Proceedings of the Sixteenth Annual Psychology Department Research MethodsPoster Fest
May 11, 2007
Relationship between Male Adolescent Drug Abusers and Abstainers and their Guardians……………..1 The Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and Substance Abuse in Adolescents………… …....2 Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Measure Differences Between Groups Based on Anticipated Regret……………………………………………………………………………………………………...3 Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………4 Drug Abuse and Depression……………………………………………………………………………....5 Media Effect on Body Image and Body Dissatisfaction…………………………………………………..6 Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Stress-Induced Eating: A Study of Stress and Eating Relationships in College Students……………...…8 Perfectionism in Relation to Depression………………………………………………………………..…9 Is ADHD Associated with Lower Academic Performance at the College Level?....................................10 Self-Perceived Distortions of Body Image in
College
Students…………………………………………11 The Effect of the Management Created Environment on Employee Health…………………………….13 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………..14 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………..15 Do Adult Smokers Diagnosed with Non-Smoking
Related Diseases
Perceive their Health Risks
Differently?................................................................................................................................................16 Parental Beliefs on Gender Appropriateness and the Influence
it has on their Children………………..18 School Psychology Increasing Confidence in Children with Learning Disabilities……………………..20 The Effects of Temporal Frames and the Planning Fallacy on Student Performance………………...…21 Feelings of Inclusion on a Sports Team Lead to High or Low Levels of Athletic Performance………..22 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………..23 Do People Come to Believe Their own Lies?............................................................................................24 Peer Relationships between Down Syndrome Children with Siblings and Those Without Siblings……25 MRI Analysis of Bipolar and Non-Bipolar Adolescents: Comparing Brain Volume to the Intensity/Duration and Type of Medication…………………………...………………………………...26 Correlations between Childhood Aggression and Physical Health: Does the more Aggressive Child show a prevalence of Childhood Diseases?........................................................................................................27 Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….……………….28 Differences in the Severity of Autism Between Urban and Rural Regions……………...………………29 The Relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and
the Accuracy of Eyewitness Cognitive Functions in Manic and Depressive Episodes Associated With Bipolar Disorder…………...31 Does Classical Music Aid Study Habits: The Effect of Classical Music on the Recall of Text……..….32 Verbal Working Memory Capacity Among Bilingual and Monolingual High School Students………..33 Alzheimer’s Disease: Are There Gender Differences in Olfaction Loss?.................................................34 Pheromone Detection in Marmoset Monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) With and Without Main Olfactory Bulb………………………………………………………………………………...…………………….35 The Relationship Between Music and Helping: Does Music’s Ability to Uplift Mood Correlate with the Likelihood to Engage in Prosocial Behavior?...........................................................................................36 The Relationship Between Music Preference and Location to Personality……………………………...37 The Influence that Personality has on Exercise-Induced Mood Enhancement…………………………..38 Exercise Effects and Postpartum Depression in Women of High and Low Socioeconomic Statuses…..39 Abstract……………………………………………………………………………...…………………...40 Depression………………………………………………………………………………………………..41 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………..42 The Relationship between Supplement Intake and the Alleviation of Anxiety………………………….43
Effect of Psychopathy on Criminality in
Adult
Males………………………………….………………44 Influence of Childhood Shyness: A Link Between Childhood Shyness and Adult Social Phobia......................47
Board 1
Relationship between Male Adolescent Drug Abusers and Abstainers and their Guardians Karalyn Podlinski
The intention of this study is to determine the quality of the relationship between male adolescent drug abusers and abstainers and their guardians. A total of 300 males between the ages of 13 to 17 years enrolled in high schools and outpatient treatment centers in northern Pennsylvania will be surveyed. Questions from the survey will be taken from the Parent Interview, the Family Environment Scale, and the Conflict Behavior Questionnaire. This study aims to determine if adolescents with drug abuse have a negative relationship with their guardians. If the results of this study support the hypothesis, prevention programs in the area surveyed could modify treatment for adolescent drug abusers to include improving the relationship with guardians.
Board 2
The Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and
Substance Abuse in Adolescents
The objective of the proposed study is to determine a relationship between socioeconomic status and the types of substances abuse in adolescents. The study will include 6 schools from the 4 U.S. regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). Twenty five students from each of the 4 high school grade levels (9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade) will be chosen. The students will be surveyed for information on many variables including their socioeconomic status, exposure and accessibility to substances, and usage of drugs. Eight students from each school will then be interviewed for information on their views of both socioeconomics and substance use. The results will help determine which are the substances most abused among teenagers at different socioeconomic levels.
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Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Measure Differences Between Groups Based on Anticipated Regret Maura Armezzani
The present study will determine if a relationship exists between whether the participants will answer yes or no to anticipating regret regarding future binge drinking (≥ 7 drinks). In independent samples t-test will be run to determine if a significant relationship exists between anticipated regret that will be measured at time one and future binge drinking behavior which will be measured at time two. The relationship between anticipated regret and binge drinking will be significant ((n=131) t(129) = 7.766, p < .01). The present study will show that the participants that will anticipate regret will engage in less binge drinking behaviors fewer times during a week than those who will not anticipate regret.
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Tim Kolodziej Abstract The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between college students’ alcohol attitudes and their perception of their parents’ attitudes. This study will be constructed in a survey format administered to students between 17-21 years old at the University of Scranton. Previous studies have shown relationships between alcohol and negative effects on families, which could result in a likelihood to use alcohol. However, there are no studies readily available that consider how the perception of others’ attitudes towards alcohol effect their own attitudes. Data will be collected by administering the Michigan Alcoholism Test. If the results of this study support the hypothesis then it will offer a different view for alcoholism in families.
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Drug Abuse and Depression Miki Dench Abstract This longitudinal study is intended to determine if depression is more likely to be more prevalent after drug use. This study will be carried out over 8 years, participants will be first surveyed at age 16, and again at 24. Participants will be sent both the Beck Depression Inventory and the DAST-20 to determine levels of depression and substance use. Several studies have suggested that men and women use drugs to combat depression, this study is intended to see if drugs increase levels of depression. There is little research on this, much of it deals with people who are already using drugs. If the results of this study support the hypothesis, it may impact the treatment of drug abuse and depression.
Board 6
Media Effect on Body Image and Body Dissatisfaction
Sarah Dolinish
The intention of this study is to analyze the relationships between the fashion and food industry and women’s body dissatisfaction. The study will be conducted with freshman participants at The University of Scranton. The purpose of the study is to see if the conflicting messages of the fashion industry to be thin and the unhealthy food advertisements influence women’s body dissatisfaction. There is a great deal of research regarding the effects of fashion industries, but there is not current research examining the gap between the advertisements. If the projected results are shown to confirm the hypothesis, the pressure for women to be thin as well as to consume unhealthy foods leads to higher body dissatisfaction.
Board 7
ABSTRACT—Karolyn Sanfilippo The purpose of this study is to assess whether females who have negative body images are more likely to be eating disordered. This study will have two groups of 50 adult women ages ranging 18-25. All participants show possible characteristics of eating disorders. A checklist will be passed around to all participants; therefore, women will be based on their responses. The checklist can be compared to The Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnosis which is a 50-item self report that provides categorical scores. Scores can be obtained to classify participants as eating disordered, symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Board 8
Stress-Induced Eating: A Study of Stress and Eating Relationships in College Students Jennifer Zappitelli
This study observes stress and eating relationships in both male and female college students at The University of Scranton. The purpose of this study is to measure eating behavior during stressful cognitive tasks to see if they positively correlate. As stress increases, food consumption will also increase. Past studies have shown this to be true in college females. In this study, Positive and Negative Affect Scales, heart rate, and blood pressure will be used to measure stress. Stunkard and Messick’s (1985) Three Factor Eating Questionnaire will be used to measure eating behavior, along with a self-report.
Board 9
Perfectionism in Relation to Depression Lindsey M. Slutter
The central aim of this study is to examine the dimensions of perfectionism and the relationship with depression. The main objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that individuals who rate high on perfectionism are more likely to suffer from depression. A sample of 140 psychology undergraduate students (60 males and 80 females) completed two measures: Hewitt and Flett’s MPS and Beck’s Depression Inventory Scale. All participants varied in ages from 18-25 and completed both measures once in the beginning of the study and another three months later to assure accuracy. Findings should indicate a positive correlation between the various forms perfectionism and depression. These findings should further support the notion that perfectionism does play an important role in clinical depression.
Board 10
Is ADHD Associated with Lower Academic Performance at the College Level? Lindsay Greiner
Past research has found an association between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and lower academic performance. Even though symptoms tend to decrease with age, studies have still found an association between ADHD and academic problems in older individuals. The purpose of this study is to determine if ADHD is associated with lower academic performance in college students who are not clinically diagnosable for ADHD, but still have elevated symptoms of ADHD. This study will be conducted at The Pennsylvania State University and will consist of 200 undergraduate students. The ADHD Rating Scale and the College ADHD Response Evaluation will be used to assess ADHD symptoms. Students’ GPA will be used to measure academic achievement.
Board 11 Self-Perceived
Distortions of Body Image in College Students Studies have shown in the past that body dissatisfaction results in dangerous weight restricting behavior. These results were attained through rating scales using contour or silhouette drawings which were sometimes considered unreliable because of certain flaws like the unrealistic stimuli. The first purpose of this study is to produce a new scale, perfecting these flaws by using actual photographs of the same participant that is assessing his or herself. The second purpose is to validate the hypothesis, through a correlation, that those who find their body dissatisfying will perceive their images as distorted. If the results conclude that this is true, future studies find information to help students become satisfied with their body and thus distortions would not be so frequent, nor would weight restricting behaviors.
Board 12
Abstract—Noah Marcus Many studies were conducted on social conformity but little deal with the question of conformity over time. Will the need to conform stop over time. A longitudinal study on the level of conformity will be conducted on graduating seniors then again on the participants two years later. Our goal is to determine whether conformity lessens as our participants leave the university setting and enter into the working world. A simple design of a survey using a likert scale was used in order to compare levels of conformity during their college atmosphere as compared to their post college, workplace atmosphere.
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The Effect of the Management Created Environment on Employee Health Christopher M. Rosett
The purpose of this study is to show the effect of American middle managers on their employees’ health due to their influence on work environment. The study will be conducted using a large population of managers and employees that exist within a major corporation, totaling 1,500 participants. Prior research in this area has shown many positive correlations between environment and employee health, but much of it has not attempted to improve health on an environmental level. Managers will undergo the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Program and employee health will be measured using the SF-36 Health Survey Update. If these results are significant, businesses worldwide can improve employee health by investing a small amount of time in their managers.
Board 14
Abstract This study is designed to find who the Good Samaritan is. Helping behavior is a quality displaying altruism, and empathy. On the side of a rundown New York City street, a man is deceiving displayed as being beaten up, robbed, and left helplessly. 50 pedestrians are naturally observed passing by this helpless man. They are measured upon their helping behavior by: whether they do help, or don’t help. We are aiming to determine if it is the upper class members of society that will give that helping hand, or the people of the lower class. This study is looking to see: are the ones who live in luxury, or the ones who live in stress more likely to help.
Board 15
Abstract—Daniel Wood Today, smoking cigarettes has been an ever growing trend amongst adults and adolescents. At the collegiate level, it has been implemented that smoking has become a daily pastime. While comparing college students to older smokers, expectancies for the future with regard to smoking correlate positively with college students. It is commonly mistaken to think that a male or female could have it easier to quit if they wanted to. Taking current smoking status, peer influence, demographics, and family history into an analysis with gender and smoking amongst college students could show some interesting results.
Board 16
Do Adult Smokers Diagnosed with
Non-Smoking Related Diseases Perceive their Health Risks Differently? The intention of this study is to investigate the relationship between adult cigarette smokers diagnosed with a smoking related disease, a non-smoking related disease, or no disease and their perceptions of their health risks. Prior investigations have shown there are differences in smokers’ perceptions of their health risks, depending whether or not they smoke. The study will be conducted in northeastern Pennsylvania with 300 participants. The opinions of the participants will be assessed through two questionnaires. The hypothesis is that there are differences in the amount of self-exempting behaviors and risk perceptions between the different smokers. Individuals with a non-smoking related disease will be less likely to recognize the risks involved with smoking and be more likely to exhibit self-exempting behaviors.
Board 17
The harmful psychological effects of smoking Peter Cassidy
The purpose of this study is to assess if smoking cigarettes produces harmful psychological effects rather than just physical harm. The study will involve the random sampling of 200 participants (100 men and 100 women) who vary in terms of being a smoker or a non smoker, as well as the frequency of smoking. The participants will be studied by completing surveys about their smoking behavior, as well as the BDI, which will then be analyzed to see if any correlation exists between harmful emotions and cigarette smoking. This study will further investigate the harmful effects of cigarettes on a new level, and hopefully make people more aware of how bad cigarettes are.
Board 18
Parental Beliefs on Gender
Appropriateness and the Influence it has on their Children The intention of this study is to examine the relationship between parents who maintain strict gender ideas and the types of activities their children participate in. The study will be conducted in high schools with a target student population ranging from 9th to 12th grade. The purpose of the study is to find a positive relationship between strict adherence of parents to gender stereotypes and the gender appropriateness of the activities their children participate in. Studies show that children of parents who exhibit strict gender affiliation tend to mimic those beliefs and, as a result, participate in sex appropriate behavior. If the hypothesized results are true, parental influence will be established as an indicator in the behaviors of their children.
Board 19
Quality of Mother-Daughter Relationships and Self-esteem Sabrina Boodhoo
The study intends to examine mother-daughter relationships as a function of self-esteem and the participant's role in the relationship. The study will require 200 mother-daughter dyads of 2 parent homes from different areas of New York City. All daughters must attend public school and will range from the ages of 13 – 18. Socioeconomic status of the dyads will be determined using the Elley-Irving Scale. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Inventory will be used to measure self-esteem and a revised questionnaire of 6 measures will be used to measure the quality of the mother-daughter relationships. The study seeks to support that the self-esteems of mothers and daughters are both related to the quality of their relationship.
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School Psychology Increasing Confidence in Children with Learning Disabilities Sarah E. Brandt The intention of this study is to find a relationship between self-esteem and being labeled with a learning disability. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function will rate how children view themselves before and after being evaluated a learning disability. The Brigance Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills will be used to assess if the Children are learning disabled. If the child is found to have a learning disability they will receive the proper attention offered by the school. A select few will receive school counseling to determine if speaking with a school psychologist can help improve their self-esteem. This study is not intended to improve performance of children in school, but rather seeks to improve confidence in learning.
Board 21
The Effects of Temporal Frames and the Planning Fallacy on Student Performance Kristyn M. Boyd
The intention of this study is to see if the planning fallacy and temporal distance have an impact on student performance. Studies show that temporal frames, which imply either a lot or little time remaining to complete a task, can influence the planning fallacy, which is the tendency to underestimate task completion time. This study would include 414 students enrolled in composition classes at The University of Scranton. Temporal frames will be manipulated, but the deadline for a research paper will be held constant. Students will then make predictions when they would finish; a board of professors will assess performance on the paper. If these factors have an effect on performance, then deadlines can be presented without inhibiting student performance.
Board 22
Feelings of Inclusion on a Sports Team Lead to High or Low Levels of Athletic Performance Melissa M. Burns
The intention of this study is to find a relationship between levels of inclusion/exclusion and athletic performance. Studies have shown that being excluded from a group results in feelings of social avoidance. These feelings can limit peer interactions and lead to decreases in social functioning such as performance. This study’s purpose is to show levels of performance determine feelings of inclusion and exclusion from teammates. The study will be conducted in the suburbs of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania with 40 members of two little league teams. The Group Environment Questionnaire will measure feelings of inclusion and exclusion. Performance will be measured using batting averages after each day of practice. The focus will be on the correlation between athletic performance and group inclusion.
Board 23
Abstract—Chris Losche
The intention of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between compulsive buying and self-identifying behavior through objects. There were a total of 120 participants, 60 men and 60 women in this study all 18 years and older. Previous studies have stated women having a higher significance in compulsive buying, but did not test any male participants. These participants will be given surveys on emotional feelings before and after purchasing an item other then household needs. It is hypothesized that those with compulsive buying behavior will show more signs of dissatisfaction with a product afterwards due to the product not fulfilling the individual’s self-identifying behavior.
Board 24
Do People Come to Believe Their own Lies? Shawn Brothwell
The intention of this study is to see if repetition of a lie will increase believability in it. Participants will be 150 undergraduate students, with an equal number of males and females. Participants will be placed into three groups of 50, and each group will complete the same set of activities. One group will tell a confederate the truth about what they did, one will tell an exaggerated story, and the last group will tell an exaggerated story twice. Two weeks later, a Life Events Inventory will be given to the participants based on their individual stories. It is hypothesized that participants who repeat the exaggeration will begin to believe their own fabrications. Board 25
Peer Relationships between Down Syndrome Children with Siblings and Those Without Siblings Kayla M. Smith
The intention of this study is to find a link between having siblings and peer relationship success of children with Down syndrome. Participants gathered through support groups and classrooms will be between the ages of 8 and 14. Half of the children should have at least one normally developing sibling while the other half should be only children. Questionnaires filled out by the child’s parents and teacher will be used to evaluate the success of peer relationships in four areas: closeness to child’s age, variety of activities, activities outside of a prearranged group, and mutual responsiveness. It is expected that a strong correlation between success of peer relationships and having siblings will be found.
Board 26
MRI Analysis of Bipolar and Non-Bipolar Adolescents: Comparing Brain Volume to the Intensity/Duration and Type of Medication Jennifer A. Johnson
Previous research found that adolescents with bipolar disorder display less brain mass in areas such as the hippocampus, amygdala and thalamus, the variables that have been suggested to be the basis behind this complication are the strength/ length of the disorder, and types of medication. This study was devised to see if there are any significant correlations between the brain abnormalities and these variables, by comparing bipolar and non-bipolar participants over a four year period. It is hypothesized that bipolar participants are more likely to have brain irregularities when the intensity and duration of the disorder is higher. There will be 60-80 participants ranging from ages 6 to 18 in areas of NY, NJ and PA. New York Presbyterian Hospital will be where the interviews, evaluations and MRI analyses will be taken for all three trials. If the results concur with our hypothesis, there can be future procedures taken to discover if the brain abnormalities are a result or cause of the disorder.
Board 27
Correlations between Childhood Aggression and Physical Health: Does the
more Aggressive Child show a prevalence of Childhood Diseases?
This study will examine the level of aggression in males aged 5-10 from the IU-20 school district in Pennsylvania correlated against the prevalence of childhood diseases in their medical records. The teacher and parent will be given the Behavior Dimensions Rating Scale (BDRS) to test informant views of the child’s aggression. Finally a child’s medical history questionnaire will be administered to the parents. This study will focus on the more immediate effects of the aggressive lifestyle on children instead of the widespread traditional focuses on the child’s future. It is hypothesized that more aggressively rated a child is, the higher the prevalence of childhood diseases on the medical questionnaire.
Board 28
John McCahey Abstract
The purpose of this study will be to test the effect of aggressive television on children’s aggressive behavior. Partaking in the study will be 220 elementary school students between the ages of 5 & 7. There will be an even amount of boys and girls. The children will be asked to watch either an aggressive or non-aggressive television show and will then observed right after in a play room. They will be surrounded by an assortment of children’s toys and will be measured based on the aggressive behavior they display. The study is expected to show a significant relationship between TV shows and aggressive behavior. The children will become more aggressive after watching the aggressive television shows.
Board 29
Differences in the Severity of Autism Between Urban and Rural Regions Victoria R. Perks
The intention of this
proposed study is to determine a relationship between the
Board 30
The Relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and the Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony Laura E. Hart
The intention of this study is to investigate if a diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder makes a person a better or worse eyewitness. This study will be conducted in northeastern Pennsylvania and will consist of 36 individuals with diagnosed OCD and 36 healthy controls. Research has found that individuals with OCD have poor memory functioning and deficits in organizational strategies and visuospatial skills; however, in today’s judicial system, these deficits aren’t enough to have the testimony of an eyewitness with OCD dismissed. In this study, participants will be assessed through a multiple choice accuracy test, suggestibility paragraph completion, and a free recall session, all based on previously viewed video content. Results will show if the OCD participants were more or less accurate in recall of eyewitness events.
Board 31
Cognitive Functions in Manic and Depressive Episodes Associated With Bipolar Disorder Nina Muto
The purpose of this study is to determine if spatial memory dysfunction is worse during manic phases than in depressed phases of Bipolar I Disorder. Hippocampal dysfunction, present in bipolar, is reported to lead to poor performance on spatial ability tasks. Thirty male and female Bipolar I patients will be selected from inpatient psychiatric units at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Participants will be assessed for mania by the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and for depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM- IV (SCID). They will then perform the working spatial memory test from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB; CeNeS Ltd, Cambridge, UK) and a virtual reality spatial memory test developed N. Burgess and results will be measured to see if manic participants perform significantly worse on spatial memory tasks.
Board 32 Does Classical Music Aid Study Habits: The Effect of Classical Music on the Recall of TextHeather TropianoThe purpose of this study is to see if classical music has an effect on studying. One hundred undergraduate students will be asked to memorize paragraphs under two different conditions, one in which classical music is playing in the background and one in which there is silence. Musical experience and demographics will be measured. Participants will then be randomly assigned to which condition they are in first- silence or the classical music condition. In each condition, they will be given a paragraph to memorize and later recall. If participants in the classical music condition score higher on text recall than those in the silence condition, as expected, it will indicate that classical music aids study habits. Board 33Verbal Working Memory Capacity Among Bilingual and Monolingual High School Students Michael Frechen
The intention of this study is to gauge verbal working memory (vWM) capacity differences between bilingual (English- and Spanish-fluent) and monolingual (English-fluent) high school students and to analyze changes in vWM after 2 years of instruction in an additional foreign language. Research indicates that multilinguals score significantly higher on vWM tests than monolinguals (Papagno & Vallar, 1995), suggesting the importance of vWM to language acquisition. Forward digit span and nonword repetition tasks will be used to assess vWM capacity of both groups at the onset of the study and after 2 years of additional language instruction. If results support the research hypothesis, earlier integration of second language instruction during the critical period of language development might strengthen vWM. Board 34Alzheimer’s Disease: Are There Gender Differences in Olfaction Loss? Michael J. Garcia
This study will investigate any gender differences in olfaction loss in Alzheimer’s disease. This study will take part in the New York metropolitan area with participants from hospitals, medical centers, and assisted living homes. Approximately 100 people will be obtained ranging between 50-85 years of age. Participants will be given the Mini-mental State Examination among other tests to assess level of dementia. Participants will be given the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and the Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test for assessment of olfaction loss. Significant results can possibly lead to early diagnosis and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Board 35Pheromone Detection in Marmoset Monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) With and Without Main Olfactory Bulb Ajeem J. Evans
I hypothesize pheromone detection is not functional in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus), if odorant detection has been terminated. This study will examine how the accessory olfactory bulb’s (AOB) pheromone detection depends upon the main olfactory bulb’s (MOB) odorant detection. Sixteen marmoset monkeys will be exposed to odorants and pheromones. After olfactory exposure, complete and partial lesions will be conducted on their MOBs, in order to eliminate odorant detection. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals will be analyzed before and after the lesions. Intensities of BOLD signals will be used as measures of the AOB, MOB, hypothalamus, and amygdala responses to olfactory exposures. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be used to obtain BOLD signals. Board 36The Relationship Between Music and Helping: Does Music’s Ability to Uplift Mood Correlate with the Likelihood to Engage in Prosocial Behavior? Eva A. Piatek
Several studies have shown that positive moods can increase helping behaviors. Other studies demonstrate that music can have a significant effect on mood states. The purpose of this study is to show that listening to pleasing music can raise positive moods, which will highly correlate with the likelihood to help others as a result. This study will be conducted in Northeastern Pennsylvania at The University of Scranton. Students between the ages of 18 and 22 will be given the Profile of Mood States test to assess their moods before and after listening to music. Additional tests and questionnaires will also be administered to assess music preferences and prosocial behaviors. Board 37The Relationship Between Music Preference and Location to Personality Thomas R. Manganelli
This study was conducted to find the relationship between a person’s music preference to their personality as well as their location (where they grew up) to their personality. The revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) will be posted on a public website in order to obtain participants from all over the United States. In addition, questions on music preference and location will be added to the survey. There will be a minimum of 103 participants and their data on location and music preference will be analyzed using a chi-squared test while the relationship between the music preference and location to the NEO-PI scores will be analyzed with a multivariate analysis of variance. Board 38The Influence that Personality has on Exercise-Induced Mood Enhancement Gia Pittaluga
Several past studies have provided growing evidence in the correlation between exercise and mood enhancement. In a specific study conducted with females, it was shown that personality was not a factor in whether or not their mood was enhanced. The purpose of this current study is to determine if those previous results generalize to the male population. The Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Brunei Mood Scale will be used to evaluate personality characteristics and the current mood of the participants. All participants will be male volunteers with previous exercise experience. The study will be completed at The YMCA gym in Summit, New Jersey. Therefore, the findings of the study will mainly be based on Caucasian males with high socioeconomic status. Board 39Exercise Effects and Postpartum
Depression in Women of High and Low Socioeconomic Statuses The purpose of this study is to find out if exercise can be used to prevent postpartum depression across women of high and low socioeconomic statutes. Participants in the study will be recruited in Washington D.C. They will be 20 to 30 years old and will have had at least one previous pregnancy. Participants’ will be assessed through the Beck Depression Inventory and they will get to select which group they want to belong to: the exercise group, placebo group which will have mediation sessions, or the no-treatment group. Six weeks postnatal participants will be assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. It is expected that women of both socioeconomic statuses will benefit from exercising. Board 40Abstract-- The purpose of this study is to see if there is a difference in self-mutilation between prescription medication and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) amongst those who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Ninety participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups, DBT, medication, and both. These participants will be 90% female and 10% male comprised of 37% Caucasian, 24% African American, 17% Hispanic, 13% Asian, and 9% as other. The DIB-Revised scale will be used to determine those who have BPD. It is hypothesized that those who undergo both treatments will self-mutilate less than those who receive 1 treatment. If the results are as expected it will help to better understand the treatments of people with BPD. Board 41Patients that take Opiate Drugs for Pain Relief Suffer with Various Side Effects Including Depression
Katryna Reilly
Medical History states the benefits of using opiate drugs for pain relief reasons including using morphine during the civil war as a pain reliever and an anti-anxiety medication. Opium has been used for years as both an analgesic and a euphoriant; however, opiate drugs cause several side effects such as muscular weakness, memory loss, and depression. This study will focus on the damaging aftereffects that opiate drugs play. Using 50 participants from three separate hospitals, information was obtained that lead to confirmation that patients who use opiate drugs suffer with depression. Furthermore, the longer one uses these drugs, the more likely that they will suffer with depression as a side effect. Board 42Abstract Lauren M. Hosko
‘Anxiety,’ the Latin word angere, means ‘to choke,’ and the word “choke” is commonly used in sports talk to describe a mishap in performance, frequently due to anxiety. How athletes deal with anxiety is vital for performance because how we adapt can have a negative impact on performance. Learning to mentally practice, relax, concentrate and performing superstitious behaviors have been known to greatly aid athletes in reducing anxiety to promote optimal performance. The purpose of this study is to establish, through self-report questionnaires, the main effects of anxiety on colligate athletes and to determine the most effective way to reduce anxiety. The projected results of this study have found that athletes who performed superstitious behaviors reported lower levels of anxiety during performance. Board 43
The Relationship between Supplement Intake and the Alleviation of Anxiety
Kelly E. Herman
The intention of this longitudinal study is to analyze the effect of supplement intake on anxiety compared to a placebo or medication. This study consists of 60 participants randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. All participants have been previously diagnosed with moderate clinical levels of anxiety from surrounding counseling facilities. Previous studies have shown that levels of anxiety can be decreased by the intake of complimentary medicine including n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and Valerian. After a 12 week trial, participants will be recorded on levels of anxiety as assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) from levels before the study. Proposed results should show a decrease in levels of anxiety for participants taking the supplements.
Board 44 Effect of Psychopathy on Criminality in
Adult Males
The purpose of this study is
to see If there is a relationship between
Board 45
Abstract Andrena Forlenzo The benefits of premarital counseling have been clearly reported in many psychological journals. Premarital counseling should positively affect marital satisfaction, commitment, and conflict. By participating in premarital counseling the likeliness of divorce also decreases. After gathering information from married and divorced individuals of both sexes, results will show a significant difference between those who do and do not receive premarital counseling. Marital satisfaction, commitment, and conflict levels will be examined and correlated to individuals who do and do not receive premarital counseling. Those individuals who do or do not receive counseling will also be correlated to whether they are married or divorced. Board 47 Influence of Childhood Shyness: A Link Between Childhood Shyness and Adult Social Phobia Christina Henriquez The intention of this study
is to correlate childhood shyness to adult social phobias. This study will be conducted on the East and
West coasts of the Adams, M. A.
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27 Curtin, M. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 46 Dench, M.
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5 Henriques, C. ..............................................................................................................................................47 Herman, K. E.
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