Mountain Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Rosén, Lee A., advisor"

Browsing by Author "Rosén, Lee A., advisor"

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Open Access
Alcohol-related outcomes among high school students in the southwestern United States: social-, interpersonal-, and school-related problems
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) McNamara, Robert S., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Swaim, Randall C., advisor
This study examined peer-, family-, and school-related outcomes of adolescent drinking. Two thousand, three hundred and eight Mexican American and White high school students completed the American Drug and Alcohol Survey tm and reported on a variety of measures including age first drunk, current level of binge drinking, and alcohol-related outcomes associated with friends, school, and family. Results indicated that binge drinking is a significant mediator of the relationship between age of drinking onset and school-related outcomes for all Mexican American and some White high school students, while mediation was not found when examining peer- and family-related outcomes. Multiple regression equations also suggest unique effects of age of drinking onset and binge drinking on alcohol-related outcomes. Results are discussed in regard to preventing drinking-related problems by targeting the delay of drinking onset and reducing the frequency of binge drinking behavior, as well as understanding alcohol use at it is related to different adolescent demographic groups.
Open Access
College students coping with loss
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Adams, John, author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Dik, Bryan, committee member; Henry, Kimberly L., committee member; Biringen, Zeynep, committee member
Approximately 22 to 30 percent of all college students have experienced the death of a friend or family member in the last 12 months (Balk 2008, 2010; Hardison, Neimeyer & Lichstein, 2005). Grief caused by a death loss significantly impairs the academic performance, social functioning, and emotional health of college students (Balk & Vesta, 1998; Balk, 2008; Servaty-Seib & Hamilton, 2006). There are many ways to cope with and process grief. Posttraumatic growth can result in feeling a greater appreciation for life, feeling closer to loved ones and overall more self-confident (Davis, 2008). However, research has yielded mixed results regarding the impact of posttraumatic growth on grief symptoms, with some studies finding that posttraumatic growth decreases grief symptoms and others finding that it has no impact on grief symptoms or increases symptoms (Davis, Nolen-Hoeksema, & Larson (1998); Linley, Joseph, & Goodfellow (2008); Calhoun & Tedeschi (2006)). Continuing bonds is an approach to grieving that aims to redefine the relationship with the deceased, maintaining it symbolically, spiritually, and/or in memory (Attig, 1996; Hedtke & Winslade, 2003). Previous studies exploring the impact of continuing bonds on grief symptoms have also had mixed results (Neimeyer, Baldwin & Gillies (2006); Rando (1993)). This study sought to explore how both approaches to grief impact grief symptoms in a college aged population that has experienced a death loss in the past year. Additionally, this study also considered another outcome variable uniquely relevant to college students: college adjustment. This study examined how both of these approaches to grieving impacting college students' social, academic, and emotional adjustment to the college environment. When the control variables age, gender, and type of loss were considered, the contributions of the linear regression model to adjustment variance was nonsignificant. Posttraumatic growth had a nonsignificant effect on grief symptoms. Continuing bonds scores were found to have a significant positive relationship with grief symptoms. These findings suggest that continuing bonds contributes to increased grief symptoms for college students, discouraging the use of continuing bonds based interventions for bereaved students in college counseling centers. Future research could examine why continuing bonds has this impact on college students and what approaches to processing grief could help reduce grief symptoms in college students.
Open Access
Factors associated with rural Mexican American gang activity
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) Acosta, Sylvia J., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor
This study examines factors related to Mexican American gang involvement in rural communities. Data for this study were obtained from a larger, cross sectional study on adolescent drug use in rural areas. Survey data from a total of 746 males (373 gang members and 373 non-gang members) and 290 females (145 gang members and 145 non-gang members) were analyzed regarding factors of parental caring and family caring, parental permissiveness, religiosity, mental health factors, and alcohol and marijuana use. It was hypothesized that low levels of parental caring and low levels of religiosity would be associated with gang membership. Mental health factors such as low self-esteem and high anger and depression were also expected to be risk factors for gang membership. Logistic regression was used to identify key risk factors related to joining a gang for Mexican American males and females. For males, alcohol and marijuana use, having caring parents and family, parental permissiveness, and anger were significantly related to gang involvement in the analysis. For females, the same variables with the addition of age were significantly related to gang involvement. Religiosity, self-esteem, and depression were not associated with gang involvement in this study. Implications for gang prevention and intervention planning for rural communities are discussed.
Open Access
First generation college students: predicting academic success and retention
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Parsons, Molly, author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Rickard, Kathy, committee member; Richards, Tracy, committee member; Thayer, Paul, committee member
This study sought to better understand the experiences and challenges faced by first generation college students in their first year on campus and what factors predicted academic success and retention for these students. Specifically, this study investigated the impact of demographic variables (gender, ethnicity, family income, and college major), prior academic preparation (high school index) and psychosocial factors (grit, social adjustment, homesickness, financial concern, and institutional commitment) on cumulative first year GPA and retention from the first to second year of college for first generation students. Participants included 3,956 first year college students at a public research university, 950 of which were first generation students. First generation was a significant predictor of both first year GPA and first to second year retention. Specifically, first generations students were more likely to have lower first year GPAs and were less likely to be retained. Minority status was negatively related to retention from the first to second year in first generation students but not in the overall sample. Although, high school index was the strongest predictor of both first year GPA and first to second year retention for all students in the sample, grit, social adjustment, gender and whether or not the student was a STEM major, also significantly impacted first year GPA for first all students. Institutional commitment, financial concern and homesickness were found to be significantly predictive of first to second year retention in all students. There was also a significant interaction between homesickness and generational status for first year GPA.
Open Access
Long-term outcomes associated with participation in school-based extracurricular activities for at-risk adolescents
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Montoya, Andrea L., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Suinn, Richard M., committee member; Henry, Kimberly L., committee member; Butki, Brian D., committee member
The current study sought to explore the long-term outcomes associated with participation in extracurricular activities for at-risk adolescents. Participation was divided into four categories; sports, non-sports, multiple (sports and non-sports), and no activity. Psychological, educational/economic, and deviant behavior outcomes were measured, and the major conclusion that emerged from was that participation in high school extracurricular activities (especially multiple activities, including both sports and non-sports activities) was associated with a number of positive long-term effects in a variety of domains. With a few notable exceptions that deserve further inquiry, participation in high school extracurricular activities appeared to be beneficial for at-risk youth and should be encouraged by parents, in the way of modeling, verbal praise and encouragement, financial resources, time, etc., and by communities, in the way of funding, opportunities for low-cost activities, and through the promotion of an active/involved lifestyle starting in childhood.
Open Access
Mental health services in a northern Colorado Head Start program
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2007) Chew, Brandi L., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor
Head Start is a federally funded program that aims to improve the school-readiness of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition to the educational curriculum, the program provides health resources for its students and their families, including psychological services. This study reviewed the characteristics of psychological services provided in a Head Start program located in northern Colorado. Findings of this study support the necessity of the Head Start mental health component and its direct contributions in providing psychological services to students and families. Results revealed consistency between parent and school staff reports regarding presenting problems and concerns. The most pronounced concerns from both school staff and the parents were problems with the parents' psychological well-being. Additionally, both school staff and the parents most frequently requested counseling services for their psychological and/or socio-emotional issues. Based on these findings, the author discusses various mental health roles assumed by the Head Start Mental Health Provider, including the role of a family-based treatment provider, a broker, collaborator, and a promoter.
Open Access
Opinions of mental illness and help-seeking among college students
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Bemowski, Heidi A., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor
Large numbers of college students that might benefit from university funded mental health services do not seek help. Understanding how certain factors (e.g., gender, type of mental health concern) contribute to opinions of mental illness may be beneficial in improving services. One hundred twenty-four female and 66 male undergraduate students were presented with brief written scenarios describing individuals with various mental illnesses (anxiety, bipolar disorder, bulimia nervosa, depression, relationship problems) based on the DSM-IV. Results support the hypothesis that the various mental illnesses are perceived differently (p < .05). Contrary to predictions, there were no differences between male and female participants, or for the sex of the student described in the scenario.
Open Access
Posttraumatic growth and suicide risk in college students according to trauma type: a failure to replicate
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Sheline, Kelly T., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Swaim, Randall C., committee member; Rickard, Kathryn, committee member; Biringen, Zeynep, committee member
While numerous studies have demonstrated that different types of traumatic life events predict differences in PTSD symptoms, there is a lack of research examining if posttraumatic growth also varies based on trauma type. This study investigated both positive posttrauma changes as measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) and negative changes as measured by suicide risk and suicidal ideation and behavior in 335 college student survivors of three distinct traumatic event types: bereavement, chronic or acute illness, and accidental injury. The results showed that there was not a statistically significant difference in the total PTGI score or the PTGI subscale scores for the three trauma groups. There was not a significant difference between traumatic events on suicide risk and suicidal ideation and behavior. Posttraumatic growth did not moderate the relationship between type of trauma and suicide risk. Several plausible explanations for these results are explored in the discussion, including the role of event centrality and homogeneity of the sample.
Open Access
Recreational use of prescription stimulants among college students
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) Sharp, Jeremy T., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor
The current study investigated characteristics of individuals participating in recreational use of prescription stimulant medication, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine salts, in a Western United States university sample. The researcher recruited students from introductory psychology courses to take a Recreational Stimulant Use Survey that included questions on illicit drug use in addition to questions concerning recreational prescription stimulant use. Results indicated that the overall prevalence rate for lifetime recreational prescription stimulant use was 13.0%. The author found no significant differences in lifetime prevalence rates comparing non-Hispanic White individuals to minority students. In addition, the author found that the majority of individuals used prescription stimulant medication to increase concentration while studying. Finally, the author identified a significant relationship between motive for use of prescription stimulant medication and method of ingestion, indicating that those using medication for studying may be more likely to swallow the medication rather than ingest it intranasally.
Open Access
Resilience to childhood abuse and neglect in college students
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Shirley, Lauren A., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Bloom, Larry, committee member; Biringen, Zeynep, committee member; Gibbons, Alyssa, committee member
Research on outcomes of childhood maltreatment tends to examine only one type of maltreatment (usually sexual abuse) and generally ignores gender differences in resilience by failing to consider outcomes for men and women separately. This study sought to address those issues by examining the prevalence of maltreatment in a college sample and identifying the relationship between maltreatment and college adjustment in men and women. Results indicate that maltreated men in college have more resilient outcomes than maltreated women in college and several reasons for this difference were discussed. Overall, negative life events and social/emotional resources are thought to be two important variables in understanding the relationship between maltreatment and adjustment. Future studies can extend the results of this study by examining maltreatment in both college and community samples, collecting data from a larger sample of individuals, and perhaps using a more stringent criterion for classifying maltreatment in the sample.
Open Access
Risk and resilience: the role of physical activity and related factors in adult psychological functioning after exposure to childhood maltreatment
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Nolen, Julian P., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Butki, Brian, committee member; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Rickard, Kathryn, committee member
Across decades of research, exposure to severe childhood maltreatment has repeatedly been identified as one of the most potentially-damaging life events suffered by a considerable number of children worldwide. Yet while many of those exposed to such events experience chronic and debilitating symptoms of their early traumas, others actually demonstrate notable resilience to these experiences – often transitioning into adulthood with remarkably few scars to mark their early trials. As a result of this phenomenon, recent research has increasingly focused on identifying the traits facilitating such resilience amongst those who have it, as well as those factors contributing to increased risk amongst those who do not. In the present study, participant gender, engagement in physical activity, and the intensity of such activity were evaluated as potential factors influencing adult psychological functioning in college students exposed to childhood abuse and neglect. In particular, the focus of this investigation was on how these factors might interact in moderating the relationship between childhood maltreatment and later psychological health. Among a sample of 584 undergraduate college students, the results of these multiple regression analyses indicated that engagement in hard (e.g., aerobic) physical activity uniquely moderated the relationship between childhood abuse and psychological functioning among both male and female participants. Among women, increases in physical activity were associated with greater sensitivity to the negative influence of childhood abuse. In contrast, male participants actually demonstrated greater resilience to such abuse at higher levels of activity.
Open Access
The development of the Marital Attitudes and Expectations Scale
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Park, Stacey S., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Dik, Bryan, committee member; Henry, Kimberly, committee member; Zimmerman, Toni, committee member
Attitudes towards marital relationships have been examined in three ways in the literature. Studies focus on intent to marry, global positive or negative attitudes towards marriage, and expectations for what married life will be like. There are currently no instruments capable of assessing all three of these areas. The present study outlines the development and validation of the Marital Attitudes and Expectations Scale (MAES). The MAES is an instrument designed to measure intent to marry (Intent to Marry Scale, IMS), general attitudes towards marriage (General Attitudes towards Marriage Scale, GAMS), and expectations for marital relationships (Aspects of Marriage Scale, AMS). The MAES is composed of 36-items, and is on a 7-point Likert scale. The MAES is also designed to be applicable for any individual, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. Results demonstrated internal reliability and construct validity for the instrument.
Open Access
The development of the Young Love Scales
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Park, Stacey S., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Bloom, Larry, committee member; Gibbons, Alyssa, committee member; Harvey, Ashley, committee member
Research on romantic relationships in emerging adulthood is essential to better understanding the trajectory of romantic relationships in adults, and the identity development of emerging adults. Measures of romantic relationship quality demonstrate flaws in a few ways: some are based on an atheoretical structure, which limits interpretation of the measure, some define relationship quality as multiple constructs (e.g., satisfaction and commitment) simultaneously, and some are limited to couples in marital relationships. The present study outlined the development and validation of the Young Love Scales, three measures of relationship commitment, satisfaction and adjustment. This study also examined the theoretical structure of these constructs, and the results showed that the first-order factors for the Young Love Scales appear to be subsumed under a second-order factor, which was labeled relationship quality. The results of this study also showed that adjustment (daily behaviors) predicts one’s commitment to the relationship, but that satisfaction fully mediates this link. Overall, this suggests that individuals’ actions in the relationship must add to a sense of satisfaction in order for them to feel that the relationship should continue. These results have implications for couple therapy interventions, and for better understanding the trajectory of romantic relationships in emerging adults.
Open Access
The impact of maltreatment history and the presence of individual, familial, and communal protective factors on college adjustment
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Oberdorfer, Matthew R., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Gibbons, Alyssa, committee member; Carlson, Laurie, committee member
There is a wealth of studies examining trauma, protective factors, and outcomes in college students. There are questions, however, about how certain protective factors relate to certain types of maltreatment, and how these relationships impact college adjustment. There is also a lack of clarity in the literature as to whether the number of traumatic events experienced is a sufficient measure of trauma history or if the cumulative severity of traumatic experiences must be measured. This study aimed to address these gaps in the protective factors literature by examining relationships between trauma history, protective factors, and college adjustment using the Social Emotional Resources Inventory (SERI), a newly published measure of protective factors (Oberdorfer, Mohr, & Rosén, 2019). Results indicated that both the number of traumatic events endorsed by participants and the cumulative severity ratings they gave the traumatic events they experienced predicted almost the exact same amount of college adjustment. It was also found that maltreatment no longer had a significant relationship with college adjustment when controlling for protective factors. How much more variance cumulative protective factors predicted than cumulative traumas reinforced the emphasis that this paper, and the field, have put on protective factors. The results further indicated that individual protective factors were the strongest predictors of later college adjustment across all types of maltreatment. Self-Esteem, Coping, and Optimism emerged as strong predictors of college adjustment across types of maltreatment. Clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed.
Open Access
The moderating role of posttraumatic growth on suicide risk among trauma exposed undergraduate students
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Sheline, Kelly T., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Swaim, Randall C., committee member; Henry, Kimberly L., committee member; Biringen, Zeynep, committee member
Research has suggested that exposure to traumatic life events is one of the major risk factors for suicide. With suicide ranking as the second leading cause of death among college students, this study assessed the role that posttraumatic growth played in moderating the relationship between traumatic life events and suicidal ideation and behavior, suicide risk, and college adjustment in a sample of 557 undergraduate students. The results from multiple linear regression analyses showed that posttraumatic growth moderated the relationship between severity of traumatic life events and suicide risk such that individuals with the most severe traumatic life events were less likely to have high suicide risk in college if they had experienced posttraumatic growth following their trauma. In addition, posttraumatic growth moderated the relationship between severity of traumatic life events and college adjustment such that individuals with the most severe traumatic life events were more likely to have better college adjustment if they had experienced posttraumatic growth following their trauma. The role of posttraumatic growth in ameliorating the effects of trauma-inducing suicide and facilitating college adjustment has significant implications which are explored in the discussion.
Open Access
The role of physical activity in resilience to psychological trauma
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Nolen, Julian P., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Butki, Brian, committee member; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Rickard, Kathryn, committee member
Existing research indicates that exposure to psychological trauma can negatively impact individual mental health among a broad variety of domains. Additionally, although many victims are resilient to the psychological consequences of such trauma, those who do suffer from trauma-related pathology are often resistant to benefits associated with existing treatment. Because of its well-established associations with general mental health and positive impacts on many of the domains damaged by psychological trauma, exercise was examined as a possible moderator of the relationship between trauma exposure and adult mental health. Among a sample of 587 undergraduate college students, the results of multiple regression analysis indicated that psychological flourishing was moderated by the interaction between physical exercise and number of traumatic events, as well as by physical exercise and childhood maltreatment. In both models, the overall positive association between exercise and flourishing was gradually attenuated at higher levels of trauma. In the traumatic events model, greater trauma exposure predicted higher flourishing scores at low levels of exercise, but lower flourishing scores at high levels of exercise. In contrast, childhood maltreatment was consistently associated with lower flourishing scores, regardless of exercise participation. These results have a number of implications for future research and intervention, which are explored in the discussion section.
Open Access
The role of protective factors in the experience of posttraumatic growth for individuals who report childhood abuse and neglect
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Mohr, Danielle S., author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Dik, Bryan J., committee member; Richards, Tracy, committee member; Biringen, Zeynep, committee member
Many individuals experience stressful life events in childhood. Historically, attention has been paid to the ways in which these early experiences contribute to later maladjustment. Recently, however, increasing attention has been paid to how many, if not most, individuals who experience early childhood adversity demonstrate good adjustment and report personal growth from surviving these stressful experiences. Deriving benefit in the face of adversity has been termed “posttraumatic growth." This study investigated the relationship between posttraumatic growth and childhood experiences of abuse and neglect. A primary focus of this investigation was on what protective factors, serving as buffers against the negative consequences of trauma, moderated the relationship between childhood experiences of abuse and neglect and posttraumatic growth. This study found that while Acceptance, Positive Reframing and Emotional Support all significantly predicted Posttraumatic Growth, only Prosocial Adults and overall endorsement of social and emotional resources moderated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and posttraumatic growth. These findings have implications for designing effective interventions that foster growth and thriving in individuals who report a history of maltreatment.
Open Access
The social and emotional resources inventory: comprehensive measure of protective factors
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Mohr, Danielle, author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Dik, Bryan, committee member; Biringen, Zeynep, committee member
Most children experience mild to moderate risk factors in their lives (Lamb-Parker, LeBuffe, Powell & Halpern, 2008) and do well in spite of their early adversity, but it was not until 40 years ago that researchers began investigating how even children who have experienced severe risk often achieved satisfactory outcomes in spite of their early adverse experiences (Prince-Embury, 2010). This concept has been labeled resilience, and one application of resiliency research is to look at what characteristics counteract risk to produce successful outcomes. These characteristics are referred to as protective factors, which can occur in three domains: individual (e.g. intelligence, sociability, self-esteem), family (e.g. authoritative parenting, socioeconomic advantage) and community (attending effective schools, access to quality health care). Despite the amount of research on potential protective factors, there is a need for a more effective and comprehensive way to measure protective factors. This study describes the development of a comprehensive measure of protective factors, the Social and Emotional Resources Inventory (SERI). Results indicated that the SERI has a 12-factor internal structure and good to excellent reliability. The 12 factors that emerged from the analysis are: Intelligence, Parenting Practices, Parent Connections, Self-Esteem, Talent, Faith, Money, Prosocial Adults, Kin Connections, Good Schools, Prosocial Organizations and Resources. This measure was also found to have good psychometrics and will be useful for researchers and clinicians who wish to gain a comprehensive view of the protective factors operating in an individual's life.
Open Access
The social and emotional resources inventory: further development of a comprehensive self-report measure of protective factors
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Oberdorfer, Matt, author; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Gibbons, Alyssa, committee member; Carlson, Laurie, committee member
Historically, childhood trauma has been associated with a variety of negative life outcomes including poor emotional adjustment in adulthood, low educational and professional attainment, and all manner of psychopathology. However, more recent research has noted that the majority of individuals with histories of childhood trauma adapt quite successfully to adulthood and live happy and productive lives. Researchers now recognize that the presence of certain protective environmental and personal factors can improve how children cope with obstacles presented by histories of trauma. By identifying these factors, researchers can help clinicians, social justice advocates and others take a pro-active approach, as opposed to a reactive approach, to reducing the negative effects of childhood trauma. There currently exists no highly comprehensive measure of protective factors. This study aimed to finalize the Social Emotional Resources Inventory (SERI) - a comprehensive measure of protective factors - by revising the SERI where necessary and providing previously lacking estimates of convergent and discriminant evidence. The final SERI was considered to be a good fit for the data. The final SERI consists of 55 items, grouped into 14 factors, which may be hierarchically grouped into second and third-order factors if necessary. The results of this SERI administration demonstrated acceptable test-retest reliability and convergent/discriminant evidence across most sub-scales.
Open Access
The Working with Older Adults Scale (WOAS): development of a measure of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention to work with older adults
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Graham, Kirsten L., author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Rosén, Lee A., advisor; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Anderson, Sharon, committee member
The expanding population of older adults in the United States, coupled with provider hesitance to work with this population, is expected to result in a large service gap, particularly in the healthcare field. Research on provider hesitancy has largely focused on the impact of attitudes toward older adults and professional competency, with some recent explorations of social influences. There is currently no comprehensive measure that includes all of these areas. The present study outlines the development of the Working with Older Adults Scale (WOAS), which is grounded in the theory of planned behavior as applied to working with older adults. The WOAS is composed of 20 items, rated on a 7-point Likert scale, that make up four subscales: 1) Attitude, 2) Subjective Norms, 3) Perceived Behavioral Control, and 4) Intention. Results indicated that, for the young adult college student sample it was developed with, the measure has an excellent factor structure and good internal reliability and construct validity. Consistent with the theory of planned behavior model, intention to work with older adults was significantly predicted by attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, with subjective norm accounting for the greatest amount of variance. Further analyses revealed differential effects of age, gender, and experience on the WAOS subscales. The WOAS, and underlying theory, offers new insights and ideas for future exploration of the service gap between older adults needs and professional availability across health service fields.