriented statistical approaches. These variable-oriented approaches focus solely on the aggregated relationship between variables, whilst ignoring the fact that there may be qualitatively significant differences among various groups of people. Purpose: This study seeks to employ a person-oriented approach, which focuses on sub-grouping of people in each population. A latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to identify groups of children, based on educational, emotional, and behavioral problem outcomes (Research question 1). Further, the study investigated the relationship between child’s weight-status and the identified groups, controlling for child and household-based factors (Research question 2). Methods: This cross-sectional study utilizes data from a 2018 survey conducted by the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) with a sample size of n= 21,954. The majority of the children identified as white (69.0%) and male (52.3%). Five educational variables were used, school engagement (two items; children who care about doing well in school, and children who do all required homework), grade repetition, school absence, and school problems. Five emotional and behavioral problem variables included conduct problems, bullying (two items; children who are bullied, and those who bully others), depression, and anxiety. Results: Unconditional latent class models were estimated to address research question one. Five distinct groups were identified - thriving, educational and internalizing problems, multi-problems, low school engagement, conduct problems and bullying victimization- when using the full sample, and when separately examining the sample of children aged 10-17 years. Four similar groups except for educational and internalizing problems emerged for children aged 6-9 years. A multinomial logistic regression was performed to address research question two. Children with obesity compared to normal weight were more likely to be classified into the multi-problems, educational, and internalizing problems groups compared to the thriving group. Several child and household-based factors such as physical activity, ethnicity, and household income, to mention but a few predicted the different identified groups. This provided further an insight of the characteristics of the individuals assigned to each group. Conclusion: This study will contribute to extant literature on educational, emotional, and behavioral problem outcomes, and associated factors by focusing on person-oriented approaches, as an alternative view of studying data. Lastly, this research has the potential to provide theoretical knowledge and implications for policies related to children’s wellbeing.Item Glycemic Index and Eating Practices of Hispanic and African American Children(2018-10-18) Chacon, Natalia C.; Henao, NataliaBackground/Purpose: Limited research has examined the association among food intake, glycemic index level, and weight status. This study aimed to identify the glycemic index of commonly reported foods and identified glycemic index of liked/disliked fruits and vegetables of Hispanic and African American children ages 9-14 who were primarily overweight. Methods: 47 children completed Eating Habit Survey 17-item instrument assessing daily eating habits. Five items from this survey were used in this study. These items assessed commonly consumed foods by participants when they wake up and before they went to bed, and their favorite/disliked fruits and vegetables. Demographic Survey Instrument included questions regarding age, ethnicity, etc. Glycemic Index levels were measured using the Harvard Medical School chart (Harvard Health Publishing. Glycemic index for 60 foods - Harvard Health., 2015). Results indicated that foods higher in glycemic index levels were most commonly consumed for breakfast and before bedtime. However, participant’s reported favorite/disliked fruits and vegetables were low in glycemic index levels. Discussion: Nutrition interventions targeting Hispanic and African American youth must consider teaching them low glycemic food options for breakfast and bedtime. Acknowledge: This study is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture and United Health Foundation.Item Helicopter Parenting and College Self-Efficacy Among Latino College Students: The Moderating Role of Familism(2023-08) Rodriguez, Lycinda; Arbona, Consuelo; de Dios, Marcel A.; Fan, Weihua; Olvera, Norma E.Helicopter parenting has been defined as parents who over-step in solving their college students’ problems often providing unsolicited suggestions on how to handle college experiences and intervening to save their emerging adult from difficulties. College students’ reports of higher levels of helicopter parenting behaviors have been associated with lower levels of college self-efficacy. However, most studies have been conducted with White college students. Therefore, little is known about helicopter parenting among college students from racial and ethnic minority groups, including Latinos. Cultural values, such as familism are thought to inform parenting practices. Within Latino families, familism is a value that embraces the centrality of the family and emphasizes parenting practices that include high levels of parental warmth, monitoring, and control. Previous findings have indicated that higher endorsement of familism buffered the expected negative relation of parental control to self-esteem among Mexican American college students. Therefore, when thinking about helicopter parenting in the context of a Latino emerging adult, the inclusion of familism as a moderator helps to yield a more complete understanding of helicopter parenting. The present study’s goal was aimed at better understanding helicopter parenting within a Latino cultural context by examining to what extent familism endorsement moderates the relation of helicopter parenting to college self-efficacy. This cross-sectional, quantitative study utilized archival data collected from Latino college students who rated their parents’ helicopter parenting behavior, their level of familism endorsement, and their own college self-efficacy. A hierarchical multiple regression indicated that familism did not moderate the association, such that higher or lower endorsement of familism did not make a difference in the relation of helicopter parenting to perceived college self-efficacy. However, perceived helicopter parenting behaviors by mother and highest rated helicopter parenting by mother or father were negatively associated to Latino emerging adults’ perceived college self-efficacy. Parents are still important in an emerging adult’s life. Those who engage in helicopter parenting behavior may be limiting their emerging adult’s belief as they embark on new college demands.Item Identifying Early Concerns of Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Influence of Patient Ethnicity in Pediatric Physician Decision-Making(2019-08) Racine, Madeline D.; Mire, Sarah S.; Hein, Sascha D.; Gonzalez, Jorge E.; Olvera, Norma E.; Curtis, David F.Background: The latency between when symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) emerge and when children are diagnosed by a health care provider is well-documented. Such delays in ASD diagnosis are even higher for ethnic minority children. This is particularly true for Latino children, though reasons for these disparities are not yet clear. Given the importance of early intervention in improving outcomes in ASD, early and accurate diagnosis for all children is critical. While many children with ASD and their families rely heavily on school-based services, it is often physicians, particularly pediatricians, who have the earliest opportunities to identify symptoms of ASD; however, these important providers may lack sufficient training in and familiarity with ASD. Considering the growing population of Latino families in the United States, increased understanding about potential provider-level factors contributing to ASD diagnostic disparities for Latino children is needed. Purpose: The aims of the study were to examine (1) the effect of child ethnicity (Latino or non-Latino White) upon physician identification of ASD symptoms and subsequent diagnostic decision-making and treatment recommendations; (2) the influence of physician self-reported confidence related to recognizing ASD as a diagnostic consideration; and (3) physician characteristics and experiences that may affect their consideration of an ASD diagnosis, particularly for Latino children. Methods: Sixty-five pediatric physicians were randomly presented with one of two versions of a clinical vignette (i.e. Latino child, White child) that described a hypothetical child (4 year-old male) presenting with various symptoms of ASD and were asked to answer questions designed to gather information about physicians’ identification of ASD symptoms and subsequent decision-making regarding diagnostic considerations and treatment recommendations; a scale of provider confidence in serving children with ASD was also developed and administered. Results: A series of chi-square tests of homogeneity indicated no significant differences in physician recognition of ASD as a differential diagnosis and subsequent diagnostic decision-making and treatment recommendations based on child ethnicity. However, logistic regression indicated physician self-reported confidence in serving children with ASD moderated the effects child ethnicity had on ASD as a first diagnostic consideration; participants who reported higher confidence were more likely to consider ASD as a first diagnostic consideration when the child in the vignette was Latino. Moreover, a measure of confidence was psychometrically assessed as a promising way to measure physician confidence in serving children with ASD that may be used in future studies. Conclusions: The current study offers initial information about pediatric physicians’ decision-making regarding diagnostic considerations and treatment recommendations when presented with a young child with various symptoms of ASD, findings that were not previously available in research. Additionally, findings from this study highlight the role physician self-reported confidence has on the diagnostic consideration of ASD with Latino children. The study also offers unique information regarding physician perceived challenges related to identifying and diagnosing ASD, which represent opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations and consultative partnerships between school psychologists and pediatricians. Results are discussed in the context of implications for such cross-disciplinary work with the goal of reducing ASD diagnostic disparities for ethnic minority children.Item Is Math for Me? The Impact of Identification, Mindsets, and Belonging on Marginalized Adolescents’ Math Anxiety(2023-08) Alexander, Taylor Mikhail; Master, Allison; Fan, Weihua; Olvera, Norma E.; Thompson, Marissa E.Background: Mathematical skills are imperative for students’ development of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematic) knowledge, critical thinking, and life skills. Despite its importance, mathematics is perceived as a difficult, complicated, and stressful subject. These perceptions may lead students to develop math anxiety, defined as tension, fear, and negative psychological reactions to mathematics-related exams and activities. Math anxiety has been found to predict poor math performance, low motivation, and low confidence among students. Underrepresented minorities (i.e., Black, Hispanic, and Native American students), especially, may experience more difficulty forming a positive math identity, math mindset, and math belonging than their non-minoritized counterparts, as societal stereotypes send the message that they are not “naturally” good at math (Miller-Cotto & Lewis, 2020). Moreover, these processes may differ for students who have experienced success or failure in math. This study investigated these three influences (i.e., math identification, math mindset, and math belonging) on math anxiety among underrepresented minoritized students to test the extent to which these factors predict math anxiety. Purpose: This manuscript evaluated: 1) the effect of math identification on secondary school students’ math anxiety, 2) the effect of math ability mindsets on secondary school students’ math anxiety, 3) the effect of math belonging on secondary students’ math anxiety, and 4) the joint contribution of all three factors (math identification, math ability mindsets, and math belonging) on math anxiety among secondary students of color. Methods: Participants were 520 7th through 10th grade students (8.3% Black, 83.3% Hispanic/Latinx, 2.3% Native American) who passed the attention check. These results were examined among students of color in secondary school with different math GPA levels. Results: Significant differences were found between minoritized and non-minoritized students’ math identity, ability mindsets, and math belonging, but not math anxiety. Ability mindsets and math belonging significantly predicted minoritized students’ math anxiety, after controlling for gender. Interventions should target ability mindsets, math belonging, and/or students’ emotions towards math to ensure minoritized students are successful in mathematics. Conclusion: Teachers should encourage their students to feel valued as individuals, rather than constrained by their racial or ethnic identity.Item Kitchen Detective: What is in your kitchen?(2018-10-18) Anzures, Eduardo; Henao, NataliaStudies reveal that accessibility and availability of foods available at home play a role in obesity status in children (Ludwig et al., 2001). Fewer studies have identified the impact of glycemic index levels (GILs) of foods that are available for Hispanic and African American (AA) children. The targeted populations are of great concern because of their increased risk for obesity and obesity-related diseases (Odgen et al., 2016). Purpose: To identify foods and GIL of those items within Hispanic and AA households, in the refrigerator, pantry, kitchen cabinets and countertops. Methods: 47 Hispanic and AA children completed a survey where they categorized foods in refrigerators, pantries, kitchen cabinets and countertops as healthy or unhealthy. Children also completed a demographic instrument which included items that assessed age, place of birth, education, ethnicity, etc. Results: Findings indicated foods in the refrigeration section were more accurately categorized as “healthy” by the children when assessing for GIL. In contrast, children’s reports of “healthy” foods in the pantry section had higher GIL. Cabinets and countertops results showed mostly high GIL foods in both categories. Interventions targeting overweight Hispanic and AA youth should consider teaching what constitutes a “healthy” food according to GIL.Item Parenting Characteristics as a Predictor of Child Externalizing Problem Behaviors(2018-05) Flynn, Erika G.; McQuillin, Samuel D.; Mire, Sarah S.; Olvera, Norma E.; Hassett, Kristen S.; Axelrad, Marni E.; Dempsey, Jack R.Background: The presentation and diagnosis of disruptive behavior (DB) and disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) is common in school-aged children and adolescents. Increasing evidence indicates a trend in the identification of DBDs in younger, preschool-aged children. Theories on the development of DBDs posit that parenting practices directly and significantly influence the development of DB in children. Therefore, interventions designed to improve parent-child interactions is essential for effective treatment outcomes. Empirically supported and evidence-based parent management training (PMT) programs exist to teach parents and caregivers strategic parenting skills proven to reduce child problem behaviors. Notable factors affecting parent’s psychological health play a significant role in determining a parent’s ability to use positive parenting behaviors. Specifically, parenting stress is associated with undesirable child behavior and treatment outcomes. The separate relationships between parenting stress and ineffective parenting behavior; and ineffective parenting practices and child DB are well-established; however, conclusive studies investigating the interplay among all three variables are limited. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the predictive and directional relationship among parenting stress, parenting practices, and child externalizing problem behaviors. Methods: The relationship between parenting stress, parenting practices, and child externalizing behavior was examined in a sample of 47 children between 2 and 6 years old, who had a range of disruptive behavior disorders, and their primary caregiver pre- and post-completion of an evidence-based parent management training intervention. Results: The results of two primary autoregressive cross-lagged regression models indicated a significant relationship between punitive parenting (i.e., discipline techniques) and child externalizing (i.e., disruptive) behavior. Specifically, as child externalizing problem behavior increased, parent engagement in punitive parenting practices decreased. To further explore the relationship among parenting stress, parenting practices, and child behavior, additional exploratory analyses were conducted. Conclusions: Though findings of this study indicated significant change across most individual variables following treatment, it remains unclear how change across variables (e.g., stress) predict change across other variables (e.g., parenting practices) within the context of an evidence-based parent management training intervention. Moreover, PMT remains effective for reducing child problem behavior and increasing positive parenting practices; however, the effects of PMT and the positive outcomes of PMT on parenting stress remain unclear. For these reasons, further research examining the interplay between parenting stress, parenting practices, and child externalizing problem behavior is needed.Item Perceptions of Body Size and Desire to Be Thinner among Hispanice Mother-Daughter Dyads(2020-05) Scherer, Rhonda; Olvera, Norma E.; Schwartz, Jonathan P.; Carmack, Chakema C.; Fan, WeihuaBackground: Overweight/obesity is a major health problem among children and adolescents in the United States. Hispanic girls are more likely to be overweight compared to their Caucasian counterparts, with 26% Hispanic girls versus 14% Caucasian girls being classified as overweight (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDCP], 2018). Among adolescents, an association between obesity and body size disturbances has been identified (Evans et al., 2013). Maternal attitudes about their own body size and that of their daughters may play an important role in the development of daughters’ body image (Duchin et al., 2016). Yet, few studies have investigated the relationship between Hispanic mothers perceived-ideal body size including the moderation effect of maternal acculturation. Purpose: This study aimed to assess: 1) comparisons between Hispanic mothers’ and daughters’ perceived and ideal body size; 2) comparisons between Hispanic mothers’ desire to be thinner for themselves, mothers’ desire for their daughters to be thinner, and daughters’ self-desire to be thinner; and 3) assess the moderation role of acculturation in predicting daughters’ desire to be thinner. The following hypotheses were proposed: 1) Hispanic daughters will endorse smaller figure sizes as ideal compared to their mother’s selection of ideal figures for their daughters; 2) Hispanic daughters’ desire to be thinner will be positively associated with maternal desire to be thinner; 3) Hispanic daughters acculturation will moderate the association between maternal acculturation and daughters’ desire to be thinner; 4) Hispanic maternal acculturation will be moderating the association between daughters’ acculturation and daughter’s desire to be thinner. Method: The sample consisted of archival data collected at baseline from different cohorts of Hispanic mother-daughter pairs (N=112 pairs) who participated in a healthy lifestyle summer intervention known as BOUNCE (Behavior Opportunities Uniting Nutrition, Counseling, and Exercise). Data collection occurred during the summers of 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2017. Analysis consisted of a paired samples t-test to assess the relationship between mother’s and daughter’s ideal views on body size. A Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted to test whether or not there was a significant relationship between mothers and daughters desire to be thinner. Finally, a blocked logistic regression analysis with moderation was conducted to assess the relationship between acculturation and mother and daughters desire to be thinner. Results: A paired samples t-test revealed that daughters selected a significantly smaller ideal body size figure than their mothers selected for their daughters t (111) =3.81, p=.000. No significant relationship between daughters desire to be thinner and mother’s desire to be thinner for their daughters was found r(111)=-0.047, p=.62. Though daughter’s acculturation was found not to be a significant predictor of daughter’s desire to be thinner, β =-.56, p=.39, daughter’s adiposity (BMI) was associated with the daughter’s desire to be thinner, β =.288, p=.001. Mother’s acculturation was not a significant predictor (β = -.53, p=.251) of the of the daughter’s desire to be thinner. Similarly, a blocked logistic regression determined that mother’s desire to be thinner was not significant β =-.459, p=.296 nor was mother’s acculturation β =.302, p=.649 with daughter’s desire to be thinner. Conclusion: Overall, findings from this study revealed that daughters selected a significantly smaller figure for themselves than their mother’s selected for them. No relationship was observed between acculturation and desire to be thinner.Item Perfectionism, Societal Messages, Gender and Race as Correlates of Male Body Image(2010-08) Grammas, Debbie; Schwartz, Jonathan P.; Arbona, Consuelo; Wiesner, Margit F.; Olvera, Norma E.Many men experience psychological distress as they try to obtain the ideal body as constructed by society (Pope, Phillips, and Olivardia, 2000). The number of articles focusing on men and muscularity has greatly increased since the year 2000 (Thompson & Cafri, 2007). Research indicates that body dissatisfaction is increasing in males and even young boys are experiencing body image dissatisfaction (Pope et al., 2000). Men with body image concerns are at risk for low self esteem, eating disorders, use of steroids, anxiety and depression (McCreary & Sasse, 2000; Cafri, Strauss, & Thompson, 2002; Olivardia, Pope, Borowiecki, & Cohane, 2004). Examining the predictors of body image distress is critical. Perfectionism and gender role socialization have been related to a drive for muscularity in men (Davis, Karvinen & McCreary, 2005; McCreary, Saucier, & Courtenary, 2005). In addition, viewing images of muscular men and reading fitness magazines have been linked to body dissatisfaction in men (Lorensen, Grieve, & Thompson, 2004; Morry & Staska, 2001). While the relationships between perfectionism, internalization of ideal standards transmitted by the media, and gender role conflict have been examined with body image dissatisfaction in men, no studies have linked these variables together in a single model. Investigating how these variables interact may lead to a greater understanding of the distress that men experience due to the socialization process of masculinity. The lack of racial diversity has been a limit of several research studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between: 1) perfectionism and male body image dissatisfaction, and 2) internalization of societal messages and male body image, and to determine what role gender role conflict plays, if any in the hypothesized correlation. Data was collected from an ethnically diverse sample of 331 college men from a university in the southwestern United States. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. Results indicated that identifying as an Asian American, socially prescribed perfectionism, and internalization of societal messages were significant positive predictors of muscle dissatisfaction. Higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism and internalization of societal messages were related to higher levels of dissatisfaction with the amount of one’s body fat. None of the variables examined served as a predictor for height dissatisfaction. Gender role conflict did not serve as a moderator in the relationship between the variables and male body image dissatisfaction.Item Pharmacological Approaches to Remediate Neurocognitive Impairment in Cocaine-Dependent Individuals(2014-08) Mahoney, James J.; Dao, Tam K.; Olvera, Norma E.; Day, Susan X.; De La Garza, Richard, IIThe goal of this study was to determine whether demographic (e.g. ethnicity, gender, etc.), drug use (e.g. years of cocaine use, days cocaine used in the past 30, comorbid substance use, etc.), or mood (BDI-II, LSC-R, and ASI-Lite scores) variables affected neurocognitive functioning in cocaine-dependent participants. In addition, two candidate medications were evaluated to assess whether they have the potential to improve neurocognitive functioning in cocaine-dependent individuals. There were two separate studys as part of this dissertation. Study 1 involved the investigation of demographic and drug use variables contributing to neurocognitive deficits in 125 cocaine dependent individuals. Study 2 compared the efficacy of two acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: rivastigmine and huperzine (as well as a control group randomized to receive placebo) as potential treatments for cocaine-induced neurocognitive impairment. Twenty-eight individuals were randomized to receive rivastigmine, 29 were randomized to receive huperzine, and 15 were randomized to receive placebo. Before study medication randomization, participants completed a battery of neurocognitive assessments and completed the same battery of assessments following 8 days of medication/placebo treatment. One of the factors that detrimentally affects cocaine-dependent individuals as they seek treatment is the presence of neurocognitive deficits produced or exacerbated by cocaine use. Since long-term, high-dose cocaine use is a risk factor for the onset of neurocognitive impairment in humans, it is critical that these deficits be addressed in order to improve treatment outcomes. Study 1 utilized only baseline data (independent of any medication treatment) and Study 2 used both pre-treatment (baseline, before medication administration) and post-treatment (following medication administration) data. Pearson product moment correlations and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the association between demographic and drug use variables and performance on the neurocognitive measures. ANOVA was used to evaluate medication versus placebo effects on test performance pre- and post-treatment. Study 1 revealed that there were no gender or race differences in neurocognition between groups. Further, comorbid substance use (e.g. nicotine, alcohol, or marijuana) did not affect neurocognition. Study 2 showed that treatment with rivastigmine significantly improved episodic memory, though treatment with huperzine did not affect neurocognition. On the basis of outcomes from Study 1 and Study 2, we contend that cocaine associated neurocognitive impairment remains an important target of treatment. Given that cocaine addiction is associated with widespread functional difficulties, such as unemployment and relapse to dependence, it is plausible that reversing neurocognitive impairments will ameliorate these functional difficulties.Item PREDICTORS OF PARK USE AMONG HISPANIC MOTHERS(2013-08) Copeland, Samoya C. 1979-; Olvera, Norma E.; Watson, Margaret; Lee, Chanam; McCarley, KendallPark use is associated with many health benefits, yet Hispanic females visit neighborhood parks infrequently. The purpose of this study was to: 1) describe neighborhood park characteristics and park use among Hispanic mothers who visit parks with their children, and 2) assess individual, psychological, and environmental predictors of park visits among Hispanic mothers who visit parks with their children. A sample of 105 Hispanic mothers participated. Acculturation, physical activity, park perceptions, park distance, and park visits with children were assessed using surveys. Relationships among park visits and study variables were examined using bivariate correlations. Park visits were significantly associated with physical activity (r =.26, p<.01), and park distance (r = -.21, p<.05). Park perceptions were not significantly associated with park visits. A multiple regression model was used to determine predictors of park visits. Findings from this study indicated that acculturation and physical activity were significant predictors of park visits.Item STAGES OF CHANGE, PARENTING, ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION, AND ADOLESCENT BODY MASS INDEX: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY(2013-08) Dutt, Sonia; Kubiszyn, Thomas; Burridge, Andrea Backscheider; Keller-Margulis, Milena A.; Garland, Beth H.; Olvera, Norma E.; Kubiszyn, ThomasObjective This retrospective longitudinal study investigated the relationship between readiness to change (The Transtheoretical Model of Stages of Change), parenting (e.g., parenting style, practices, and stress), and the use of atypical antipsychotic medication on body mass index (BMI) in adolescents with obesity, most of whom were Hispanic. Methods Data were obtained from an existing clinical database of 41 adolescents between 12-18 years of age (Mean age 14.35 years, 39% male, 4.9% White, 19.5% Black, 63.4% Hispanic, 12.2% Other) who participated in outpatient behavioral weight management group therapy, that included motivational interviewing, once a week for a period of seven weeks. Multilevel Regression Modeling analysis was employed to examine within and between participant differences in BMI. Readiness to change was measured with the use of baseline self-report ratings on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA). Parent ratings on the Parenting Relationship Questionnaire-Child and Adolescent (PRQ-CA) were obtained as a measure of parenting style, practices, and stress. Medication status (e.g., the use of atypical antipsychotic medication) was collected for each individual. Results Although used by only two subjects atypical antipsychotic medication was significantly related to higher BMI at baseline. Parenting confidence was significantly related to lower BMI at baseline. From week to week, there was not a significant fixed effect for rate of change in BMI within or between individuals; however, random effects for rate of change between individuals were present. Mean baseline BMI was lower for individuals who presented in the action stage of change than those who presented in the precontempation/contemplation stages. Conclusion Understanding the influence of individual readiness to change, parenting confidence, and the use of atypical antipsychotic medication on adolescent weight status, may improve comprehensive assessment and interventions in the clinical treatment for adolescent obesity. Implications for professionals are discussed and directions for future research are highlighted. Furthermore, given the diverse demographic of the sample used in this study (63.4% Hispanic, 19.5% Black); multicultural considerations for adolescents with obesity are discussed.Item The Association among Acculturation, Anxiety, Sleep Quality, and Weight Status in Latina Mothers(2018-10-18) Manzano, Marielle; Rojas, Amy; Velazquez, Denisse; Yanez, Jocelyn G.Previous research indicates that increased acculturation within the Latino population has been linked to adverse health outcomes such as increased body weight and cardiovascular disease. Poor sleep quality has also been linked to these adverse health outcomes. Factors related to acculturation, such as sleep quality and anxiety, may explain the differences in weight status. However, no studies have examined the association of acculturation, anxiety, sleep quality, and weight status in the Latino population. We used data from BOUNCE healthy lifestyle interventions that recruited Latina mothers aged 18 years (n=210, Mean age = 39.90). Bidimensional Acculturation Scale (BAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7), and the Tanita TBF 310 series scale were key measures used in the study. Mothers with higher levels of obesity were more likely to be more acculturated, more anxious, and reported poorer sleep quality compared to thinner mothers. Reported anxiety and sleep quality were also positively correlated. That is, as mothers reported greater levels of anxiety, they were more likely to report poor sleep quality. Findings from this study suggest the importance of studying associations among cultural, psychological, and weight status among Latina mothers.