Theses and Dissertations

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Examining shame: mindfulness-program effects and multilevel longitudinal mediation
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Adams, Melanie S., author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; MacPhee, David, committee member; Aichele, Stephen, committee member; Faw, Meara, committee member
Shame, negative self-evaluation in response to a social evaluative threat, is associated with many unwanted outcomes if it remains unresolved through coping skills. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) aim to increase mindful attention and/or self-compassion as well as emotion regulation, which are coping characteristics that may aid in approaching and resolving shame. These theoretical paths of influence require further testing as does the ability of specific interventions to mitigate shame. Additionally, to facilitate future tailoring of interventions to support those who are currently underserved, more research is needed to assess variability in individual participant response to interventions and potential causes of this variability. Two studies were conducted to address these issues in the context of shame management via mindfulness processes. Study 1 assessed whether college-student participants in the six-session MBI Learning to BREATHE demonstrated significant average reduction in internalized shame and then employed reliable change analysis to identify response and nonresponse in individual participants. Participants (N = 48) on average experienced moderate reduction in shame and could be categorized into three distinct participant subgroups based on pretest shame level and trajectory of change in shame. Responding participants experienced pronounced decrease in shame; nonresponding participants with low pretest shame did not decrease further in shame due to limited room for improvement; nonresponding participants with high pretest shame did not decrease in shame despite ample room for improvement. Testing of candidate factors as predictors of change in shame revealed that low pretest mindful attention and pre- to posttest decrease in anxiety were significantly associated with decrease in shame. Notably, shame nonresponders with both high pre- and post-intervention shame did experience significant improvements in coping characteristics (mindful attention, self-compassion, and emotion regulation). Demographic predictors of change in shame were recommended for testing in future studies with larger sample sizes. Study 2 tested theoretical paths of influence from mindful attention to shame, among others. Multiple models were tested via multilevel mediation using intensive repeated measures (1,183 observations) from daily participant surveys across six weeks. Not only were self-compassion and emotion regulation mediators of the effect of mindful attention on shame, shame itself was conversely also a mediator between mindful attention and the latter coping characteristics. These findings suggest the possibility of bidirectional processes, and that directly and explicitly addressing shame in MBI may further improve participant coping characteristics and overall benefits of MBIs.
Open Access
Parent-child attachment as a mediator and moderator of parent depressive symptoms and infant dysregulation
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Cruz Castorena, Daniela, author; Rieker, Julie, advisor; Haddock, Shelley, committee member; Faw, Meara, committee member
Maternal depression has been found to be a significant predictor of child developmental outcomes, often resulting in both internalizing and externalizing problematic behaviors (Cummings & Davies, 1994; Gelfand & Teti, 1990; Schiavo & Perosa, 2020). Although there are numerous studies observing the detrimental effects of mother depression on their children, less is known about the potential negative effects of father depression. Moreover, little is known about how fostering a secure attachment may act as a protective buffer (moderator) for children against these negative effects. The current study tested the extent to which parent-infant attachment influences the relationship between parental depression and infant dysregulation through moderating or mediating mechanisms. This longitudinal study involved following 300 mother-father-infant triads from 6 to 18 months of age. Parental depressive symptoms were measured using the General Depression subscale of the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) at 6 months. Parent-infant attachment was coded based on observations from the Strange Situation at 16-months for fathers and at 18-months for mothers. The dysregulation subscale of the parent-reported Brief Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) was assessed at 16 and 18 months. Although a significant correlation was found showing that increased levels of mother depressive symptoms at 6 months was related to higher levels of mother-reported infant dysregulation, there were no significant results involving fathers, and no significant evidence of mediating or moderating influences of parent-infant attachment on the link between depressive symptoms and infant dysregulation.
Open Access
Youth increase in developmental assets during a mentoring program regardless of baseline risk
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Rzonca, Addie, author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Zimmerman, Toni, committee member; Merz, Emily, committee member
The existing data on the benefits of mentoring programs for adolescent participants are promising, though often unclear in terms of who benefits the most and why (Raposa et al. 2019). In the literature, there tends to be an agreement that risk is likely to moderate program effectiveness to a certain extent, but there is inconsistency about whether greater risk strengthens or weakens program effects (Herrera et al., 2013; Weiler & Taussig, 2017). An important outcome to consider are developmental assets because the negative outcomes of youth risk can be mitigated through the presence of such factors (Scales & Leffert, 1999). The present study seeks to further investigate whether the benefits (in terms of developmental assets) that youth receive from participating in a therapeutic mentoring program differ by their individual level of risk-exposure prior to entering the program. Participants were 676 youth (11-18 years old) who participated in the mentoring program Campus Connections (Haddock et al., 2017) for at least one semester. Each participant was paired with a trained undergraduate mentor and attended four-hour long sessions hosted one night a week for 12 weeks. Each session consisted of four components: one-on-one free time between mentor and mentee, mentor-provided school support, "family style" meals, and prosocial group activities (e.g., games, crafts, team sports). Mentees completed the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP, Search Institute, 2004) before and after completing the program; primary caregivers completed a baseline youth risk assessment. Generalized estimating equation models were used to test the moderating effect of youth risk on change in youth developmental assets (controlling for gender, age, and ethnicity). Time and baseline risk were each significant predictors of developmental assets, such that there were significant increases in assets overall (b = 7.18, se = 1.15, p < .05) and those with higher levels of baseline risk reported lower levels of overall assets (b = -1.51 se = 0.25, p < .05). Whether change varied based on risk was tested via multiplicative interaction between time (baseline vs. post-test) and risk (mean centered) to predict levels of developmental assets. Risk was not a significant moderator, implying that on average youth gain developmental assets in a mentoring program regardless of baseline risk. These findings suggest that mentoring programs can benefit youth with a range of risk exposure.
Open Access
LGBTQ+ adolescent and young adult mental and physical wellbeing: examining the effects of non-adapted versus adapted mindfulness-based interventions
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Klimo, Kasey D., author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Shomaker, Lauren, advisor; Brown, Samantha, committee member; Carlson, Laurie, committee member
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other gender and sexual minority identified (LGBTQ+) adolescents and young adults face mental and physical health disparities compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. These disparities in health are often due to minority stressors, like experiencing discrimination and oppression. Adolescence and emerging adulthood are vulnerable developmental periods for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults due to the prevalence of minority stressors while also navigating developmental tasks. Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) may be a potential method to intervene upon health disparities in this population, as the mindfulness stress-buffering hypothesis posts MBI may be the most beneficial in populations that experience high levels of stress. Chapter one explores the acceptability, feasibility, and effects of an online MBI, L2B, on sexual minority participants compared to heterosexual participants. Sixty-two college-aged participants completed baseline and post-test questions assessing mental health, mindfulness, self-compassion, emotion regulation, and substance usage (Mage=21.28, SD=4.17, 82.3% Caucasian, 85.5% Non-Hispanic/Latinx, 71% female, 37% LGBQ+). Results from chapter one indicated L2B was acceptable, but feasibility, as indicated by attendance and drop- out rates, could be improved. Furthermore, sexual minority participants saw statistically meaningful improvements in all outcomes except for substance usage and consequences of alcohol use. sexual minority participants may benefit more greatly from MBI related to mental health, internalized shame, consequences of Marjana use, accessing regulation strategies, and with goal-oriented behavior from just as much, or greater than heterosexual participants when related to mental health. However, further research is needed to explore the effects of MBI on substance use among sexual minority participants. Study two explores the initial acceptability and feasibility, along with the effects of an online MBI, L2B-Q, that was adapted specifically to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ adolescents. Twenty adolescents completed baseline and post-test assessments on mental health symptoms, mindfulness, stress-related health behaviors, and identity constructs. Participants also participated in a focus group to provide qualitative feedback on L2B-Q. Results from study two indicate L2B-Q was feasible and accepted, however further adaptations (e.g., changes in timing, and activity modifications) would be beneficial to the program. Furthermore, results indicate than an adapted MBI is highly effective in reducing mental health and stress, while increasing mindfulness and identity related variables. In the final chapter, I compare the effects found in chapter one and chapter two and discuss the ways in which each program differed from one another, and which program may be more effective among LGBTQ+ participants.
Open Access
Views of aging: their measurement, associations with the paradox of well-being, and malleability in the second half of life
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Tseng, Han Yun, author; Diehl, Manfred, advisor; Bielak, Allison, committee member; Luong, Gloria, committee member; Henry, Kimberly, committee member
As individuals age, they accumulate experiences that not only mark their position in the course of life, but also shape their feelings, beliefs, and attitudes towards aging, collectively known as subjective views of aging (VoA). Negative VoA, whether assessed explicitly through self-report questionnaires or implicitly via computer-administered subliminal priming tasks, consistently correlate with poorer self-rated health status, diminished functional outcomes, and reduced longevity in later life. Drawing upon the extensive VoA literature, this dissertation proposed three distinct yet related research themes of VoA, examining their measurement, their moderating role in buffering the impacts of declining health on subjective well-being (SWB), and their malleability via intervention. Specifically, the first manuscript in Chapter 2 validated a multidimensional VoA questionnaire, the Awareness of Age-Related Changes (AARC) scale, in a sample of Taiwanese older adults. This study also explored cross-cultural similarities and differences in AARC-gains and AARC-losses by examining measurement invariance with a comparable older adult sample in Germany. Chapter 3 investigated divergent trajectories of health and SWB from age 60s to 80s, known as the paradox of well-being in late life, using a 20-year longitudinal cohort study from Germany. To gain a more nuanced understanding of the well-being paradox, this manuscript explored the moderating role of VoA in the decoupled developmental trajectories of health and SWB. Chapter 4 focused on the malleability of adults' implicit and explicit VoA in the context of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Whereas most interventions targeting older adults' negative VoA typically evaluated their efficacy based on explicit, self-reported VoA, this manuscript contrasted the intervention effects of the AgingPLUS program on explicit and implicit VoA. This study also examined the extent to which positive intervention-induced changes in explicit VoA were contingent upon varying levels of implicit VoA. Overall, the results derived from the three manuscripts aimed to (1) enhance the assessment and research of VoA in non-Western cultures and societies, (2) provide empirical support for VoA as positive age-related psychosocial processes contributing to high levels of well-being, and (3) inform the design of future interventions leveraging VoA for promoting successful and optimal aging among middle-aged and older adults. Overall, these findings underscored the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to measuring VoA across diverse aging populations. They also highlighted the potential of interventions promoting more positive VoA foster resilience and well-being in the second half of life.
Open Access
Adverse childhood experiences, executive function, and maladaptive behaviors in children involved with child protective services
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Carvalho, Isidro, author; Daunhauer, Lisa, advisor; Aichele, Stephen, committee member; Sample, Pat, committee member; Barrett, Karen, committee member; Riggs, Nathaniel, committee member
Childhood traumatic events are common and frequently associated with maladaptive coping mechanisms which contribute to long-term harm. Yet few targeted treatment options exist to prevent maladaptive coping in children exposed to trauma. The purpose of this thesis is to identify if executive function may serve as a potential target for such interventions. This thesis used a sample of 244 children – aged 6 to 18 years old – who were referred by the Larimer County Department of Human Services for trauma assessments. Participant trauma events, executive function, and maladaptive behavior data were used to determine if executive function moderated the established association between trauma events and maladaptive behavior development. Results showed no significant interaction between trauma events and executive function when assessing for either maladaptive internalization or externalization. However, results indicated that executive function had a main effect on both internalization and externalization. This study emphasizes the need for further research on the associations between childhood trauma, executive function, and maladaptive behaviors. It is imperative that moderators of the association between childhood trauma and maladaptive behaviors are found so that new treatment options can be developed.
Open Access
Sibling relationships and the Campus Connections program
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Grossklaus, Olivia, author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Krafchick, Jen, advisor; Carlson, Laurie, committee member
Campus Connections (CC) is an award-winning, therapeutic, one-on-one mentoring program created to promote the resilience and life success of youth (Haddock et al., 2020; Weiler et al., 2015). The robust existing literature on the positive impact of CC demonstrates a need to identify other factors that can continue to improve outcomes for youth. This study looks at the impact of sibling participation on the intended impacts of CC, specifically self-reported anxiety, self-reported depression, and self-reported belongingness within CC moderated by age gap between sibling participants. Participants included 654 youth (range = 10 to 18, 59% female, 58.2% Caucasian) enrolled in CC, with 25% of the youth having completed the program with a sibling. Results found that there was no evidence for significant differences in change in key outcomes (anxiety, depression, belongingness in CC) based on whether youth participated with a sibling within this study. Age gap between siblings was also not a significant moderator of these associations. While this study was limited based on its use of mostly self-report measures and change being only considered via immediate pre-test post-test differences, the results imply that sibling relationship quality may matter more than merely the participation of a sibling within CC.
Open Access
Trajectories of acculturation, enculturation, and depressive symptoms: findings from a longitudinal study of Latinx adolescents in Los Angeles
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Ramirez, Carla M., author; Riggs, Nathaniel, advisor; Aichele, Stephen, committee member; Most, David, committee member; Rieker, Julie, committee member
Acculturation is conceptualized as a dynamic process of change over time within individuals, yet the bulk of the research on acculturation is conducted using cross-sectional, as opposed to longitudinal approaches. Although there is an emerging body of longitudinal work in this area, there are several factors that contribute to within and between-person variation in acculturation that have yet to be explored. Furthermore, research examining the extent to which change over time in acculturation is related to the rate of change in depressive symptoms is scant. This dissertation utilized a longitudinal data set examining acculturation and substance use among a sample of Latinx youth in Los Angeles, California. Survey data assessing cultural processes, stressors, and depressive symptoms was collected in-person and electronically between 2005 and 2018. Study 1 used growth curve modeling to examine the extent to which there was developmental change in acculturation during the period of adolescence and into early adulthood. The results revealed that there was significant change over time in acculturation and that to some extent change over time varied by the generational group. Study 2 examined how change over time in cultural processes (e.g., acculturation, enculturation, and ethnic identity) was related to changes in depressive symptoms and the extent to which these cultural processes moderated the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms. The results of study 2 elucidated the moderating effects of the rate of change in acculturation on the association between the rate of change in perceived discrimination and the rate of change in depressive symptoms. This study provides new insights for acculturation research regarding change over time in this construct and the importance of considering context when examining the effect of acculturation on depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the combined results of these studies have important implications for the interpretation of previous studies using proxy measures of acculturation that are discussed further in text. Recommendations for improving the mental health and well-being of Latinx youth are also discussed.
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Evaluation of resilience in schools and educators (RISE): an adult-centered social-emotional learning program for K-12 educators
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Rossier, Chloe Z., author; Riggs, Nathaniel, advisor; MacPhee, David, committee member; Williford, Anne, committee member
Educators' mental health and well-being has become imperative to address post the COVID-19 pandemic as the risk for burnout has increased (Jennings & Greenburg 2009; Schonert-Reichl, 2017; Oliveira et al., 2021). However, current research on adult-focused social-emotional learning (SEL) programs aimed at increasing educator well-being is still new (Oliveira et al., 2021). The present study examines the Resilience in Schools and Educator's program (RISE) program, developed by the Center for Resilience & Well-being, through the University of Colorado, Boulder, focusing on universal, school-based prevention specifically for educators (Fitzgerald et al., 2021). RISE aims to enhance educators' social-emotional competence (SEC), emotion-focused relationship skills and resilience. The goal of the current study was to confirm the factor structures of the three main constructs within the RISE logic model (e.g., Educator SEC, RISE Skills and Educator Well-being) and determine if there was meditation present between these constructs and program dosage on educator well-being. Results demonstrated that no direct associations were found between number of workshops (b = 0.002, SE = 0.007, p > 0.05) and number of coaching sessions (b = -0.007, SE = 0.006, p > 0.05) and educator well-being as well as no indirect associations between dosage and well-being mediated by Educators' SEC or RISE Skills. Future recommendations for the RISE program are discussed.
Open Access
The rhythm of cognition: older adulthood edition
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) McDermott, Cynthia, author; Bielak, Allison, advisor; Fenton, Melissa, advisor; Broussard, Josiane, committee member
Circadian rhythm is a delicate function that regulates multiple processes, such as cognition, sleep, and appetite. As humans age, their circadian rhythms shift to become earlier, resulting in their cognitive peak performance being earlier in the day. This study's main goals were to investigate if older adults (N = 139; Mage = 69.22; range = 60-89) who completed online cognitive tasks over 7 days at peak hours performed better than those who completed them at off-peak hours, as well as to determine if there were specific cognitive tasks that older adults did better on during these peak times. Four cognitive tasks were used to measure working memory, inductive reasoning, episodic memory, and processing speed. As tested by Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (RMANOVA), results showed no significant between-group differences, which indicated that the different test timing groups did not differ in their cognitive performance. The RMANOVA results also revealed no significant effects of test timing groups for any of the individual cognitive tasks. These findings are inconsistent with the little research available regarding on- and off-peak test timing in older adults and suggest the need for a more well-controlled study focused on older adults. If a more reliable on-peak test time for older participants is identified, then clinicians who test cognition could have the ability to detect cognitive decline earlier on. Ultimately, this could lead to earlier diagnoses or recognition of abnormal changes in cognition.
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Multidisciplinary representation in Colorado: an exploratory analysis of professional collaboration
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Ramous, Tara, author; MacPhee, David, advisor; Winocur, Marc, committee member; Brown, Samantha, committee member
This research study focused on multidisciplinary representation (MdR), the collaboration of attorneys and social workers in client advocacy, in Colorado. MdR is used most in cases of child welfare and juvenile justice contexts due to the inherent nature of trauma that accompanies these cases. Past research on MdR has demonstrated significant benefit for clients, but little is known about the professional procedures that result in such positive outcomes. In this collaborative study between university researchers and the Colorado Office of the Child's Representative (OCR), attorneys and social workers were surveyed on their professional roles and their experience with MdR collaboration and present issues. Findings indicated that collaboration practices are largely positive, and professionals mutually agree on benefits. Attorneys' perception that social workers improved their ability to advocate, and improved client engagement, accounted for 43% of the variance in the number of reasons they would request social worker support. The greatest barrier to collaboration was misconceptions of roles and responsibility. Among recommendations, both social workers and attorneys endorsed more training opportunities on collaboration. Ongoing process evaluations will strengthen the research foundation and replication for MdR practice.
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Exploring the pathway between family chaos, stress reactivity, and emotion regulation
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Najman, Jonathan I., author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; MacPhee, Dave, committee member; Faw, Meara, committee member
Family chaos is the cumulative exposure to disorienting environments (Fiese & Winter, 2010), and is associated with poor academic outcomes, health problems, and adjustment problems (e.g., Evans & Kim, 2013). Two distinguishable elements of family chaos are a) instability, or unpredictable events that disrupt continuity of the household, and b) disorganization, or enduring experiences that contribute to overwhelming disorder (Garrett-Peters et al., 2019). Although a relatively new distinction, it appears critical, in that instability is a stronger predictor of executive functioning than disorganization (Andrews et al., 2021). Our goal was to provide an investigation of this model to other key outcomes: stress reactivity and emotion regulation. A total of 153 adolescents (10-17yrs) completed the stress test and reported emotion regulation (Zeman et al., 2001; Garnefski et al., 2001). Family instability was significantly but weakly associated with disorganization, r = .16, r2 = .03, p < .05. Generalized Estimating Equations controlling for age, income, and race revealed that family instability, but not disorganization, significantly negatively predicted cortisol reactivity (b= -4.65, SE= 4.17, p<.05). The distinction of family chaos into instability and disorganization requires further research to elucidate the relationship between family chaos and poor developmental outcomes.
Open Access
Romantic conflict, interpersonal mindfulness, and cellular aging
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Rigsby, Brock A., author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Brown, Samantha, committee member; Faw, Meara, committee member
Interpersonal relationships can affect health (Ellison et al., 2016, Laurent et al., 2013) including biological and cellular aging processes measured through telomere length (Rentscher et al., 2020). Despite established associations between romantic conflict and health outcomes (Cummings et al., 2007), empirical evidence has yet to emerge supporting a link between romantic conflict and telomere length. Given the frequency with which adults may experience romantic conflict (Papp et al., 2002), it is important to understand how multi-faceted romantic conflict experiences impact health so that targeted interventions can be developed. Mindfulness has well-established benefits for health (Lucas-Thompson et al., 2019) and close personal relationships (Pratscher et al., 2018; Townshend et al., 2016), thus mindful partnering (Seiter et al., 2021) may be a fruitful avenue for such intervention. Using a community sample of 30 couples, this study explored hypothesized associations between romantic conflict and telomere length, as well as the moderating effects of mindful partnering, through self-reported and observational data. A small but non-significant association was found between romantic conflict and telomere length, and no significant moderating effect of mindful partnering emerged.
Open Access
Infant exploration and childhood action planning in children with Down syndrome
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Van Deusen, Kaylyn, author; Fidler, Deborah, advisor; Daunhauer, Lisa, committee member; Prince, Mark, committee member
Children with Down syndrome (DS) are predisposed to delays across domains of development and there is a dearth of information on longitudinal associations across early childhood that would help to characterize skill acquisition. Executive functions (EFs) are the thinking and problem-solving skills that direct behavior to achieve goals. Planning is a subconstruct of EF that is an area of relative challenge for children with DS in middle childhood and adolescence. This investigation examined the foundations of planning in DS between infant exploration behavior and emerging childhood planning. METHODS: Forty-six children with DS and their parents participated in two waves of data collection. Infants' first visit was held between 9 and 17 months (M = 12.76 months; SD = 2.16) for Wave 1 and the second research visit was when children were 3 to 7 years old (M = 5.03 years; SD = 0.80) for Wave 2. RESULTS: No significant predictive link was found between infant exploration and early childhood planning. No significant findings emerged between biomedical status and childhood planning. CONCLUSION: Results of this investigation did not identify a predictive link between infancy and early childhood planning. The current study was among the first longitudinal analyses examining development in early childhood for children with DS. Future work should further characterize the heterogeneity observed in children with DS to tailor intervention supports to emerging planning skills.
Open Access
Parent perspectives of at-home cognitive intervention for preschoolers with Down syndrome
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Walsh, Madison M., author; Fidler, Deborah, advisor; Hepburn, Susan, committee member; Yoder, Jamie, committee member
Down syndrome (DS) is associated with challenges related to cognitive skills, including executive function (EF). Intervention provided during early childhood can support the development of EF, however there are few cognitive interventions designed for young developmental ages. Parent-mediated interventions (PMIs) are emerging as an effective and scalable intervention approach for clinical populations. PMIs require ongoing parent engagement, and therefore, it is critical for a PMI to meet the needs of its intended users. This study used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework to (1) understand the daily routines of families of young children with DS and (2) describe parent perceptions of participating in at-home intervention. Participants were 34 caregivers of children 3 – 6 years old with DS living in Italy or the US. Participants responded to questions related to daily tasks they help their children complete and their perceptions of at-home cognitive intervention. Interviews were transcribed and independently coded (inter-rater agreement = .80). Four themes related to daily routines were identified: what parents help with, how parents help, why parents help, and how children respond. Three themes related to parent perceptions of interventions were identified: advantages of parent-led interventions, disadvantages of parent-led interventions, and desires for interventions. Findings suggest that PMIs targeting preschool-aged children with DS should require a short time commitment, blend intervention activities into daily routines, and include other family members. Findings from this study have important implications for the development of novel interventions aimed at supporting families in this population.
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Ecological momentary assessment of mechanisms of change during a mindfulness-based intervention for adolescents exposed to chronic stressors
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Miller, Reagan L., author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Shomaker, Lauren, advisor; Haddock, Shelley, committee member; Prince, Mark, committee member
Adolescents exposed to chronic stressors (e.g., financial instability) are at heightened risk for developing mental health problems. Chronic stressors may contribute to greater mental health problems by interfering with adolescents' ability to effectively regulate emotions. According to the mindfulness stress buffering hypothesis, mindfulness acts as a buffer against the deleterious effects of life stressors by ameliorating maladaptive stress appraisals and by improving emotion regulation. However, an assumption of this hypothesis is that individuals can maintain mindfulness and regulate their emotions during periods of stress. These two papers explore this assumption by first investigating the real-time, dynamic relationship between life stressors, mindfulness, and emotion regulation difficulties (Study 1) and then by exploring if mindfulness training may help to ameliorate the negative effects of life stressors on mindfulness and emotion regulation (Study 2). Eighty-one participants who were 10-18 years of age (Mage=13.75 years, SD=2.17; 56% male; 57% Caucasian; 24% Hispanic/Latino; 7% Native American; 7% more than race; and 5% Asian/Pacific Islander or Black/African American) completed ecological momentary assessments (EMA) three times a day for seven days at three different intervals (baseline, mid-intervention and post-intervention) throughout the study, contributing to a total of 3,178 EMA reports. Multilevel structural equation modeling revealed that the presence (versus absence) of stressors and the greater severity of stressors both were associated with lower mindfulness and greater emotion regulation difficulties concurrently in the same moment, but not prospectively from one moment to the next. In other words, life stressors may only be more immediately associated with lower mindfulness and greater emotion regulation difficulties as short-term, delayed effects from one moment (T1) to the next moment (T2) were not observed. Also, mindfulness training, compared to an active control group, was protective at post-intervention against the negative (concurrent) effects of stressors on mindfulness and emotion regulation (Study 2). Findings highlight that adolescents' life stressors may degrade untrained mindfulness and emotion regulation at given moments, but mindfulness training may help to buffer against these negative impacts of life stressors. Going forward, it will be helpful to investigate these relationships in the context of mental and physical health outcomes and to include longer periods of follow-up to determine the sustainable benefits of mindfulness training for adolescent health.
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Sleep and insulin sensitivity in adolescents at risk for type 2 diabetes
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Clark, Emma, author; Shomaker, Lauren, advisor; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, committee member; Riggs, Nathaniel, committee member; Prince, Mark, committee member
Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic disease that is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States, and rates of adolescent-onset (<20 years of age) T2D are rising. Adolescent-onset T2D is associated with accelerated cardiometabolic comorbidities and shorter life expectancy compared to adult-onset T2D. As traditional behavioral weight loss approaches to T2D prevention show insufficient effectiveness in adolescents, it is critical to investigate novel, potentially modifiable factors that relate to poor insulin sensitivity, a key precursor of T2D. Poor sleep health is one such potentially modifiable contributor to poor insulin sensitivity and consequently, T2D; however, most research on sleep and T2D is in adults, and the specific characteristics of sleep health that relate to poor insulin sensitivity in adolescents at risk for T2D have not been thoroughly investigated. Further, research suggests that individual characteristics related to stress vulnerability, including dispositional mindfulness (i.e., non-judgmental awareness of the present moment) and self-compassion (i.e., treating oneself with an attitude of kindness and compassion), could alter the association of sleep characteristics with insulin sensitivity. In theory, dispositional mindfulness and/or self-compassion may act as a buffer in the association of poor sleep health and metabolic consequences. Thus, the specific research aims of this dissertation project were to determine to what extent objective characteristics of weekday and weekend sleep health, (1a) wake after sleep onset, (1b) sleep onset latency, (1c) time in bed, (1d) sleep duration, and (1e) sleep efficiency, were associated with insulin sensitivity, and (2) to evaluate mindfulness and self-compassion as moderators of the associations between sleep health and insulin sensitivity. Methods: A total of 128 adolescent girls (M ± SD age 14.40 ± 1.81 years) at risk for T2D participated in the cross-sectional, baseline phase of a parent study. Sleep disturbances were assessed with actigraphy over one week. Mindfulness was assessed with the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale and self-compassion with the Self-Compassion Scale. The whole body insulin sensitivity index assessment of insulin sensitivity was determined from a 7-draw, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Linear regressions were used to examine the links between sleep characteristics and insulin sensitivity, accounting for the potentially confounding variables of age, BMIz, race/ethnicity, and puberty. Dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion were tested as moderators of the association between sleep characteristics and insulin sensitivity. Results: Despite bivariate associations of insulin sensitivity with weekend wake time after sleep onset and weekend time in bed, after accounting for covariates, there were only two trend-level associations. Specifically, longer weekday sleep efficiency was related to greater insulin sensitivity at trend levels, and longer weekend wake time after sleep onset tended to be related to poorer insulin sensitivity at trend levels, accounting for covariates. Mindfulness and self-compassion moderated the associations of weekend sleep efficiency and weekday sleep efficiency, respectively, with insulin sensitivity at trend levels. Higher weekend sleep efficiency was associated with greater insulin sensitivity, only for adolescents with above-average levels of mindfulness. Higher weekday sleep efficiency was associated with greater insulin sensitivity, but only for adolescents with average or above-average levels of self-compassion. Conclusion: Sleep is an important area for future research in the prevention of T2D in at-risk adolescents. Mindfulness and self-compassion may moderate the associations between adolescent sleep quality and insulin sensitivity; however, these processes need further investigation. A comprehensive understanding of adolescent sleep will advance knowledge of sleep health, insulin sensitivity, and mindfulness/self-compassion in the prevention of adolescent-onset T2D.
Open Access
Implications of late autism spectrum disorder diagnosis for females
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Tomasula Martin, Lily, author; Hepburn, Susan, advisor; Ortega, Lilyana, committee member; Harman, Jennifer, committee member
The purpose of this qualitative case study is to examine the implications of the timing of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis for females, specifically its impact on psychological well-being. While it is well-known that females are less likely to be identified at young ages than their male counterparts, we know relatively little about the experiences or service needs of women with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who are identified later in life. Five women, ages 22 to 46 years who received a formal diagnosis after the age of 12 years, participated in an in-depth interview with a clinician focused on the impacts of a late Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and the participants' overall well-being. Participants also completed a standardized self-report measure of psychological well-being. Participants then partook in a semi-structured interview to share their experiences of being a female with ASD. Responses from the questionnaires were summarized to provide a baseline understanding of participants' well-being while the semi-structured interview was analyzed to find themes in participant experiences. This qualitative case study includes a small number of participants, but we learned about the potential impacts of late diagnosis for females and their self-report of overall well-being. Both of which has implications for both research and practice.
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Emotional availability (EA) brief: single session feedback and coaching for improving fathers' emotional availability across a wide developmental spectrum
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Lincoln, Michael, author; Biringen, Zeynep, advisor; Prince, Mark, committee member; Harvey, Ashley, committee member
Fathers are a historically underrepresented population in developmental research and must be considered for their modern presentation in parenting processes. Emotional Availability (EA) is a construct that captures the parent-child relationship quality and predicts positive outcomes for children. A recently developed intervention, the EA Brief, is a program conceptualized for easy administration that may be utilized to improve father-child dyadic functioning across a range of child ages. The final sample of interested fathers was 18 fathers with children between 4-months and 13.5-years. For pretest sessions, all fathers completed surveys (demographic information, the Emotional Availability Self Report, and the Flourishing Scale) via Qualtrics, followed by a 20-minute filmed interaction via Zoom which was later coded for EA. Immediate Intervention Group (IIG) received one pretest before the intervention and one posttest after the intervention over a 3-5 week intervention delivery. The intervention involved a 2-hour interactive Zoom workshop where information about EA, attachment, and mindfulness was provided, a 1-hour individualized, Zoom EA feedback/coaching session, and two weeks of text reminders about the covered content. In contrast to the IIG, the Waitlist Control (WC) participants received two pretests (same assessments as above) separated by the 3-5 week time period corresponding to the timing of intervention delivery for the IIG. After the second pretest, they received the same intervention as the IIG. All IIG and WC fathers received posttest sessions (exact same assessments as for the pretests noted above). Across 16 target variables assessing EA, six observed variables showed post-intervention improvement (a < .05) though no significant findings were found on self-reported measures. These findings suggest that fathers respond to programs that provide guidance for clinically informed, research-based parenting despite the program having limited effect on their self-perceptions of how they parent.
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Mother-child and father-child emotional availability during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Dungan, Maggie Elise, author; Biringen, Zeynep, advisor; Harvey, Ashley, committee member; Yoder, Jamie, committee member
While the body of literature on COVID's impact to family life is rapidly expanding, most studies are based entirely on self-report data, leaving a critical gap in observational studies of parent-child interactions. The goal of this study was to evaluate parent-child relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic using the observational Emotional Availability (EA) construct. Parents (N = 43) were assessed using the Epidemic Pandemic Impacts Inventory (EPII), the Flourishing Scale (FLS), and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaires. The subcategories of the EPII were used to develop an EPII negative and an EPII positive for each parent. EA (sensitivity, structuring, nonhostility, nonintrusiveness, child responsiveness, and child involvement) was coded from filmed parent-child interactions. Separate hierarchical multiple regressions (HMRs) were run to evaluate each of the variables of interest (EPII and FLS) as predictive of EA. Child age and ACEs were added in subsequent steps for EPII negative and positive if the initial step was significant. For mothers, results demonstrated EPII negative as a significant predictor of EA with child age and ACEs adding only small amount of variance to the prediction. The same HMR process was repeated for flourishing, with the covariate child age alone. For fathers, flourishing was a significant predictor of EA and child age added only a small amount of variance to the prediction. Results indicate that experiencing high COVID-related stressors is associated with lower EA for mothers, but not fathers. Having high levels of flourishing during the pandemic was predictive of higher EA for fathers, but not mothers.