College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Browsing College of Social and Behavioral Sciences by Subject "Adults"
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Item Covid-19 Restrictions and Substance Use: The Effects of Lockdown Orders on Symptoms and Relapse of Alcohol Use Disorders(2021) Stevens, CatherineThe author investigates how the COVID 19 lockdown has affected individuals with alcohol use problems and alcohol use disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and address the effects the COVID 19 lockdown orders had on the symptoms of alcohol use and alcohol relapse. A total of 437 participants ranging from 18 – 65+ years of age, come from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as educational levels. Announcements included a link to a survey to participate in the study, were e-mailed to clients and posted on LinkedIn and Facebook, and a link was sent to a targeted SurveyMonkey audience. Three questionnaires were combined to create a 43-question survey. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test: Self-Report Version (AUDIT) is a 10-item screening tool used to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behavior, and alcohol-related problems in adults. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a psychological tool used for measuring an individual’s perception of stress. The remaining 22 questions addressed socio-demographic characteristics and behavioral indicators. SPSS database was used to analyze data. Results found the strongest positive correlations to the AUDIT were participant’s alcohol intake before the COVID-19 lockdown, how often the participant drank alcohol as a way to cope with the stress, alcohol being the first thing they thought of when feeling stressed, and how much alcohol is consumed while feeling stressed. The PSS moderately correlated with the AUDIT, when feeling stressed, how often the participant drank alcohol as a way to cope with the stress, alcohol being the first thing they thought of when feeling stressed, and how much alcohol is consumed while feeling stressed. The findings concluded that stress caused by the COVID-19 lockdown were factors in alcohol use disorder and alcohol relapse.Item Only-Children and Mental Health Outcomes: Comparing Depression and Anxiety Between Adult Only-Children and Adults With Siblings(2023) Valdez, JillianOnly-children and individuals with siblings have been compared to each other across a variety of factors and phases of life. Much of the prior research on only-children has focused on personality differences among children and has been predominantly conducted outside of the United States (US). Therefore, the present study sought to explore differences in adult only-children and adults with siblings from the US as it pertained to experiences of depression and anxiety. Participants were recruited from social media platforms where they were asked to complete a survey consisting of questions related to being an only-child, a depression inventory (CES-D) and an anxiety inventory (GAD-7). A total of 38 participants successfully completed the survey (only-children=20, siblings=18). Statistical analyses revealed that while there were differences in average depression and anxiety scores between the two groups, it was not significant. Because prior research has found significant differences between only-children and individuals with siblings [Jin et al. (2019); Lv et al. (2022); Cheng et al. (2020)], further research is still needed on this topic. A major limitation of the present study was sample size. As such, further research would greatly benefit from a larger representative sample.Item Recidivism Among Adult Criminal Populations: A Systematic Review of Methods for Reducing Adult Criminal Recidivism(2023) Tanner, KaileeThis systematic literature review examines psychological interventions to reduce recidivism among adult criminal populations. The review assesses empirical studies published within the last five years, focusing on interventions targeting reoffending rates among incarcerated or formerly incarcerated adults. The study drew from established databases, including the Purdue Global Library, Google Scholar, PsychArticles, ProQuest, and Academic Search Complete . The selected articles undergo meticulous evaluation, considering interventions ranging from cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) such as Reasoning and Rehabilitation 2 (R&R2), Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Aggression Replacement Training (ART), and alternative approaches like Forensic Peer Support (FPS), Bridges to Life (BTL), and Mental Health Courts (MHC). Analysis of the aggregated findings demonstrates a nuanced landscape of intervention effectiveness, with some programs showcasing reduced recidivism rates while others yield inconclusive or ineffective outcomes. The review highlights the alignment between successful interventions and psychological theories, emphasizing the importance of tailored, evidence-based strategies rooted in cognitive-behavioral and restorative justice principles. Additionally, the study identifies ethical, legal, individual, and socio-cultural implications of effective interventions, illuminating the broader impact beyond recidivism reduction. Acknowledging study design and methodology limitations, the review proposes future research directions, advocating for standardized intervention protocols, integrated multimodal approaches, and post-release community transition programs. These strategies offer promising avenues to develop comprehensive and adaptable interventions aimed at addressing recidivism within adult criminal populations.Item Reducing Food Stealing Behaviors in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Within a CILA Setting: Using Functional Communication Training (FCT) as a Replacement Behavior(2023) Hulon, AdiaIn this study, I investigated reducing food stealing behaviors in adults with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this study was to teach participants that have none to low communication skills and engage in food stealing and teach them a form of communication that would help reduce food stealing behaviors. This study included three participants from ages 37 to 53 diagnosed with either a severe or profound intellectual disability. The study's objective was to determine whether using functional communication training with the addition of extinction would reduce food-stealing behaviors in adults with intellectual disabilities. The method involved a multiple baseline design across subjects to show control. In the baseline phase, a piece of food would be placed on my plate and the participant’s plate, when eaten the food would be replaced. I measured the frequency of how many times food was taken from my plate throughout the trial. During the intervention phase, a piece of food was placed on my plate, while their plate was empty. The participant would have to request using the functional response, if the correct response was used then they would be given food. I measured the frequency of how many times they used the functional response and how many times they took food from my plate. Food stealing attempts were ignored. The results of this study showed that two of the participants had significant results, while one of the participants did not. This implies the functional response used was not effective for all three participants, the participants that had significant results had other skills that were learned which may have also contributed to the results.