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Title: Subjective-Objective Discrepancies Among Patients with Sleep Complaints in the Patient-Centered Medical Home.
Creator: Dotson, Keri, Dunn, Michael, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Sleep misperception (-) the discrepancy between objective and subjective measures of sleep (-) has been shown to be prevalent among patients with insomnia and may be a promising target for sleep intervention. This study examined sleep misperception in a diverse outpatient medical sample using consumer-grade wearable actigraphs (i.e., Fitbit Charge HR(TM)). Forty-four self-identified problem sleepers aged 20 to 79 participated in the study. Participants completed sleep diaries for one week...
Show moreSleep misperception (-) the discrepancy between objective and subjective measures of sleep (-) has been shown to be prevalent among patients with insomnia and may be a promising target for sleep intervention. This study examined sleep misperception in a diverse outpatient medical sample using consumer-grade wearable actigraphs (i.e., Fitbit Charge HR(TM)). Forty-four self-identified problem sleepers aged 20 to 79 participated in the study. Participants completed sleep diaries for one week while also tracking their sleep using the Fitbit Charge HR(TM). After receiving a personalized sleep report based on these data, participants repeated another week of sleep assessment. Sleep misperception was observed for both total sleep time and sleep onset latency during the first week, such that participants underestimated their total amount of sleep per night and overestimated the amount of time it took them to fall asleep. Pre-post changes in self-reported sleep, mood, and health were examined as a secondary aim in this study. Objectively measured sleep remained relatively unchanged from baseline to follow-up. Despite this lack of change in actual sleep, participants perceived themselves to be sleeping more hours per night, falling asleep more quickly, and sleeping better overall at one-week follow-up. Statistically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, mental health functioning, and insomnia symptom severity were also observed at follow-up. Overall, findings showed that sleep misperception is prevalent among problem sleepers and that sleep discrepancy can be reduced through the use of corrective sleep feedback.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0006976, ucf:51645
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006976

Title: Relationships Between Information Adequacy, Illness Perceptions, and Distress Among Survivors of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.
Creator: Wiener, Chelsea, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Gupta, Rema, Paulson, Daniel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Patients and survivors of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) report experiencing significant distress despite excellent disease prognosis. Predictors of distress in this population, however, are largely unexplored. Two factors that relate to distress in other cancer populations are patient subjective experiences with information provision and patient illness perceptions. Thus, evaluation of information experiences and illness perceptions among survivors of DTC is warranted. In particular,...
Show morePatients and survivors of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) report experiencing significant distress despite excellent disease prognosis. Predictors of distress in this population, however, are largely unexplored. Two factors that relate to distress in other cancer populations are patient subjective experiences with information provision and patient illness perceptions. Thus, evaluation of information experiences and illness perceptions among survivors of DTC is warranted. In particular, the unique prognosis and treatment associated with DTC invites investigation of the relationship between patient subjective experiences with information quantity (termed (")information adequacy(") in this study) and distress in this population. Thus, the primary goals of this thesis are 1) to examine how information adequacy and illness perceptions relate to distress in survivors of DTC, and 2) to investigate illness perceptions as a mechanism by which information adequacy and distress are related. Further, research suggests that distress and reduced emotional functioning among survivors of thyroid cancer extend years after initial diagnosis; however, the relationship between time and distress among survivors of DTC remains unclear and understudied. The extent to which time moderates relationships between information adequacy, illness perceptions, and distress also remains unexplored. Thus, secondary goals of this thesis are 1) to examine the relationship between time (specifically (")years-since-diagnosis(")) and distress, and 2) to examine time as a moderator of relationships between information adequacy, illness perceptions, and distress in survivors of DTC.A sample of 284 participants identified in the Patient Reported Outcomes Following Initial Treatment and Long-term Evaluation of Survivorship (PROFILES) registry were included in structural equation modeling. Relationships between information adequacy, illness perceptions, and distress were evaluated in Model 1. Results largely supported the hypothesized model: greater information adequacy was associated with better illness perceptions, better illness perceptions were associated with less distress, and greater information adequacy was indirectly related to less distress via better illness perceptions. A direct relationship between information adequacy and distress, however, was not observed. Secondary thesis aims were explored in Model 2. Results did not support moderation hypotheses, and a direct relationship between years-since-diagnosis and distress was not demonstrated. A revised model yielded ancillary findings that having fewer years-since-diagnosis was associated with worse illness perceptions, and with greater distress via worse illness perceptions. Thus, overall study results revealed a notable relationship between illness perceptions and distress among survivors of DTC. Future research should investigate whether interventions to address illness perceptions result in decreased distress in this population. The demonstrated link between information adequacy and illness perceptions invites further investigation of informational interventions in particular as a method to address illness perceptions. Future research should also investigate the extent to which illness perceptions mediate relationships between information experiences and distress in other cancer populations.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006197, ucf:51100
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006197

Title: Alcohol Consumption, Frailty, and the Mediating Role of C-Reactive Protein in Older Adults.
Creator: Shah, Mona, Paulson, Daniel, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Frailty is a well-established indicator of late-life decline and is accompanied by higher rates of comorbidity and disability. Meanwhile, an estimated 41% of adults over the age of 65 report consuming alcohol (-) an identified health risk and protective factor depending on dosage. Given that the demographic group of older Americans is projected to double by the year 2050, identification of frailty risk and protective factors is imperative. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) identify how...
Show moreFrailty is a well-established indicator of late-life decline and is accompanied by higher rates of comorbidity and disability. Meanwhile, an estimated 41% of adults over the age of 65 report consuming alcohol (-) an identified health risk and protective factor depending on dosage. Given that the demographic group of older Americans is projected to double by the year 2050, identification of frailty risk and protective factors is imperative. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) identify how varying levels of alcohol consumption relate to frailty, and (2) elucidate a possible mechanism that accounts for the relationship between alcohol consumption and frailty. A sample of stroke-free participants over the age of 65 was identified from the Health and Retirement Study. Study 1 utilized stepwise logistic regression models to identify predictors of prevalent frailty at baseline (2000), and of incident frailty 4, 8, and 12 years later. For both males and females, significant predictors of frailty at all years included age, depressive symptomatology, and medical burden score. In addition, BMI was a significant predictor of frailty for females at all years. With respect to alcohol use, results revealed that drinking 1-7 drinks per week had a protective effect for females at baseline (OR=0.50) and 12 years later (OR=0.75); however, no such protective effects were found for males. Given that extant research has identified CRP as a mediator between the relationship of moderate alcohol use and cardiovascular health benefits, Study 2 used a cross-sectional sample from the 2008 wave to examine the potential mediating role of CRP between moderate alcohol use and reduced frailty risk. Results from structural equation modeling support the hypothesized model that moderate alcohol is associated with less frailty, and that this relationship is partially mediated by CRP levels. Overall findings suggest that moderate alcohol use confers health benefits for females by reducing frailty risk and that CRP is one mechanism by which alcohol use may confer protective effects for frailty. These results provide a starting place in an effort to better understand the protective effects of moderate alcohol use and can assist in improving prevention and treatment efforts for older adults by preventing or prolonging the onset of age-related diseases. Future research should further examine the relationship between alcohol use and frailty and determine if CRP mediates the relationship between moderate alcohol use and other beneficial health outcomes.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0006000, ucf:51027
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006000

Title: How does brief cognitive behavioral therapy work? Potential mechanisms of action for veterans with physical and psychological comorbidities.
Creator: Deavers, Frances, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, Eldridge, Gloria, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Depression and anxiety are commonly comorbid among patients with chronic medical conditions. These comorbidities are associated with negative outcomes including poorer quality of life and worse physical functioning. Evidence that traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is less effective for these populations has led to the development of brief CBT protocols that incorporate physical health self-management skills and are delivered in primary care. To continue refining treatment packages...
Show moreDepression and anxiety are commonly comorbid among patients with chronic medical conditions. These comorbidities are associated with negative outcomes including poorer quality of life and worse physical functioning. Evidence that traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is less effective for these populations has led to the development of brief CBT protocols that incorporate physical health self-management skills and are delivered in primary care. To continue refining treatment packages, it is important to understand how brief CBT works. The present study used the transactional model of stress and coping as a framework for investigating potential mechanisms of action of brief CBT. Veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or heart failure and elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety were randomized to receive brief CBT (n =180) or enhanced usual care (EUC; n = 122). At 4-month follow-up, depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly lower in veterans who received brief CBT, compared to EUC. Multiple mediation analyses revealed that brief CBT was associated with higher self-efficacy and less avoidant coping at 4-month follow-up, which were in turn associated with less depression and anxiety symptoms. Illness intrusiveness was also a significant mediator of the relationship between brief CBT and anxiety symptoms, but not depression symptoms. In contrast, increases in active coping attributable to brief CBT were not associated with improvements in depression or anxiety symptoms. These results demonstrate the utility of the transactional model of stress and coping as a framework for understanding mechanisms of action of brief CBT in patients with comorbid physical and psychological conditions.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006733, ucf:51884
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006733

Title: Mothers' Temperament, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Psychological Symptoms: How Are Enduring Maternal Characteristics Related to Mothers' Perceptions of Children's Temperament, Behavior Problems, and Adaptive Functioning?.
Creator: Kolomeyer, Ellen, Renk, Kimberly, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Extant literature documented the impact of mothers' characteristics and parenting behaviors on young children's psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, previous studies demonstrated the importance of mothers' adverse childhood experiences in the relationships among some of these constructs. To expand on the existing knowledge, the present study examined the relationships among mothers' temperament, reflective functioning, attributions, and specific parenting behaviors, with reflective...
Show moreExtant literature documented the impact of mothers' characteristics and parenting behaviors on young children's psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, previous studies demonstrated the importance of mothers' adverse childhood experiences in the relationships among some of these constructs. To expand on the existing knowledge, the present study examined the relationships among mothers' temperament, reflective functioning, attributions, and specific parenting behaviors, with reflective functioning and attributions serving as two potential mediating variables in these relationships. A community sample of 224 diverse mothers of young children who were between 2- to 5-years of age rated their own adverse childhood experiences, temperament, reflective functioning, attributions, specific parenting behaviors, satisfaction with their maternal role, and psychological symptoms. Additionally, mothers rated their children's temperament, behavior problems, and adaptive functioning. Statistical analyses were conducted on the overall sample as well as on a subsample of participants who reported a high exposure to adverse childhood experiences. Correlational analyses indicated a variety of significant relationships among the variables of interest. Next, mediational analyses indicated that mothers' attributions mediated the relationship between mothers' temperament and parenting behaviors in both the overall sample and the subsample of mothers who reported high exposure to adverse childhood experiences. Further, hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that a number of maternal characteristics predicted young children's outcomes. Overall, this study identified unique predictors of mothers' parenting behaviors and of mothers' perceptions of the outcomes experienced by their young children. Most importantly, this study highlighted the importance of serving families as a whole when wanting to provide lasting improvements to individual and family functioning through intervention services.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006130, ucf:51167
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006130

Title: Psychopathology and Functional Impairment in Adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder.
Creator: Mesa, Franklin, Beidel, Deborah, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Neer, Sandra, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Although social anxiety disorder is most often diagnosed during adolescence, few investigations have examined the clinical presentation of this disorder exclusively in adolescents. Prior studies have demonstrated that some clinical features of SAD in adolescents are unique relative to younger children with the condition. Furthermore, the extant literature on daily functional impairment in this population is limited. In this investigation, multiple areas of functioning were examined in...
Show moreAlthough social anxiety disorder is most often diagnosed during adolescence, few investigations have examined the clinical presentation of this disorder exclusively in adolescents. Prior studies have demonstrated that some clinical features of SAD in adolescents are unique relative to younger children with the condition. Furthermore, the extant literature on daily functional impairment in this population is limited. In this investigation, multiple areas of functioning were examined in adolescents with SAD (n = 16) and normal control adolescents (n = 14): specific social skills, subjective distress and physiological reactivity during one speech performance task and one social interaction task; alcohol use and expectancies; subjective and objective quality of sleep; and daily distressing social activities. No differences were observed in sleep actigraphy, self-reported sleep difficulties, alcohol use, or alcohol expectancies. Adolescents with SAD reported greater distress during both analogue tasks relative to NC adolescents. During the speech task, adolescents with SAD exhibited significantly greater speech latency (4.42 seconds vs. 1.75 seconds) and spoke significantly less (83.09 seconds vs. 167.75 seconds) than NC adolescents. Additionally, SAD participants manifested greater skin conductance during the speech task. During the social interaction, adolescents with SAD asked significantly fewer questions (2.20 vs. 7.07) and required significantly more confederate prompts (2.33 vs. 1.14) to stimulate interaction. Finally, adolescents with SAD reported more frequent anxiety-provoking situations in their daily lives and greater avoidance of these situations, including answering questions in class, assertive communication, and interacting with a group. The findings are discussed with respect to the current understanding of alcohol use, quality of sleep, and social functioning in adolescents with SAD.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004891, ucf:49648
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004891

Title: Stand-Alone Personalized Normative Feedback for College Student Drinkers: A Meta-Analytic Review, 2004 to 2014.
Creator: Dotson, Keri, Dunn, Michael, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Personalized normative feedback (PNF) has shown promise as a stand-alone intervention for reducing alcohol use among college students. PNF uses norms clarification to correct drinking norms misperceptions by highlighting discrepancies between personal alcohol use, perceived peer alcohol use, and actual peer alcohol use. Previous reviews of personalized feedback interventions have identified norms clarification as key a component, prompting researchers to study PNF as a single-component...
Show morePersonalized normative feedback (PNF) has shown promise as a stand-alone intervention for reducing alcohol use among college students. PNF uses norms clarification to correct drinking norms misperceptions by highlighting discrepancies between personal alcohol use, perceived peer alcohol use, and actual peer alcohol use. Previous reviews of personalized feedback interventions have identified norms clarification as key a component, prompting researchers to study PNF as a single-component intervention for college drinking. As the number of publications focused on PNF effectiveness has increased in recent years, an empirical review of these studies is warranted to assess the potential impact of PNF as a stand-alone program. The purpose of the present study was to summarize available research and to perform a meta-analytic review of personalized normative feedback as a stand-alone intervention for college student drinking. Studies were included if they examined a stand-alone PNF drinking intervention, used a college student sample, reported alcohol use outcomes, and used a pre-post experimental design with follow-up at least 28 days post-intervention. Eight studies (13 interventions) completed between 2004 and 2014 were included. Effect size estimates (ESs) were calculated as the standardized mean difference in change scores between treatment and control groups. Compared to control participants, students who received PNF reported a greater reduction in drinking and harms from baseline to follow-up. Results were similar for both gender-neutral and gender-specific PNF. Overall, intervention effects for drinking were small but reliable. This study offers an empirical summary of stand-alone PNF for reducing college student drinking and provides a foundation for future research.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005606, ucf:50257
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005606

Title: Differential Parenting and Parents' Perceptions of their Children: Can Attachment Help Explain This Relationship?.
Creator: Mcswiggan, Meagan, Renk, Kimberly, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research has suggested that the differential experiences of children in the same family were often greater than those of children across different families. Although studies identified potential moderators (e.g., age, gender) associated with differential parenting, there has been less investigation of mediators. The current study examined attachment as a mediator in the relationship between differential parenting and parents' perceptions of their children. As part of this study, 132...
Show moreResearch has suggested that the differential experiences of children in the same family were often greater than those of children across different families. Although studies identified potential moderators (e.g., age, gender) associated with differential parenting, there has been less investigation of mediators. The current study examined attachment as a mediator in the relationship between differential parenting and parents' perceptions of their children. As part of this study, 132 culturally diverse mothers with children who ranged in age from 2- to 10-years rated how differently they treat their own children, their children's attachment, their parenting characteristics, and their children's functioning (i.e., temperament and emotional and behavioral functioning). Meditational and hierarchical regression analyses suggested the importance of examining both parenting characteristics as well as attachment variables in understanding how mothers rated both their older and younger children. In particular, results demonstrated that the parent-child attachment relationship is particularly important for older children in families with a younger sibling present. For younger siblings, this study corroborated existing research and found that punitive parenting was especially important in predicting parents' ratings of these children's emotional and behavioral functioning. These findings are particularly helpful for professionals working with families with multiple children and with parents who are reporting troubling behaviors in these children.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005664, ucf:50160
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005664

Title: Affective and Autonomic Responses to Erotic Images among Young Women with and without Sexual Difficulties.
Creator: De Pesa, Natasha, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Negy, Charles, Joseph, Dana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Existing models of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) are broad and do not provide information about how to improve existing interventions. The purpose of the current study is to extend the empirical application of a disgust model of FSD (de Jong, van Overveld, (&) Borg, 2013) to a population of young women reporting difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal and related distress. Sixty college-aged females participated in the study and were placed into two groups based upon their reports of...
Show moreExisting models of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) are broad and do not provide information about how to improve existing interventions. The purpose of the current study is to extend the empirical application of a disgust model of FSD (de Jong, van Overveld, (&) Borg, 2013) to a population of young women reporting difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal and related distress. Sixty college-aged females participated in the study and were placed into two groups based upon their reports of sexual functioning and sexual distress: a control group (i.e., no sexual difficulties or distress) and a clinical group (i.e., difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal and accompanying distress). Participants were attached to physiological equipment and shown images displaying neutral, positive, disgusting, and erotic content. It was hypothesized that the clinical group would show more evidence of disgust (via affective and autonomic responses) than the control group. Consistent with hypotheses, no group differences were found in any of the affective or autonomic measures during presentation of the neutral, positive, or disgust images. Group differences during presentation of the erotic images (i.e., in facial EMG, heart rate, and self-report affective ratings) and follow-up analyses provided preliminary evidence for generalizing the disgust model of female sexual dysfunction beyond disorders of sexual pain, at least among some women. Exploratory analyses implicated a relationship between a history of sexual victimization and self-report disgust ratings of erotic images. Future research should further explore these relationships in order to shed more light on how disgust-based mechanisms impact the onset and maintenance of female sexual dysfunction.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005601, ucf:50234
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005601

Title: Modeling Risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women in a Court-Ordered Substance Treatment Program.
Creator: Deavers, Frances, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, Eldridge, Gloria, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Developing a comprehensive model of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) risk factors and their inter-relationships is vital to improving methods of risk identification and treatment delivery. The CDC posed three general categories that may serve as a framework for such a model: sexual network, individual behavior, and social/ structural risk. None of the extant risk models incorporate measures from all three categories. Additionally, none of these models, generally focused on individual...
Show moreDeveloping a comprehensive model of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) risk factors and their inter-relationships is vital to improving methods of risk identification and treatment delivery. The CDC posed three general categories that may serve as a framework for such a model: sexual network, individual behavior, and social/ structural risk. None of the extant risk models incorporate measures from all three categories. Additionally, none of these models, generally focused on individual behavior, use medical data on infection as their outcome variable. This is problematic because the ultimate outcome of infection is also influenced by sexual network and social/ structural variables, in addition to individual behaviors. Therefore the current study aimed to develop a comprehensive model of risk incorporating sexual network, individual behavior, and social/ structural risk variables, using medical data on infection status as the outcome variable. The sample consisted of 506 women in a court-ordered substance treatment program. An Exploratory Factor Analysis provided preliminary evidence for a three factor model corresponding to the CDC framework. However, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis failed to confirm this model. Additionally, a logistic regression suggested that this model has limited clinical utility for this sample. Future studies may more conclusively determine the importance of various STI risk variables, the relationships between them, and whether they mirror the CDC theoretical framework. With rates of infection still high in the United States, and even increasing among women for certain STIs, this is a critical public health issue that should continue to be examined.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005323, ucf:50502
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005323

Title: Do programs designed to train working memory, other executive functions, and attention benefit children with ADHD? A meta-analytic review of cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes.
Creator: Orban, Sarah, Rapport, Mark, Beidel, Deborah, Cassisi, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Children with ADHD are characterized frequently as possessing underdeveloped executive functions and sustained attentional abilities, and recent commercial claims suggest that computer-based cognitive training can remediate these impairments and provide significant and lasting improvement in their attention, impulse control, social functioning, academic performance, and complex reasoning skills. The present review critically evaluates these claims through meta-analysis of 25 studies of...
Show moreChildren with ADHD are characterized frequently as possessing underdeveloped executive functions and sustained attentional abilities, and recent commercial claims suggest that computer-based cognitive training can remediate these impairments and provide significant and lasting improvement in their attention, impulse control, social functioning, academic performance, and complex reasoning skills. The present review critically evaluates these claims through meta-analysis of 25 studies of facilitative intervention training (i.e., cognitive training) for children with ADHD. Random effects models corrected for publication bias and sampling error revealed that studies training short-term memory alone resulted in moderate magnitude improvements in short-term memory (d= 0.63), whereas training attention did not significantly improve attention and training mixed executive functions did not significantly improve the targeted executive functions (both nonsignificant: 95% confidence intervals include 0.0). Far transfer effects of cognitive training on academic functioning, blinded ratings of behavior (both nonsignificant), and cognitive tests (d= 0.14) were nonsignificant or negligible. Unblinded raters (d= 0.48) reported significantly larger benefits relative to blinded raters and objective tests (both p (<) .05), indicating the likelihood of Hawthorne effects. Critical examination of training targets revealed incongruence with empirical evidence regarding the specific executive functions that are (a) most impaired in ADHD, and (b) functionally related to the behavioral and academic outcomes these training programs are intended to ameliorate. Collectively, meta-analytic results indicate that claims regarding the academic, behavioral, and cognitive benefits associated with extant cognitive training programs are unsupported in ADHD. The methodological limitations of the current evidence base, however, leaves open the possibility that cognitive training techniques designed to improve empirically documented executive function deficits may benefit children with ADHD.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005040, ucf:49962
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005040

Title: Hispanic Immigrant Parental Messages of Resiliency and Emotional Regulation to their Children: An Examination of Important Variables and an Intervention.
Creator: Velezmoro, Rodrigo, Negy, Charles, Renk, Kimberly, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Nalbone, Lisa, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This two-part study examined the adjustment of Hispanic immigrants. Part one examined the communication that occurs between Hispanic immigrant parents and their adolescents/young adults about life in the United States (U.S.). It also examined how attitudes toward the U.S. and various protective factors influence psychological adjustment. Hispanic immigrants (n = 123) with an average of 11 years living in the United States and their adolescents/young adults between the ages of 14-22 served as...
Show moreThis two-part study examined the adjustment of Hispanic immigrants. Part one examined the communication that occurs between Hispanic immigrant parents and their adolescents/young adults about life in the United States (U.S.). It also examined how attitudes toward the U.S. and various protective factors influence psychological adjustment. Hispanic immigrants (n = 123) with an average of 11 years living in the United States and their adolescents/young adults between the ages of 14-22 served as participants. For both parents and their adolescents/young adults, favorable attitudes toward the U.S. were associated with improved psychological adjustment. Contrary to prediction, attitudes toward the U.S. did not correlate with quality of life or life satisfaction for either family member. Further, results indicated that among adolescents/young adults, resiliency predicted positive U.S. attitudes, whereas among parents, openness to new experiences predicted favorable attitudes toward the U.S. Finally, parental views of the U.S. correlated positively with their adolescents'/young adults' views of the U.S. In an extension of the study, 37 Hispanic college students who were either immigrants or children of immigrants were randomly assigned to either a control condition or a psychoeducation condition. The psychoeducation condition focused on improving their emotional regulation and views of the United States. No significant differences were found among the groups.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005436, ucf:50399
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005436

Title: A Randomized Trial of Attention Training for Generalized Social Phobia: Does Attention Training Change Social Behavior?.
Creator: Bunnell, Brian, Beidel, Deborah, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Rapport, Mark, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The use of attention training protocols for the treatment of generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD) is undergoing increased examination. Initial investigations were positive but more recent investigations have been less supportive of the treatment paradigm. One significant limitation of current investigations may be over-reliance on self-report. In this investigation, we expanded on initial investigations by using a multimodal assessment of patient functioning (i.e., including behavioral...
Show moreThe use of attention training protocols for the treatment of generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD) is undergoing increased examination. Initial investigations were positive but more recent investigations have been less supportive of the treatment paradigm. One significant limitation of current investigations may be over-reliance on self-report. In this investigation, we expanded on initial investigations by using a multimodal assessment of patient functioning (i.e., including behavioral assessment). Patients with a primary diagnosis of SAD (n = 31) were randomly assigned to eight sessions of attention training (n = 15) or placebo/control (n = 16). Participants were assessed at pre- and post-treatment via self- and clinician-report of social anxiety as well as anxious and behavioral response to two in vivo social interactions. Results revealed no differences between groups at post-treatment for all study outcome variables, suggesting a lack of effect for the attention training condition. The results are concordant with recent investigations finding a lack of support for the use of attention training as an efficacious treatment for patients with SAD.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004658, ucf:49879
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004658

Title: Evaluation of a digitally enhanced Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) for use with mandated college students.
Creator: Fried, Abigail, Dunn, Michael, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, Orr, Deborah, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Alcohol use has been a longstanding problem on college campuses. Despite the efforts National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the commissioned Task Force on College Drinking (2002), there has been a recent rise in the number of alcohol related arrests and violations on college campuses. Within the high-risk mandated student population, the most successful programs utilize motivational enhancement strategies, such as the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College...
Show moreAlcohol use has been a longstanding problem on college campuses. Despite the efforts National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the commissioned Task Force on College Drinking (2002), there has been a recent rise in the number of alcohol related arrests and violations on college campuses. Within the high-risk mandated student population, the most successful programs utilize motivational enhancement strategies, such as the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS). Likely due to financial constraints, an important issue that has been raised is the limited availability of validated methods for alcohol prevention and intervention on college campuses. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the digitally assisted Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) by direct comparison of the ECALC to an already well-established treatment (i.e., BASICS) in an effort to reduce problematic alcohol use and related negative consequences among mandated college students. The role of the digital enhancements is to decrease time and resources necessary for training facilitators and aid in widespread implementation. Analyses revealed significant reductions on all four positive alcohol expectancies subscales for those in the ECALC condition and a significant intervening effect for the expectancies of Sociability and Liquid Courage. Results also revealed that for both males and females, those in the ECALC condition demonstrated significantly greater reductions in frequency of alcohol use (i.e., number of drinking days per month) and comparable reductions in typical (i.e., mean BAC, average drinks per sitting, average drinks per week) and heavy alcohol use (i.e., peak BAC, peak drinks per sitting, number of binge episodes) at follow-up when compared to those in the BASICS condition.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004843, ucf:49712
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004843

Title: Does Virtual Reality Elicit Physiological Arousal in Social Anxiety Disorder.
Creator: Owens, Maryann, Beidel, Deborah, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, Neer, Sandra, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The present study examined the ability of a Virtual Reality (VR) public speaking task to elicit physiological arousal in adults with SAD (n=25) and Controls (n=25). A behavioral assessment paradigm was employed to address three study objectives: (a) to determine whether the VR task can elicit significant increases in physiological response over baseline resting conditions (b) to determine if individuals with SAD have a greater increase from baseline levels of physiological and self-reported...
Show moreThe present study examined the ability of a Virtual Reality (VR) public speaking task to elicit physiological arousal in adults with SAD (n=25) and Controls (n=25). A behavioral assessment paradigm was employed to address three study objectives: (a) to determine whether the VR task can elicit significant increases in physiological response over baseline resting conditions (b) to determine if individuals with SAD have a greater increase from baseline levels of physiological and self-reported arousal during the in vivo speech task as opposed to the VR speech task and (c) to determine whether individuals with SAD experience greater changes in physiological and self-reported arousal during each speech task compared to controls. Results demonstrated that the VR task was able to elicit significant increases in heart rate, skin conductance, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia, but did not elicit as much physiological or self-reported arousal as the in vivo speech task. In addition, no differences were found between groups. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004906, ucf:49624
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004906

Title: Evaluation of a Digitally-Automated Alcohol Curriculum Designed to Alter Expectancies and Alcohol Use in First Year College Students.
Creator: Schreiner, Amy, Dunn, Michael, Cassisi, Jeffrey, Bowers, Clint, Linkovich Kyle, Tiffany, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: High-risk alcohol consumption remains a primary public health concern for students on college campuses. In response to this concern the National Advisory Council of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism created a task force to identify and recommend strategies to aid college administrators in implementing effective alcohol programming at their institutions. While most administrators report being aware of these recommendations, many have not successfully implemented...
Show moreHigh-risk alcohol consumption remains a primary public health concern for students on college campuses. In response to this concern the National Advisory Council of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism created a task force to identify and recommend strategies to aid college administrators in implementing effective alcohol programming at their institutions. While most administrators report being aware of these recommendations, many have not successfully implemented empirically supported interventions on their campuses. One significant barrier is the cost and difficulty of training and hiring skilled staff to implement these interventions. Of the strategies identified as effective, challenging alcohol expectancies is the only strategy validated for group administration with college students and has significant potential to address this remaining barrier. However, current expectancy-based interventions still require highly trained expert facilitators for implementation. The present study aimed to convert the previously validated Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) into a digital format amenable to non-expert facilitation. The resulting digital ECALC was implemented in 48 class sections of a first year student course in a group randomized trial. It was hypothesized that receiving the digital ECALC would result in significant changes in alcohol expectancies and subsequent changes in alcohol use and related harms. Analyses revealed significant changes in both positive and negative expectancies following the digital ECALC, however no significant changes in alcohol consumption or alcohol-related harms were observed at a 30 day follow-up. Exploratory subgroup analyses revealed significant differences between experimental and control groups on average and peak drinks per sitting for classes receiving the digital ECALC during the fall semester only. Semester specific variables, environmental context, and social influence variables may have contributed to the lack of behavioral changes in the overall sample following observed expectancy changes. This study represents an important development in expectancy-based interventions for college students as the digital format removed the need for an expert facilitator and maintained significant changes in expectancies. Future studies should focus on replication of these expectancy changes and on demonstrating subsequent changes in alcohol use and related harms. The present study also represents the first evaluation of a group-administered expectancy intervention to report on intra-class correlations which will aid future researchers in designing sufficiently powered studies going forward.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005412, ucf:50425
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005412

alcohol (4)	+ -
Virtual Reality (3)	+ -
Exposure Therapy (2)	+ -
Heart Rate (2)	+ -
Parenting (2)	+ -

Physiological Arousal (2)	+ -
Public Speaking (2)	+ -
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (2)	+ -
Social Anxiety Disorder (2)	+ -
Social Phobia (2)	+ -
college students (2)	+ -
intervention (2)	+ -
meta-analysis (2)	+ -
metacognition (2)	+ -
schizotypy (2)	+ -
skin conductance (2)	+ -
sleep (2)	+ -
working memory (2)	+ -
ADHD (1)	+ -
Adverse Childhood Experiences (1)	+ -
Alcohol (1)	+ -
Ambulatory (1)	+ -
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (1)	+ -
Anxiety (1)	+ -
Anxious (1)	+ -
Attachment (1)	+ -
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (1)	+ -
Attitutinal Familism (1)	+ -
Behavioral Familism (1)	+ -
C-reactive protein (1)	+ -

ETD Collection (32)	+ -
Honors Collection (4)	+ -

University of Central Florida (36)	+ -
Cassisi, Jeffrey (35)	+ -
Beidel, Deborah (10)	+ -
Bowers, Clint (8)	+ -
Sims, Valerie (7)	+ -

Bedwell, Jeffrey (5)	+ -
Negy, Charles (5)	+ -
Paulson, Daniel (5)	+ -
Rapport, Mark (5)	+ -
Dunn, Michael (4)	+ -
Renk, Kimberly (4)	+ -
Neer, Sandra (3)	+ -
Chan, Chi (2)	+ -
De Pesa, Natasha (2)	+ -
Deavers, Frances (2)	+ -
Dotson, Keri (2)	+ -
Eldridge, Gloria (2)	+ -
Gupta, Rema (2)	+ -
Jentsch, Florian (2)	+ -
Joseph, Dana (2)	+ -
Mitchell, Jonathan (2)	+ -
Orban, Sarah (2)	+ -
Owens, Maryann (2)	+ -
Shah, Mona (2)	+ -
Wiener, Chelsea (2)	+ -
Bunnell, Brian (1)	+ -
Cassisi, Jeffrey E. (1)	+ -
Fried, Abigail (1)	+ -
Germain, Benjamin (1)	+ -
Hundley, Gulnora (1)	+ -

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