The term dementia refers to a progressive decline in cognitive functioning resulting in a significant impairment in daily living. Given the devastating impacts of the disease and lack of a cure, it is reasonable to expect people fear developing a dementia. Alzheimer's disease ranks high among the most feared diseases in national samples of the American population. As a topic of study, little is known about the determinants of fear of Alzheimer's disease and how this fear may change as a function of aging, time, or experience. The current study sought to fill this gap by investigating the nature of changes in fear of Alzheimer's disease by following participants (N = 227) over the course of two years. Volunteers completed measures on fear of dementia, knowledge about Alzheimer's disease, knowledge about the aging process, personality traits, memory self-efficacy, anxiety about aging, and Alzheimer's-related experiences (i.e., family history, caregiving experience, number of people known with the disease, personal diagnosis, etc.). Results supported the notion that fear for becoming a burden to others, a component of fear of dementia, decreased over the two years. In addition, personality traits and memory self-efficacy mediated the two-year change in concerns about perceived symptoms of cognitive decline. In predicting fear for various aspects of Alzheimer's disease, anxiety about aging and experience/exposure to the disease emerged as prominent predictors. These results highlight dementia concerns and offer guidance for early interventions, such as an open communication with family and health care providers about fear of dementia.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the moderating role of the physical concerns domain of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in the relation between smoking rate and panic vulnerability variables, both concurrently and prospectively, among a community-based sample of 125 daily smokers (60 females; Mage = 26.02 years, SD = 10.98). As hypothesized, there was a significant interaction between AS Physical Concerns and smoking rate in relation to agoraphobic avoidance, such that at higher levels of AS Physical Concerns and higher smoking rates, there was a risk for increased agoraphobic avoidance (3.6% unique variance). Contrary to prediction, however, the interaction between AS Physical Concerns and smoking rate did not significantly predict the tendency to catastrophize about bodily sensations, body vigilance, or lifetime history of panic attacks. In regard to the prospective analyses, there was a significant interaction between AS Physical Concerns and smoking rate in relation to Time 2 anticipatory anxiety, such that at higher levels of AS Physical Concerns and higher rates of smoking, there was a significant risk for an increase in anticipatory anxiety over the three-month follow-up period (5% unique variance). Contrary to prediction, the interaction between AS Physical Concerns and smoking rate did not significantly predict the occurrence of panic attacks during the three month follow-up period. The current findings suggest that daily smokers smoking at higher rates with high AS Physical Concerns may be more prone to engage in avoidance (Time 1 findings) and show increases in worry about potentially threatening events in the future (Time 2 anticipatory anxiety findings). This interaction appears to be relatively specific to only some aspects of panic-relevant vulnerability factors. This pattern of findings may be used to conceptually guide the refinement of etiological models of panic vulnerability that involve smoking behavior.

The purpose of this thesis was to improve the understanding of what cognitive functions are important for driving performance, investigate the impact of impaired cognitive functions on drivers with brain injury, and study adaptation strategies relevant for driving performance after brain injury. Finally, the predictive value of a neuropsychological test battery was evaluated for driving performance. Main results can be summarized in the following conclusions: (a) Cognitive functions in terms of attentional and dynamic working memory-related functions are relevant for driving performance. (b) Neuropsychological impairments in information processing speed, divided and focused attention, requiring working memory, are associated to limitations in driving performance. In addition, qualitative aspects of driving problems especially impaired anticipatory attention appeared to constrain driving performance. (c) A neuropsychological test battery assessing speed of information processing and attention in terms of working memory predicted driving performance. In addition, cognitive factors are relevant for interpretation of driving problems qualitatively. (d) Driving speed adjustment and anticipatory attention were adaptive strategies for driving after brain injury. Interest in driving, motivation for driving safely, and driving experience appeared also relevant for driving after brain injury. (e) Collaboration between medical, neuropsychological and driving expertise is recommended for a total evaluation of driving performance after brain injury. Anticipatory attention was considered a working memory based attentional system, directing the processing resources flexibly and appropriately between the different information processing components. Thus, anticipatory attention demonstrated qualitatively that working memory is a prominent function in a real driving context.

Every day, people seek organizations to join, work in companies, and leave firms; thus, scholars consider socialization a key construct in organizational communication and management. Research explains the socialization process in four stages—anticipatory socialization, encounter, metamorphosis, and exit—yet studies have paid disproportionate attention to “experiences after entry” (Bauer & Green, 1994, p. 221). This study sheds light on an understudied stage by examining the consequences of anticipatory socialization. Research has demonstrated the importance of prior experiences in the socialization process (e.g., Gibson & Papa, 2000), but scholars have yet to explore internships as a mechanism of anticipatory socialization that prepares people for full-time employment. Whereas less than 3% of students held internships in 1980, 84% of current undergraduates have participated in internships (Kamenetz, 2006), and the number of post-college internships has increased from 5% in 1995 to 20% in 2002 (“Internships for all ages,” 2007). Despite this growth, scholars have yet to theoretically explore internships as a prior experience that fosters socialization. Some studies have used socialization as a framework to study how people adapt to internships, but this research has explored socialization within internships instead of as anticipatory socialization for future employment. To fill this gap, I collected qualitative and quantitative data over 15 months: before people’s internships, after their internships, and upon full-time employment. Results from interview, observation, and questionnaire data suggest that participants learn about and adapt to organizations and vocations during their internships, but more importantly, internships may provide more realistic anticipatory socialization than other means of anticipatory socialization (e.g., recruitment, vocational messages). This study helps us reconsider the role that anticipatory socialization plays in work. Whereas previous research has described anticipatory socialization as a beneficial endeavor for prospective employees (Phillips, 1998), this study shows an unfavorable side of prior experiences. Internships showed interns and organizations exactly what full-time employment would be like, dissuading most interns or organizations (78%) to continue their relationship. Whereas traditional means of anticipatory socialization (e.g., recruitment, vocational messages) provide just enough of an introduction, internships may provide such an in-depth preview that they make applicants and organizations less desirable. / text

Neuromuscular fatigue, even that caused by light submaximal exercise, impairs motor performance and alters motor planning. This impairment is evident in muscle reaction time, force production capacity and joint position sense as well as in more complex tasks such as postural stability. When an individual is fatigued their postural sway increases and they are less able to recover from unexpected postural perturbations. Although a large number of work-related falls are caused by fatigue every year, the mechanisms behind the instability are not well understood. Since postural control does not require a large amount of muscular strength it is unclear whether the post-fatigue changes in posture are due to impairment within the muscle fibers or are a central modification of the motor plan used to execute the movement task. In order to better understand neuromuscular fatigue researchers have labeled fatigue occurring within the muscles ‘peripheral fatigue’ and that occurring within the central nervous system ‘central fatigue’. At the onset of a muscular contraction peripheral and central fatigue develop simultaneously, making it difficult to clearly articulate the role that they each play in the decreased motor performance found post-fatigue. Techniques such as transcranial magnetic and electrical nerve stimulation quantify the contribution of central fatigue to the decreased maximal force production but the impact on motor planning is still not well understood. Therefore, the primary aim of this doctoral dissertation was to isolate central fatigue from peripheral muscle fatigue and to compare the influence that it may have on dynamic postural control to the changes caused by general fatigue of the local postural muscles. This overarching research goal was accomplished through five separate studies. The first study in this dissertation determined that at least seven postural trials needed to be performed to ensure that the participants had fully adapted to the postural task before the fatigue protocol was implemented. Experiment 2 characterized the fatigue produced by bilateral, isometric ankle muscle contractions and examined the recovery of the central and peripheral changes throughout a ten-minute post-fatigue recovery period. The results demonstrated that the alternating maximal ankle plantar and dorsiflexor contractions created central and peripheral fatigue. Central fatigue recovered within the first two minutes post-fatigue while peripheral fatigue lasted throughout the ten-minute post-fatigue period. Experiment 3 analyzed the impact of this ankle muscle fatigue protocol on the postural response to a continual, externally driven, sinusoidal oscillation of the support platform. In this study the fatigued participants were able to stabilize their center of mass displacement using two different anticipatory postural responses to the backwards perturbation whereas all of the participants used the same anticipatory response to the forwards perturbation. All three postural responses became progressively more conservative throughout the ten-minute post-fatigue period, despite the rapid recovery of the ankle force production capacity. The final two studies characterized the fatigue produced during a continuous, isometric forearm contraction and assessed the impact on ankle motor performance (Experiment 4) and on postural control (Experiment 5). Peripheral fatigue created in the forearm muscles during this contraction remained throughout the post-fatigue testing session. Central fatigue and a decreased maximal force production capacity were quantified in both the forearm and ankle plantarflexor muscles immediately after the forearm contraction, indicating that central fatigue created during the forearm exercise crossed over to the distal and unrelated ankle plantarflexor muscles. The influence of the central fatigue created during the forearm contraction affected the anticipatory postural response in a similar way to the fatigue created by the ankle fatigue protocol. The post-fatigue modification of the postural response dissipated as the central fatigue recovered. Taken together, these five studies extend the current understanding of how exercise induced neuromuscular fatigue modifies the central nervous system’s control of complex motor tasks.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains [1], iv, 44 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references (p. 23-27).

The current and growing shortage of student affairs administrators is a growing concern among colleges and universities within the United States, and raising awareness and recruitment within the profession are recognized national priorities (NASPA, 2012). The growth and sustainability of the student affairs profession is largely dependent on the ability to recruit the next generation of administrators. However, there is not a clear understanding of the experiences that influence student affairs administrators' decision to choose student affairs as a career. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences (personal, professional, social) that influenced African American student affairs administrators at public, four-year, predominantly White institutions decision to pursue student affairs as a career. Further, this study investigates the association between these experiences and anticipatory socialization. The concept of early professional socialization or anticipatory socialization is the first step that takes place in the socialization process and occurs prior to entry into an organization. I argue that African American student affairs administrators are imperative to the student affairs profession because they play an instrumental role in the development of African American college students, as well diversifying the field of student affairs as a whole. This diversity enhances the educational experience for both minority and majority students. Therefore, it is imperative that student affairs administrators continue to encourage and recruit more African Americans to the field, by building a pipeline of future student affairs professionals. This qualitative study examines the previous experiences and backgrounds of African American student affairs administrators. Focusing on professionals working at four-year, predominantly White institutions (PWIs), this study seeks to learn about the personal, professional, and social experiences that led participating staff members to pursue work in the area of student affairs. The central focus of this study is to examine and understand how African American student affairs administrators come to choose their profession, and ways in which current African American student affairs administrators may recruit and encourage students to enter into the student affairs profession. Socialization is the process by which an individual learn the necessary attitudes, skills, and behaviors in order to fulfill professional roles organization (Merton, 1957; Tierney, 1997; Van Maanen & Schein, 1979). Socialization theory frames this study and provides a framework for analyzing my research problem in light of understanding how minority student affairs professionals may apply the socialization process in order to recruit and influence African American students to pursue careers in the student affairs profession. I hope that the significance of my findings will assist current African American student affairs administrators in gaining a better understanding of how these experiences impact the decision of African Americans to pursue careers in student affairs, so that they can better recruit more African American students into the field.

Neuromuscular fatigue, even that caused by light submaximal exercise, impairs motor performance and alters motor planning. This impairment is evident in muscle reaction time, force production capacity and joint position sense as well as in more complex tasks such as postural stability. When an individual is fatigued their postural sway increases and they are less able to recover from unexpected postural perturbations. Although a large number of work-related falls are caused by fatigue every year, the mechanisms behind the instability are not well understood. Since postural control does not require a large amount of muscular strength it is unclear whether the post-fatigue changes in posture are due to impairment within the muscle fibers or are a central modification of the motor plan used to execute the movement task. In order to better understand neuromuscular fatigue researchers have labeled fatigue occurring within the muscles ‘peripheral fatigue’ and that occurring within the central nervous system ‘central fatigue’. At the onset of a muscular contraction peripheral and central fatigue develop simultaneously, making it difficult to clearly articulate the role that they each play in the decreased motor performance found post-fatigue. Techniques such as transcranial magnetic and electrical nerve stimulation quantify the contribution of central fatigue to the decreased maximal force production but the impact on motor planning is still not well understood. Therefore, the primary aim of this doctoral dissertation was to isolate central fatigue from peripheral muscle fatigue and to compare the influence that it may have on dynamic postural control to the changes caused by general fatigue of the local postural muscles. This overarching research goal was accomplished through five separate studies. The first study in this dissertation determined that at least seven postural trials needed to be performed to ensure that the participants had fully adapted to the postural task before the fatigue protocol was implemented. Experiment 2 characterized the fatigue produced by bilateral, isometric ankle muscle contractions and examined the recovery of the central and peripheral changes throughout a ten-minute post-fatigue recovery period. The results demonstrated that the alternating maximal ankle plantar and dorsiflexor contractions created central and peripheral fatigue. Central fatigue recovered within the first two minutes post-fatigue while peripheral fatigue lasted throughout the ten-minute post-fatigue period. Experiment 3 analyzed the impact of this ankle muscle fatigue protocol on the postural response to a continual, externally driven, sinusoidal oscillation of the support platform. In this study the fatigued participants were able to stabilize their center of mass displacement using two different anticipatory postural responses to the backwards perturbation whereas all of the participants used the same anticipatory response to the forwards perturbation. All three postural responses became progressively more conservative throughout the ten-minute post-fatigue period, despite the rapid recovery of the ankle force production capacity. The final two studies characterized the fatigue produced during a continuous, isometric forearm contraction and assessed the impact on ankle motor performance (Experiment 4) and on postural control (Experiment 5). Peripheral fatigue created in the forearm muscles during this contraction remained throughout the post-fatigue testing session. Central fatigue and a decreased maximal force production capacity were quantified in both the forearm and ankle plantarflexor muscles immediately after the forearm contraction, indicating that central fatigue created during the forearm exercise crossed over to the distal and unrelated ankle plantarflexor muscles. The influence of the central fatigue created during the forearm contraction affected the anticipatory postural response in a similar way to the fatigue created by the ankle fatigue protocol. The post-fatigue modification of the postural response dissipated as the central fatigue recovered. Taken together, these five studies extend the current understanding of how exercise induced neuromuscular fatigue modifies the central nervous system’s control of complex motor tasks.

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Individuals experience different dimensional levels of motivation and apathy (i.e., the lack of motivation), which can reflect both state and trait contributions. Chronic apathy is common in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The primary aim of the current study was to create a new self-report measure that measures different domains of motivation/apathy with subscales and also take into account many other aspects that could affect motivation within the same scale, including energy level, anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, indecisiveness, and initial and sustained effort. A sample of undergraduate university students from the University of Central Florida (N = 327, 57% female) and Louisiana State University (N = 400, 82% female) completed and passed exclusion criteria from an online survey which included the initial Multifaceted Motivation Inventory (MMI), along with other existing measures. Following factor analysis and exclusion criteria, of the 38 activities included on the initial MMI, two factors of 10 activities each emerged for the final MMI scale. One reflected solitary activities while the other factor asked about social activities. The Cronbach’s alphas for the frequency in which activities were endorsed as having completed in the past year for each factor were acceptable at .69 and .70. Construct validity for the two factors was supported through significant relationships in the expected directions with external scales of depression, indecisiveness, apathy, and anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. Further research on the final MMI can help assess its psychometric ability to distinguish individual trait differences that contribute to a dimensional level of motivation/apathy.