Mountain Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Chavez, Ernest, committee member"

Browsing by Author "Chavez, Ernest, committee member"

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Open Access
An evaluation of executive functions, cognitive control and a neurocognitive profile of college binge drinkers
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Banz, Barbara C., author; Davalos, Deana B., advisor; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Troup, Lucy, committee member; Davies, Timothy, committee member
Introduction: Binge drinking is a detrimental behavior which presents with consumption of large amounts of alcohol however, does not present with symptoms of dependence. The college population is a unique group to investigate due to the neuroplasticity and development those in this cohort are undergoing. Specifically, this age group is experiencing a natural period of neural immaturity specific to the prefrontal cortex. In addition to being identified by the personal, physical, and academic detriments caused by binge drinking, it was hypothesized this population of binge drinkers could be categorized with a neurocognitive profile which varies from their non-drinking peers. Participants: One hundred and ninety seven Colorado State University students were recruited and categorized in to different levels of binge alcohol consumption on non-drinkers based on two self-report measures. Method: Alcohol consumption was evaluated through a sex based questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Neurocognitive performance was assessed through six tasks: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Delay Discounting Task, One Touch Stockings of Cambridge, Trail Making Task (A and B), the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function, and the Dysexecutive Questionnaire. Results: An initial MANOVA was used to assess differences between non-drinkers and binge drinkers, showing no significance, F (12, 19) = 1.96, p = 0.09. A secondary MANOVA was used to evaluate differences across different categories of binge drinkers and non-drinkers, where significance was noted, F (36, 92.32) = 1.56, p = 0.045. The post hoc tests suggest the significance of this relationship was due to poorer performance on the WCST by binge drinkers, F (3, 42) = 3.27; p = 0.03. Conclusions: Though the deficits were not as vast as hypothesized, the inability for binge drinkers to complete an equal number of categories in the WCST as their non-drinking peers holds interesting conclusions. Those which are discussed relate to binge drinkers' inefficient self-reporting of executive functioning performance, as well as allowing us to possibly understand why we see differences in binge drinkers' perception of alcohol outcomes and their personal self-efficacy with alcohol consumption.
Open Access
An examination of the relationships between vocational identity, hardiness, meaningful work, burnout, and work engagement
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Loebel, Greg A., author; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Conroy, Samantha, committee member
A cross-sectional study was conducted to expand the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and personal resources within the model. The association between vocational identity as a personal resource and two criterion variables of burnout and work engagement were examined in a sample of 255 full-time U.S. working adults using Amazon's Mechanical Turk to collect survey data. JD-R is situated within occupational stress research that incorporates burnout and work engagement as the two primary constructs other variables are related to. Vocational identity has seen very little research in working adult samples and has been limited to career development outcomes. Minimal examination has been conducted of core features of identity within the JD-R model. Therefore, this study explored vocational identity as a personal resource that predicts burnout and work engagement, hypothesizing a negative relationship with the former and positive relationship with the latter. Results indicated vocational identity had significant main effects on both work engagement and burnout. Additionally, the perception that one's work is meaningful was examined as an important job resource hypothesized to explain the relationship between the main predictor and criterion variables as a mediator. Results also indicated that meaningful work significantly mediated the direct effects of vocational identity on work engagement and burnout. Since stress is a natural part of work, one's stress appraisal and coping style has a significant influence on well-being outcomes. Hardiness, which is a personality style that influences how one may effectively cope with stress, is viewed as an important personal resource. It was hypothesized that hardiness moderated the strength of the direct relationship between vocational identity and the criterion variables, as well as the strength of the relationship with the meaningful work mediator. A proposed moderated mediation model was tested where vocational identity predicted burnout and work engagement through the mediating relationship of meaningful work. The mediated effect was expected to be stronger for those higher in hardiness. Results revealed that hardiness only had a moderating effect on the relationship between vocational identity and the exhaustion subscale of burnout, but no significant moderating effect was detected for the other two burnout subscales or any of the three work engagement subscales. Results also showed no detectable moderating effect of hardiness on the indirect relationship of vocational identity on work engagement and burnout through meaningful work.
Open Access
An exploration of Latine experiences of school and college readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic: a LatCrit and cultural wealth perspective
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Joachin, Vanessa S., author; Conner, Bradley, advisor; Fisher, Gwen, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Riggs, Nathaniel, committee member
Marginalized communities, including Latine people, have historically been denied access to post-secondary education. This is not surprising when one considers that U.S. institutions of education were not conceived for People of Color. While enrollment trends for Latine college-bound students are promising, disparities persist. Latine communities still have higher rates of school attrition than non-Latine populations and the increase in high school graduation and college enrollment still lags non-Latine communities. While LatCrit and Community Cultural Wealth literature provide a valuable and comprehensive approach to understanding the experience of Communities of Color, cultural and social capital scholarship and deficiency thinking continue to be prevalent in current Latine education and college preparation research. Most research places the dominant (school or program) narrative at the center of studies. Additionally, COVID-19 brought national concern and discourse around accessible childcare, student health, and education loss as well as the exacerbated inequity in these domains on low-income and BIPOC students and families. Given that systematically created education gaps have always existed and disproportionately hurt BIPOC communities, it is important to understand the impact of COVID-19 on those established gaps, how BIPOC students and families navigate school during the pandemic, and how communities and institutions are supportive or hostile toward BIPOC students in their pursuit of education. This study used Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis informed by LatCrit and Community Cultural Wealth frameworks to explore (a) how the pandemic has impacted the lives of Latine high school students, their families, and their communities (b) how the negative effects of the pandemic connect to systemic and historical oppression of the Latine community (c) the students' use of intrapersonal and community strengths to navigate school and post-school plans during the pandemic. The sample of Latine 11th and 12th grade students were predominantly low-income and self-identified as Latine. Data was analyzed by coding for meaning units and themes. Themes were organized using Nvivo software.
Open Access
Campus climate for diversity and its impact on sense of belonging
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Marquez, Angela, author; Aragon, Antonette, advisor; Anderson, Myron, committee member; Anderson, Sharon, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Kuk, Linda, committee member
Intentional efforts toward recruitment and retention of diverse populations of students, faculty, and staff are essential for the evolution and development of higher education institutions. Progress relies on a commitment to diversity in all facets of the institution in order to embrace a population that continues to diversify. Through assessment and evaluation of current student populations, understanding the impact of this effort is realized through an evaluation of the environment. This study utilizes data previously gathered through a campus climate survey at one university. Guided by a Critical Race Quantitative Intersectionality (CRQI) Framework, a quantitative methodology and an intersectional data mining approach is performed. Analysis begins with demographic data disaggregated by race, and then separated by gender identity and first-generation status to investigate for differences between and within groups on an established Campus Climate for Diversity dimension and a Sense of Belonging dimension. The data are analyzed through ANOVAs, split-file ANOVAs, and Factorial ANOVAs. The results indicate statistical, significant differences between races on all measures of the Sense of Belonging dimension and differences within racial groups when analyzed at the intersection of gender identity. Last, through simple linear regression analysis, campus climate for diversity serves as a predictive variable to sense of belonging for students attending this university.
Open Access
Clarifying the construct of compassion: ability to downregulate emotion as a potential mediator between empathic arousal and compassion
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Merriman, Leslie A., author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Allen, Chris, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Souza, Caridad, committee member
The association between empathy and compassion was examined in a sample of Americans aged 35 to 86, using national survey and phone interview data, biological data, and neuropsychological data. Given the postulation that empathy is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for compassion to emerge, compassion is conceptualized here as an emergent process that is contingent upon empathic arousal. The degree to which an experience of empathic arousal translates into compassion is hypothesized to depend upon an individual's ability to downregulate the emotional response associated with empathic arousal, which is conceptualized as physiological upregulation in response to witnessing another's suffering. If this hypothesis is supported, then the ability to downregulate physiological processes associated with empathic arousal should mediate a positive association between the activation of empathic feelings and engagement with compassionate behavior. While empathic arousal was found to predict compassion, we were unable to infer that downregulation processes mediated the relationship. The results of this study present preliminary findings that may inform future work aiming to clarify the construct of compassion. The results may also provide useful groundwork for future work about "compassion fatigue" and about how the emergence of compassionate action in therapeutic interactions can be cultivated.
Open Access
Combining personality and masculinity in perceptions of alcohol use
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Jurica, John, author; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Prince, Mark, advisor; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Harman, Jen, committee member; Miller, Lisa, committee member
Alcohol consumption and alcohol consequences among men in college are significant health concerns, making it important to examine how psychosocial and biological variables surrounding masculine gender norms may play a role in alcohol-related behaviors. Men's conformity to certain masculine norms in the United States is a predictor of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Sensation seeking, which occurs at higher levels among men, is a personality trait related to increased alcohol consumption and increased risk-taking behavior, which also occurs at high levels among men. Despite theoretical overlap between these personality-based and psychosocial variables, they have not been empirically compared. Based on evidence from peer influences and masculinity, it is possible that individuals that endorse traditional masculine norms may experience peer norms among close friends that promote and encourage dangerous drinking behaviors. Quantitative methods were employed to explore endorsement of traditional masculine norms, personality variables with known relationships with alcohol-related outcomes, peer norms for alcohol use and alcohol-related outcomes. Qualitative methods were utilized to explore the ways in which participants view drinking and drinking behaviors in the context of masculinity and male peers. Results suggested that there are significant relationships between sensation seeking and several subscales of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI), most notably risk taking (r = .77). Results of several path analyses suggested that risk taking and sensation seeking predict alcohol consumption and alcohol consequences via descriptive norms for alcohol use. Relevant themes from the qualitative analysis included posturing, no effect, consumption habits, sources of influence, and drinking and responsibility. Quantitative and Qualitative results provided evidence of a relationship between peer norms for alcohol use and masculinity. Quantitative results show relationships between several subscales of the CMNI and injunctive and descriptive norms for alcohol use among close friends. These results also suggest that higher endorsement of risk taking and sensation seeking is related to increased perceptions of peer alcohol use, which in turn predicts alcohol consumption and alcohol problems. Qualitative results also provide evidence of a connection between masculinity and alcohol consumption as well as masculinity and risky behaviors while drinking. The qualitative results also provide evidence of context-specific behaviors and specific mechanisms through which masculine norms and peer influences impact alcohol behaviors. These findings advance research aimed at understanding relationships between masculinity, sensation seeking, peer norms, and alcohol-related behaviors. Implications for treatment and prevent, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Open Access
Communication patterns in verbal versus non-verbal hostage negotiations
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Rassti, Roxanne M., author; Bloom, Larry, advisor; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Unnithan, N. Prabha, committee member
While the use of mobile phones and text messaging has made it easier for hostage negotiators to communicate with other law enforcement personnel in crisis situations, little research has examined how text messaging could be used to communicate with the perpetrator. The purpose of this preliminary, qualitative study was to explore the similarities and differences in communication patterns of two hostage negotiations, one that took place verbally and one that occurred through text message. Both transcripts were analyzed using the Crisis Communication Rating Scale (CCRS), a behavioral coding system developed by McClain (2004). The study provided initial insight into several important similarities and differences between the modes of communication. First, the hostage negotiator relied heavily on the use of personal and situational disclosures to resolve the situation, regardless of the mode of communication. Additionally, both the hostage negotiator and barricaded suspect used reflective statements more frequently when they were able to communicate verbally. Lastly, when communicating through text message, the hostage negotiator used persuasive statements more frequently, while the barricaded suspect used expressive statements of anger more frequently. Possible implications for training and practice are discussed.
Open Access
Cumulative trauma and neuropsychological functioning: examining the role of resilience
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Essert, Deborah Pratt, author; Conner, Bradley T., advisor; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Davalos, Deana B., committee member; Biringen, Zeynep, committee member
Previous research has linked childhood trauma to a range of adverse psychological and behavioral consequences which affect a child's wellbeing and ability to be successful socially and academically. Previous studies have also found childhood trauma to be associated with deficits in neuropsychological functioning. It has been proposed that the experience of trauma at critical points disrupts a child's neurodevelopment and that the disruption and subsequent deficits in neuropsychological functioning in part explain the psychological and behavioral struggles exhibited by traumatized children. This study aimed to explore the relation between cumulative trauma and psychological, behavioral, and neuropsychological outcomes among system-involved youth. Resilience and age at onset were included in analyses as potential mediators. Results indicated that more trauma types experienced predicted more psychological symptoms, and more behavioral concerns among youth living with their biological parents. In addition, deficits in executive function, specifically in shifting, were predicted by cumulative trauma. These results demonstrate the importance of accounting for the number of traumas experienced by youth present with related symptoms and behavioral concerns, and highlight the need to continue to explore the influence of cumulative trauma on neuropsychological function.
Open Access
Developing the LGBT Minority Stress Measure
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Outland, Pearl L., author; Harman, Jennifer J., advisor; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Fruhauf, Christine, committee member
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals face significant mental and physical health disparities compared to their heterosexual peers. Such differential outcomes are often attributed to minority stress, chronic stress that is specific to one’s marginalized status and which is distinct from normal every day life stress. Current research, which attempts to assess the relationship between minority stress and health, is stifled by lack of a uniform measurement tool to operationalize the construct. The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive tool that encapsulates all of the major dimensions of minority stress, as defined by Meyer’s (2003) LGB minority stress model. The final LGBT Minority Stress Measure is a 25-item self-report scale, with seven subscales: identity concealment, everyday discrimination/ microaggressions, rejection anticipation, discrimination events, internalized stigma, victimization events, and community connectedness. Results from 640 participants, including 119 of which identified as gender non-conforming, supported the psychometric properties of the scale. Additionally, consistent with existing literature, greater minority stress was associated with increased psychological distress.
Open Access
Event-related potentials in college-aged binge drinkers and non drinkers
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Banz, Barbara C., author; Davalos, Deanna, advisor; Davies, Timothy, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member
Recent research has begun investigating whether there are neurophysiological differences in individuals who drink heavily compared to those who do not drink. Research has shown significantly reduced P3 amplitudes in response to neutral but not alcohol-related stimuli in alcoholics and their children. The purpose of this study was to further investigate this phenomenon comparing event-related potentials (ERP) of high drinkers to non drinkers when presented positive, negative and alcohol related images. Participants were categorized as a drinker or non drinker based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a self report measure of alcohol use. Group comparisons were made based on differences in amplitude and latency of the P2 and the late positive potential (LPP), a component believed to be more evaluative in nature. This data indicated significant difference in the amplitude of the P2, meaning initial attention is greater in the binge drinkers compared to the non-drinking group. No differences were found in LPP amplitudes between drinkers and non-drinkers. These results suggest that there may be neurophysiological indices for binge drinking which may be useful for identifying individuals who are either at risk or currently abusing alcohol.
Open Access
Existential concerns and risky behavior in college students
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Alliegro, Marissa C., author; Prince, Mark, advisor; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, committee member
Substance use and sexual behavior are highly prevalent on college campuses (Arria et al., 2017; American College Health Association, 2018; Schulenberg et al., 2017). Substance misuse and risky sex can lead to adverse consequences (Furman & Collibee, 2014; Patrick & Terry-McElrath, 2016; Read, Haas. Radomski, Wickham, & Borish, 2016). There is high comorbidity between anxiety, substance use, and substance use disorders (Wolitzky et al., 2018). Existential anxiety may be a form of anxiety that is relevant to the college experience because college aged emerging adults are coping with existential issues, e.g., freedom, isolation, meaninglessness, and death, often for the first time. In a sample of undergraduate students, existential concerns predicted higher reports of binge drinking behavior. Existential concerns did not predict cannabis use or unprotected vaginal sex. Moderation analyses indicated that variables such as coping, and mindfulness are variables of interest that require further research to understand their influence on risky behavior as they relate to existential anxiety. Supplemental analyses revealed that a focus on construct validity and continued measurement development for assessing existential concerns is critical. Various existential themes (i.e., isolation, meaning, freedom) were found to be more strongly associated with risky behavior. This study demonstrates the importance of considering the role existential anxiety plays in engagement of high-risk behaviors among college students.
Open Access
Exploring the phenomena of African American college student's active use of mental health resources
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Burns, Marvin Jerry, author; Carlson, Laurie, advisor; Gonzalez-Voller, Jessica, advisor; Ford, Bryant, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member
This qualitative study explores the regular and active use of mental health services for a group of African American undergraduate students, currently enrolled in collegiate institutions in the United States. Using phenomenological methodologies, this study intended to understand and describe the essence of the phenomena of the regular and active use of mental health services for these individuals. The researcher collected, transcribed, and analyzed data from semi-structured, open-ended interviews for themes that presented the essence of these individuals' experiences. Findings describe a group of individuals who are self-motivated to pursue mental health resources. These participants have (a) a strong desire to maintain their agency in selecting their mental health providers, (b) are most often constantly overcoming some levels of stigma, (c) believe in the benefit of counseling/therapy, (d) have a variety of experience and experiences with counseling/therapy, and (e) have a strong preference for working exclusively with providers who are persons of color or have similar racial and cultural familiarity to themselves. Peers, more often than family, encouraged and supported regular and active use of mental health services. Participants expressed that navigating access to a provider, cost, and stigma were barriers before and during use. Implications of this study encourage the application of multicultural and racially and culturally relevant training for all providers and reiterates the need for diverse counseling and mental health professionals to meet the mental health needs for African American college students.
Open Access
Factors that influence overweight and obese men's participation in healthy eating, exercise, and weight management programs
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) MacDonald, Tiare Michelle, author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Wdowik, Melissa, committee member; Henry, Kimberly, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member
Despite the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in men, little is known about eating and exercise behaviors in this population. Additionally, research indicates that men are resistant to seeking help for weight concerns. Few studies, however, have assessed the need for specialized weight interventions designed for overweight and obese men. The present study attempted to gain an in-depth understanding of factors that influence overweight and obese men's engagement in healthy eating, exercise, and weight interventions through the use of qualitative methods. Research questions were developed using a framework that combined components of the theory of planned behavior and PRECEDE-PROCEED model. Six focus groups were conducted with 42 overweight and obese men living in Northern Colorado. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, an analyzed using Ethnographic Content Analysis. Time, convenience, knowledge, social support, stigma, and masculinity emerged as important factors that influence men's weight-related health behaviors and help-seeking. Results provide support for the development of gender-sensitive weight interventions that take these factors into account.
Open Access
How women's calling for science careers relates to psychological predictors of persistence in science
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Reed, Kaitlyn A., author; Dik, Bryan J., advisor; Henry, Kim, committee member; Bloodhart, Brittany, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Fischer, Emily, committee member
Society is lacking numbers and diversity of trained scientists to address important key problems. Undergraduate women have been identified as a group that leaves the science-career pipeline at high rates (NSF, 2015), though researchers have highlighted science self-efficacy, identity, values, and intentions, as critical predictors of their persistence (Estrada et al., 2011). The current study proposes and investigates a new predictor of women's persistence in science: perceiving a calling as a scientist. Perceiving a calling predicts career development tasks and outcomes that are similar to known predictors of women's persistence in science (Hirschi, 2012). The present study explores if and how calling as a scientist relates to undergraduate women's science self-efficacy, identity as a scientist, interest in science, scientific community values, and intentions to pursue science. Bivariate correlations suggest perceiving a calling as a scientist is positively related to undergraduate women's science self-efficacy, identity as a scientist, prosocial values of the scientific community, and intentions to pursue science. Using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a framework, the hypothesis that the relationship between perceiving a calling as a scientist and intentions to pursue science is mediated by science self-efficacy and science identity (respectively) was supported. Explanations and implications of all investigated relationships are discussed. This study establishes calling as a new predictor, and SCCT as useful framework, for continued investigation of women's persistence in science.
Open Access
Impression management manifested on LinkedIn and in resumes
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Cotter, Lauren, author; Cleveland, Jeanette, advisor; Murphy, Kevin, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Conroy, Samantha, committee member
This study examines the effects of the use of impression management tactics on the professional networking site, LinkedIn. It makes three primary contributions to the literature. First, this study examines how a job seeker's use of impression management on LinkedIn affects inferences of his or her cognitive ability and conscientiousness. In addition, I compared inferences of cognitive ability and conscientiousness made from resumes and LinkedIn profiles, which showed inferences made from LinkedIn profiles have incremental validity over inferences made from resumes. Finally, these findings build preliminary validation evidence for the use of LinkedIn as a selection screening tool.
Open Access
Marijuana use impacted by legalization and individual factors
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Parnes, Jamie E., author; Conner, Bradley T., advisor; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Coatsworth, Doug, committee member
In 2014, marijuana became legal for recreational use for adults 21 and older in Colorado (Colorado Const. art XVIII § 16., 2012). There are potential health risks related to marijuana dependence, which are more prominent in adolescent users (Volkow, Baler, Compton, & Weiss, 2014). Medical marijuana legalization has not been shown to increase marijuana use or prevalence of dependence (Cerdá, Wall, Keyes, Galea, & Hasin, 2012). Changes related to legalization may include increased availability and social acceptance, as well as decreased price and perceived harm of use (Hopfer, 2014). There also may be increased interest in moving to Colorado related to the changes in marijuana laws (United States Census Bureau, 2015; Institutional Research & Analysis, 2014). The facets of sensation seeking, risk seeking and experience seeking, influence marijuana use (Zuckerman, 2007; Conner & Henson, 2011). Sexual orientation has a quadratic relation to marijuana use (Ford & Jasinski, 2006). Use among bisexuals is higher than use at either end of the spectrum (Eisenberg & Wechsler, 2003). Based on these findings, several hypotheses were made. First, marijuana use would increase in college students after legalization, however just for those 21 and older. Next, risk seeking and experience seeking would both uniquely moderate marijuana use before and after legalization and in underage and of-age students. Third, sexual orientation would have a quadratic relation with marijuana use. Finally, the relation between the influence of marijuana leglislation on non-residents decisions to attend a Colorado college and marijuana use was examined. Data was collected from undergraduate students (N = 5241) at a Colorado university. Participants were assessed for marijuana use behavior, sensation seeking, sexual orientation, and influence of marijuana laws on non-resident decision to attend Colorado schools. Pearson’s Chi-square, analysis of variance, negative binomial regressions, and polyserial correlations were used to test the hypotheses. Results indicated that marijuana use has increased since legalization for all students, but moreso for those over 21 (p < .001). No differences in frequency of past month use was found between pre and post legalization (p = .615). Regression analysis found experience seeking to be a significant predictor of past 30 day use (p <.05). Additionally, risk seeking predicted use for those under 21 (p <.01). A quadratic relation was found between sexual orientation and past month use, where use increased at a decreasing rate from the homosexual end of the spectrum to the heterosexual end (p <.01). Correlations were found between degree of marijuana law influence and both past 30 and lifetime use among non-resident college students (ρ = 0.29, p < .001; ρ = 0.17, p < .001). Overall, legalization, experience seeking, underage risk seeking, sexual orientation, and legislation influence on decision making all predicted marijuana use. These findings may help inform other states considering legalization of potential outcomes and groups at higher risk of marijuana use. Future research should examine longer term effects of legalization, as well as effective interventions.
Open Access
Minority stress, work stress, and health inequity for Hispanic/Latinx K-12 teachers in Colorado: a mixed methods study
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Holm, Abby K. Johnson, author; Graham, Dan, advisor; Prasad, Joshua, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Faw, Meara, committee member; Parks, Elizabeth, committee member
While stressors related to teaching are already concerning (AFT, 2017; NIOSH, 2016), particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Hispanic/Latinx teachers likely experience identity-related stressors in addition to occupational stressors (e.g., see NIOSH Occupational Health Equity Program, 2018). According to the Allostatic Load Model (McEwen & Stellar, 1993) and the Minority Stress Model (Meyer, 2006), these combined stressors may lead to increased strain on the body, taking a toll on the overall health and wellness of this group. Using a mixed-methods design, I recruited participants in partnership with the CEA (CEA; teachers union) in November 2020. The sample consisted of 851 Colorado teachers and union members who completed an online survey on their experiences of discrimination, stress, and health in their workplace. Twenty-six of these teachers (most of whom were Hispanic/Latinx or Teachers of Color) were interviewed for 45-60 minutes on these experiences as well as their feelings regarding diversity affinity groups as a practice to celebrate diverse identities in their workplace. First, I found that Hispanic/Latinx teachers experienced more intersectional discrimination than white teachers; however, there were no group differences in workplace discrimination or work-related stress in this study. Secondly, Hispanic/Latinx teachers did not have poorer health than white teachers, though they had marginally poorer health than non-Hispanic Teachers of Color. Finally, while I hypothesized that organizational support would moderate the relationship between workplace discrimination and health conditions, I found that work discrimination did not predict more health conditions/symptoms, but organizational support did predict fewer health conditions/symptoms. Nearly every Hispanic/Latinx interviewee reported workplace hostility, and most had experienced one or more forms of discrimination at work. Many teachers responded favorably to the idea of diversity affinity groups to celebrate diversity and deter feelings of isolation, but there were also several concerns (i.e., the potential for isolation or surface-level efforts) regarding their implementation. While discrimination in the workplace did not impact Hispanic/Latinx teachers' health, these results suggest that organizational support can have a powerful and positive effect on teachers' health, as other occupational literature suggests (Baran et al., 2012). Future research should study these variables longitudinally and outside of a pandemic and consider other implications of discrimination in the workplace besides its effect on health within this population. The results from this dissertation suggest that diversity affinity groups may be an excellent resource for repairing harm and making change, but above all, Hispanic/Latinx teachers simply need to be heard.
Open Access
Reducing hiring bias in asynchronous video interviews
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Benson, Annika, author; Prasad, Josh, advisor; Gardner, Danielle, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Trzebiatowski, Tiffany, committee member
Due to COVID 19, many organizations have made the switch to asynchronous video interviews. Current research on video interviewing does not adequately address the potential bias that may arise from using a video platform rather than a face-to-face interview. Online, candidates may inadvertently give off signals that are interpreted as indicators of competence, potentially leading to lower hiring rates of minority interviewees. The current study aims to determine how a hiring manager's perception of warmth and competence of an interviewee, coupled with their Social Dominance Orientation, affects hiring decisions. Experimental stimuli include fictitious Hispanic, Black, and White job applicants who provide video interview responses with manipulations made to impact video quality. Hiring manager perceptions of warmth and competence, along with overall perceptions of hirability, were assessed considering the impacts of candidate race, video quality, and manager Social Dominance Orientation. This work may highlight considerations that should be made to ensure equity in online video interviews.
Open Access
Structural equation modeling of rural adolescent inhalant abuse across ethnic groups
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Wood, James W., author; Bell, Paul, advisor; Edwards, Ruth, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Banning, James, committee member
This project aimed to increase understanding of inhalant abuse among ethnically diverse rural adolescents, an under-researched population when it comes to substance abuse (Pruitt, 2009). The present project used general findings about substance use from previous research reported in the literature, as well as findings specifically addressing inhalants, to test structural equation models of inhalant abuse for three major ethnic groups: African Americans, Mexican Americans and Whites. The sample consisted of survey responses from a total of approximately 17,000 rural adolescents, primarily from the Western and Southeastern United States, and was a subset of data collected under a nation-wide study of substance use by rural youth. The size and diversity of this sample allowed for the testing of Peer Cluster Theory and its ability to predict inhalant abuse across three ethnicities. The study utilized Structural Equation Modeling and included the following constructs: family caring, family sanctions, religious identification, school adjustment, peer drug associations, and inhalant abuse. According to Peer Cluster Theory, the effects of all the above factors on inhalant abuse are mediated through peer drug associations. The first hypothesis of this study was that Peer Cluster Theory would be successful as a predictive model for inhalant abuse, as it has been for other types of drug abuse (Breitmayer et al., 1993; Oetting, Donnermeyer, & Deffenbacher, 1998; Oetting, Donnermeyer, Trimble, & Beauvais, 1998). The second hypothesis, more exploratory in nature, was based on prior qualitative work (Wood et al., under review) and stated that there would be differences in model fit and/or specific regression coefficient paths across ethnic groups. The third hypothesis, based on findings reported in the literature by Mackesy-Amiti and Fendrich (2000), was that African Americans would have a lower regression coefficient for the path from school adjustment to peer drug associations than would Mexican Americans or Whites. Findings indicated that Peer Cluster Theory was validated as a predictive model of inhalant abuse for all three ethnicities. Measurement variance made ethnic comparisons tenuous, but a substantive difference was found in the regression coefficients for the path from family sanctions to peer drug associations comparing ethnicities, with higher values for African Americans than for Whites. The hypothesis that the path from school adjustment to peer drug associations would be weaker for African Americans was not supported. Implications of the findings, limitations of the study, and directions for future research are discussed.
Open Access
The combined effects of leadership style and organizational culture type on psychological empowerment and organizational commitment
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Raymer, Steven D., author; Cleveland, Jeanette, advisor; Kraiger, Kurt, committee member; Chavez, Ernest, committee member; Mumford, Troy, committee member
While leadership and organizational culture types are suggested to affect one another, contextual issues and unstable conditions make these effects difficult to measure. Using organizational outcomes with previously demonstrated relationships to both leadership and culture types, we create a controlled environment to establish 4 possible leadership and culture combinations. Using regression analysis, we explore possible mediation, moderation, and main effects of each condition on psychological empowerment and organizational commitment. Results indicate a lack of significant main effect by leadership, while "flexible" culture type produced higher scores of both psychological empowerment and organizational commitment over the "stable" culture type.