Browsing by Author "Quirk, Kelley, committee member"
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Item Open Access Attention bias as a mediator of the association between interparental conflict and cortisol reactivity(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Obstfeld, Maya, author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Faw, Meara, committee member; Quirk, Kelley, committee memberThe current study aimed to explore whether attention bias mediated the relationship between adolescents' appraisals of interparental conflict (IPC) and cortisol reactivity (CR). There is a robust literature on the relationship between attention bias and anxiety in children and adults (Bar-Haim et al., 2007; Cisler & Koster, 2011), and an emerging literature on how interparental conflict is associated with an attention bias toward angry interactions (Lucas-Thompson et al., 2020). While there is a robust association in the literature between interparental conflict and cortisol reactivity (Davies et al., 2007; Lucas-Thompson, 2012; Koss et al., 2012), the results of this study found no association between the two variables. Similarly, the results of this study indicated no associations between attention bias and any other variables. The results of this study suggest that attention bias may be a moderator, or risk factor in the relationship between IPC and CR. Additionally, further research is needed to determine whether a conflict specific stressor should be used to elicit more variability in cortisol reactivity. Further research should continue to aim to link neurobiological processes to clinically relevant topics, as it is essential to bridge the gap between the medical field and the psychotherapy process.Item Open Access Becoming fathers: feasibility, acceptability, and exploratory efficacy of a group intervention(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Rayburn, Stephanie, author; Coatsworth, J. Douglas, advisor; Quirk, Kelley, committee member; Brown, Samantha, committee memberThe transition to parenthood brings changes to identity and relationships for new parents. Increasing expectations for father involvement in childcare are emphasizing the importance of the father role, but social supports for new fathers remain scarce. Emerging fathers experience stresses such as identity and role transitions, changes in their relationships, and challenges in developing caregiving skills and father-infant attachment representations. I conducted initial feasibility testing for a novel group intervention at the transition to fatherhood that provides expectant and new fathers with mindfulness-based coping skills, education on relevant topics, and an opportunity to connect with other new fathers. I also administered surveys at pre-test and post-test to assess for potential efficacy trends in the areas of stress, depressive symptoms, measures of father involvement, mindfulness, and relationship satisfaction. Results indicated strong feasibility and high acceptability among the participants. Participants highly valued the group discussion components of the intervention and noted that being able to learn about and process their experiences with other men in the same life stage was unique and important to them. Initial efficacy trends suggest reductions in stress and depressive symptoms, increases in the mindfulness constructs of nonjudgment and nonreactivity, and increases in father representations of attachment. Perinatal intervention specific to fathers remains a promising avenue for further inquiry.Item Open Access Building connection and reducing isolation: a group therapy intervention for LGBTQ+ young adults(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Tuthill, Shelby D., author; Prince, Mark, advisor; Brenner, Rachel, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee member; Quirk, Kelley, committee memberLGBTQ+ people experience poor mental health outcomes relative to their non-LGBTQ+ peers, which may be exacerbated by chronic disconnection from self and others that results from discrimination and other minority stressors. Many LGBTQ+ people find strength and relief from mental health concerns by connecting with supportive, affirming communities. These findings are aligned with relational-cultural theory, which posits that people are wired to be in connection with one another, and that building mutually empathic relationships is central to healing. Although research supports that connecting with LGBTQ+ community is beneficial, there is a paucity of research on how LGBTQ+ people connect with community, what barriers exist to doing so, and how clinicians may help facilitate these healing connections. The present study consisted of two parts. Focus groups were conducted to better understand the nuances of LGBTQ+ community connection and to develop proof of concept for a group therapy intervention for LGBTQ+ emerging adults using both the focus group data and existing scholarship and theory on LGBTQ+ group therapy and relational-cultural theory/therapy. Focus group data was coded using qualitative content analysis and incorporated into the development of a 6-session group intervention, which was then implemented with a group of LGBTQ+ young adults in Colorado. Group therapy participants completed measures of relational health, depression, anxiety, social isolation, sense of LGBTQ+ community, and loneliness before, during, and after the intervention. Changes in scores were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and effect sizes were estimated; medium to large effects were found in the direction of symptom reduction, reduced loneliness and isolation, and improved relational health and sense of community. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.Item Open Access Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on depressive symptoms, stress eating, and telomere length in adolescents at-risk for adult obesity(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Hendrich, Silas Grant, author; Shomaker, Lauren, advisor; Quirk, Kelley, committee member; Bailey, Susan, committee memberRates of adolescent obesity and cardiometabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes are increasing. Recent studies suggest that depression symptoms may be one contributor to obesity and cardiometabolic diseases through stress-related behavioral mechanisms (e.g., stress-eating) and physiological mechanisms (e.g. shortened telomeres). From an allostatic load framework, depression symptoms affect the biological system, potentially exerting sustained damage on stress physiology, and thus, contributing to cardiometabolic disease risk. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated favorable impacts for lowering depression symptoms and lowering symptoms of stress-related eating patterns, yet these effects have not been well studied in adolescents. In the current randomized controlled pilot study, I conducted secondary analyses to explore the effects of a six-session MBI group on lowering depression symptoms, reducing stress-eating, and preserving telomere length, compared to a six-session health education (HE) control group, in 25 adolescent girls (n=14; 56%) and boys (n=11; 44%) at-risk for adult obesity (body mass index [BMI] z-score M=1.56, SD=.55). At baseline/prior to the intervention and again, at an 18-month follow-up, perceived stress and depression symptoms were assessed with validated surveys, stress-eating by laboratory test meal, and average telomere length from whole blood. Dispositional mindfulness by questionnaire, BMI from fasting weight and height, and fasting blood glucose levels were also measured at the same intervals. Analyses of covariance were used to test group condition as a predictor of baseline to 18-month change scores, controlling for the respective baseline level of the outcome variable. Results showed that adolescents who were randomized to the MBI group had less change in stress-eating from baseline to 18-months than those randomized to HE (M=-49.44, SD=81.47 kcal vs. M=217.42, SD=84.88 kcal, Cohen's d=.74, p=.04). There were no other significant between-condition effects. There were moderate, favorable non-significant effects of MBI, compared to HE, for perceived stress (d=.45, p=.21) and depression symptoms (d=.50, p=.23). There was no significant effect on telomere length (d=.05, p=.91). Changes in dispositional mindfulness, BMI, and fasting blood glucose levels were small and also non-significant. Findings from the current project suggest that a relatively brief, MBI group reduces stress-eating in adolescents at-risk for adult obesity over a year and a half later. To what extent MBI, delivered alone or in combination with additional supports, ultimately affects allostatic load and cardiometabolic health remains to be tested in a larger trial.Item Open Access Health discrepancies and marital satisfaction in older couples(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Richkin, Talia, author; Luong, Gloria, advisor; Steger, Michael, committee member; Quirk, Kelley, committee memberMany studies have explored marital satisfaction and the factors that contribute to it such as communication, shared values, sexual satisfaction, and marital conflict. Furthermore, marital satisfaction has been robustly linked to health, and well-being. However, health discrepancy between romantic partners and how such differences in health may be linked to marital satisfaction has received far less attention. The current study extends previous research by examining the degree to which health discrepancy between partners is associated with marital satisfaction, using multidimensional assessments of both health (self-rated health, and chronic health conditions) and marital satisfaction (daily and global). Participants from the Relocation and Transitional Experiences (RELATE) study (N=82, comprising 41 heterosexual couples) completed questionnaire packets regarding demographics, health status, and global marital satisfaction. Additionally, participants completed experience sampling surveys, called ecological momentary assessment surveys (EMA), each day for 7 consecutive days via mobile smart phones. The results demonstrated that people with better self-rated health compared to their partner tended to report lower average daily marital satisfaction. Health discrepancy was not predictive of global marital satisfaction. These findings point to the importance of refining the distinctions between daily and global marital satisfaction, as well as further differentiating health conditions based on severity, to elucidate how different dimensions of health uniquely contribute to different dimensions of marital satisfaction.Item Open Access "I am not a bad friend for having boundaries": exploring the need for and creation of support boundaries in friendships(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Johnson, Kylie J., author; Faw, Meara, advisor; Parks, Elizabeth, committee member; Quirk, Kelley, committee memberAlthough research effectively depicts the benefits of social support and support recipient experiences, less scholarship explores discrepancies and challenges in supportive communication. This research study investigates support provider experiences and offers new insight for challenges that might arise in supportive contexts. Two primary goals motivated this research: understanding what conditions influence providers' need for support boundaries and what communicative strategies are utilized to create them. Qualitative research methods were utilized, and 22 semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted. Analysis of 865 pages of texts illustrates how various conditions, both personal and relational, drove providers to need support boundaries. Participants described four primary themes to explain their need for support boundaries: ineffective involvement, relational transgressions, protecting the self, and network negotiations. Various sub-themes were identified, and all participants detailed numerous conditions that contributed to their need for support boundaries. Participants utilized three central strategies to enact support boundaries with their friends: direct communication, indirect communication, and collaborative communication. The findings depict existing discrepancies between support provider and recipient needs, and that boundary creation, when enacted skillfully, is an effective way to protect themselves and the relationship. Ultimately, this exploratory study emphasizes the importance of support boundaries and positions boundary creation in supportive contexts as an enriched area for further investigation.Item Open Access Mindful partnering: implications of a novel theoretical construct for predicting reduced reactivity to marital conflict, greater physical health, and lower mortality risk(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Seiter, Natasha, author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Quirk, Kelley, committee member; Prince, Mark, committee member; Haddock, Shelley, committee memberAccording to the theory of allostatic load, chronic stress leads to damage on the body that contributes to problems with physical health and early mortality. A large body of research suggests that mindfulness reduces stress, health problems, and mortality risk. In addition, stressful relationships with intimate partners have the power to cause frequent and/or intense physiological responses that, over time, contribute to allostatic load and thus negative health and mortality outcomes. However, previously identified predictors of relational and thus physical health lack a unifying concept to synthesize them. Study 1 presents the conceptualization of a novel theoretical construct, mindful partnering, as interpersonal mindfulness with ones' romantic partner, as well as initial validation of the Mindful Partnering Measure (MPM). Participants were 599 individuals from: 1) an undergraduate student sample recruited from a university subject pool [used for exploratory factor analyses (EFA), N= 335] and 2) a sample of married adults recruited through Mechanical Turk [used for confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), N= 264, subsets used for construct validity N= 147, and test-retest analyses N= 53]. Results of the EFA and CFA supported a five-factor structure. Tests of internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability in the sample of married adults provided evidence for reliability and validity of the total MPM to assess mindful partnering, as well as the Mindful awareness and Acceptance/compassion subscales. However, the other subscales did not demonstrate adequate test-retest reliability. Use of this measure in further research will allow for the study of the potential correlates and benefits of mindful partnering to further our understanding of this novel construct, and the following studies utilized the total and validated subscales of the MPM. Study 2 investigated whether higher levels of mindful partnering would be associated with lesser biological stress to relationship conflict. Seventeen couple pairs (N= 34) visited the laboratory to complete several tasks, including questionnaires (e.g., the MPM) and a conflict discussion. Participants had their Respiratory Sinus Arrythmia (RSA), a measure of parasympathetic nervous system activation, measured during the baseline period and conflict discussion. Regression analyses suggested that MPM-Mindful awareness significantly predicted partners' greater RSA during the discussion task, with a small effect, suggesting greater physiological relaxation. No other results were significant, however, there were greater-than-trivial effects for several associations between mindful partnering variables and RSA, as discussed. In general, results suggested that when one's partner is more mindful, it may soothe the nervous system and relieve the potential stress of marital disagreement, however, practicing mindful partnering may actually be associated with biological stress. Study 3 examined associations among mindful partnering and physical health as well as telomere length, an indicator of cellular aging. Eighty-three (N= 166) couples completed questionnaires (including the MPM as well as an item to measure overall physical health), and 43 (N= 86) of these couples gave a saliva sample which was assayed for telomere length. Results of regression analyses demonstrated that self-health was associated with total mindful partnering as well as MPM-Acceptance/compassion, which was also associated at trend levels with partner health. Links between total mindful partnering and MPM-Acceptance/compassion with health variables, as well as between MPM-Mindful awareness and partner health also demonstrated greater-than-trivial/small, positive effect sizes. Associations between mindful partnering and telomere length did not reach significance, however, there were greater-than-trivial effect sizes for associations between self telomere length and MPM-Mindful awareness in the negative direction and MPM-Acceptance/compassion in the positive direction, and partner telomere length showed a small positive effect with MPM-Mindful awareness. These findings suggest that long-term health may be improved through mindful partnering, with implications for couples therapy and other interventions for couples.Item Open Access Mindfulness training and the mindfulness-stress buffering hypothesis: implications for adolescent stress(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Allen, Margot, author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Prince, Mark, committee member; Quirk, Kelley, committee memberThe importance of addressing health outcomes associated with stress through managing stress is widely documented. The mindfulness-stress buffering hypothesis offers a potential solution for mitigating health outcomes associated with stress, but research examining mindfulness-stress buffering hypothesis in adolescent populations yields mixed results. To address inconsistency in the association between stress and mindfulness found in previous research, the current study examined whether participating in a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) allowed adolescents to remain mindful under stress through examining the association between stress and mindfulness both within and between-person before, after, and during an MBI. Between-person results indicated that, at baseline, there was a significant negative relationship between stress and mindfulness but that there was no significant association between stress and mindfulness after completion of an MBI; however, these associations were not significantly different from each other. Within-person, during the first three weeks of an MBI, there was a non-significant trend level positive relationship between mindfulness and stress; during the final three weeks, this positive association was significant. Results generally supported previous research that hypothesized that adolescents may not have the innate capacity to remain mindful when stressed, effectively using it as a buffer. Additionally, results indicated that adolescents may display more mindfulness when stressed, compared to their average levels of stress.Item Open Access Partner communication behaviors and diurnal cortisol patterns(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Seiter, Natasha, author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Quirk, Kelley, committee member; Henry, Kim, committee memberPrevious research suggests that diurnal cortisol patterns are associated with marital communication behaviors reported in naturalistic settings (e.g., Stawski, Cichy, Piazza, & Almeida, 2013), and observed communication behaviors are associated with acute cortisol responses to marital conflict laboratory tasks (e.g., Feinberg et al., 2013). However, it is unclear how observed marital communication behaviors are linked to individuals' typical diurnal cortisol patterns. The goal of this study was to investigate whether partners' ratios of observed positive to negative communication behaviors, self-reported marital conflict, and/or self-reported resolution predict diurnal cortisol patterns. Participants were heterosexual couples (n=124) who engaged in a conflict discussion which was videotaped and coded for negative and positive communication behaviors and reported marital conflict. Cortisol samples were taken across two days for each individual. Results of structural equation model analyses suggested that men's greater observed communication quality predicted women's higher cortisol intercepts and men's steeper slopes, men's greater self-reported marital conflict predicted women's lower intercepts, and, in some models, women's greater reported resolution predicted women's lower intercepts and men's steeper slopes. Overall, these findings suggest that less positive and more negative marital conflict is a stressor that contributes to dysfunctional functioning of the stress system. Implications of this research for couples' therapy practice are discussed.