No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007. / Prepared for: Dept. of Psychology. Bibliography: leaves 188-213. Also available online via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 95 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-64).

When periodic electroconvulsive shocks (ECSs) were administered, a progressive intensification of the motor seizure (MS) pattern occurred. This effect was observed when ECSs at either 15 or 75 mA were administered at 3-day, but not 1-hr intervals. The magnitude of the increase in severity of the MS pattern was a function of the number of ECSs which approached asymptote, in these experiments, at approximately ten ECSs. Periodic ECSs were also found to potentiate the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. In general, those conditions which were found to facilitate the kindling of MSs were the same as those which produced the potentiation of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Furthermore, this potentiation was found to persist up to 3 weeks after the last ECS under the conditions used in these experiments. Finally, the potentiation of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurred even after the MSs had been pharmacologically blocked. The results of these experiments were discussed in light of their implications to both basic and clinical research. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Concussions remain a serious public health concern, with approximately 1.6 million to 3 million sport and recreational traumatic and brain injuries occurring every year in the United States. Most research on concussions has been conducted on male athletes, specifically, football players. However, female sport participation has steadily increased over the past decade. Recent studies suggest that the incidence of and recovery from sport-related concussion varies between male and female athletes, with women having a higher risk of sustaining a concussion and taking a longer time to recover than men. As a result, this article addresses the role of gender in the assessment and management of sport-related concussion.

No description available.

The present study examined levels of anxiety symptoms based on self-identified sexual orientation, and identity-related constructs among gays and lesbians. This study was unique because it examined the roles of identity and stigma simultaneously in determining anxiety levels among gays and lesbians. Multiple identity constructs (public and private regard) and stigma (public and self) have played a significant role in determining anxiety levels in ethnic minorities, but these have not been examined to the same extent among gays and lesbians. Public stigma refers to the view of society about the individual for being a member of the stigmatized group, while self-stigma is the personal view of themselves for being a member of the group. Public regard is the view of society on the group as a whole and private regard refers to the personal view of the stigmatized group. In order to test study hypotheses, secondary data analysis was conducted on a sample of participants who completed an online survey entitled “Study of Attitudes about Sexual Orientation” and who self- identified as homosexual or heterosexual. Participants were recruited from a southeastern university and the study was also open to non-students, community members, and the public at large via widespread advertisement online. College student participants were offered modest course credit for their participation in the study. Results indicated that homosexuals reported higher levels of public stigma (t (1376) = -37.992, p < .01) and increased self-stigma (R2 = .219 F (3, 156) = 14.569, p < .001) in relation to increased public stigma and decreased public regard. The findings of the study support the idea that public perceptions about sexual orientation impact homosexuals’ self views. Stigma interventions should focus not only on reducing negative public regard about homosexuality, but also intervene to reduce the impact of public views on the self.

Prior research has linked discrimination based on specific attributions (e.g. race/ethnicity) to anxiety symptoms. Researchers also have stated the importance of characteristics (e.g., visibility) of stigmatized identities for the experience of those identities. The present study expands prior research by examining relations among perceived discrimination as well as characteristics of identities/stigmas (saliency, secrecy, visibility, cognitive time) – regardless of attribution or specific identity – and anxiety symptoms. This study explores these relations among a sample of students attending a Southeastern university (N=659) and who completed an online survey about identity (including stigmatizing identities). Mean age for participants was 20.8, with the majority being White (89.1%) and female (69.3%). Items pertaining to saliency, visibility, and secrecy of identity were assessed using individual items rated on a 6-point Likert scale (1=Not Very; 6=Very). An item pertaining to how often the individual thought about the particular identity in everyday life (cognitive time) was rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1=Strongly Disagree; 4=Strongly Agree). Everyday Discrimination (Williams, 1995) occurrences were rated on a 6-point Likert scale (1=Almost Everyday; 6=Never). Finally, anxiety symptoms (Derogatis, 1986) were measured on a 5-point Likert scale (0=Not at all; 4=Extremely). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s index of internal consistency; anxiety (α=.90) and discrimination (α =.92). Bivariate correlations were conducted on main study variables. Results showed discrimination was positively correlated with anxiety symptoms (r=.29, p=.01). Identity characteristics of saliency (r=.088, p=.05), secrecy (r=.189, p=.01), and cognitive time (r=.119, p=.01) were significantly and positively correlated with anxiety. In addition, and consistently, trying to keep the identity a secret was linked with more symptoms of anxiety and perceived discrimination. Thus, specific attribution aside, discrimination is linked with anxiety, and the more one tries to hide stigma the more anxious and the more discrimination one perceives. Future research should test the temporal nature of these relations.

No description available.

No description available.