VIRTUAL STUDENT SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM 2020 PRESENTATIONS

Human Behavioral and Social Sciences - Poster Presentations

Undergraduate Division

Impact of Cultural Competency on Treatment Adherence and Health Literacy for Persons of Color Living with HIV/AIDS
Rohan Arora, The Honors College at the Virginia Commonwealth University

Given that the existing healthcare institution is not culturally equipped to serve the evolving American demographic, experts have called for the greater usage of cultural competency in medicine; however, little research has been done to better understand how the degree of cultural competency of a health-care provider impacts the complex disease management for those living with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this research is to better understand how cultural competency can impact the health literacy and treatment adherence for persons of color living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to considering what factors shape patient experience and expectations, the research explores how many social factors lead to low treatment adherence and health literacy. Also, the research considers the nuance in the patient-provider relationship and explores tools, such as partnerships with existing community institutions, that may strengthen the relationship. In order to regain the trust lost in the medical establishment by persons of color living with HIV/AIDS, the research suggests that a healthcare provider ought to self-reflect about the cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic complexities in America that necessitate cultural competency. By practicing modernized cultural competency in medicine, healthcare providers can shape patient care and strengthen the patient-provider relationship, which may increase treatment adherence and health literacy rates for persons of color living with HIV/AIDS. The research urges the medical establishment to take educational and policy-related steps to effectively provide healthcare to historically underserved groups such as people of color living with HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: cultural competency, treatment adherence, health literacy, cultural humility, cultural safety, HIV/AIDS, community partnerships
Recently, experts have called for the greater usage of cultural competency in medicine; however, little research has been done to better understand how the degree of cultural competency of a health-care provider impacts the complex disease management for those living with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this research was to better understand how cultural competency can impact the health literacy and treatment adherence for persons of color living with HIV/AIDS (POCLHA). Recognizing the factors that shape patient experience and expectations, the research explores how many socioeconomic and cultural factors lead to low treatment adherence and health literacy. It considers the nuance in the patient-provider relationship and explores tools that may strengthen the relationship. The research suggests that a healthcare provider ought to
self-reflect about various complexities in America that necessitate cultural competency. By practicing modernized cultural competency in medicine, healthcare providers can shape patient care and strengthen the patient-provider relationship, leading to higher treatment adherence and health literacy rates for POCLHA. The research urges the medical establishment to take educational and policy-related steps to effectively provide healthcare to historically underserved groups such as POCLHA.
Keywords: cultural competency, treatment adherence, health literacy, cultural humility, cultural safety, HIV/AIDS, community partnerships

Adverse Childhood Experience Scores and Habituation to Stress
Taryn E Cook, Baylor University

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events, such as abuse or household dysfunction, that occur during the first 18 years of life. Previous research suggests 52.1% of the population has at least 1 ACE score and that each ACE increases the risk of mental and physical health problems (Felitti, et al., 2019). While past studies have linked ACEs to both exaggerated and blunted cardiovascular responses to stress, they have been unable to explain the mixed results. We aimed to examine the relationship between different frequencies of ACEs and habituation to stress while also extending further research regarding ACEs and cardiovascular reactivity during a repeated psychological stress task. Participants completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire and were organized into the following groups: 0 ACE scores reported (Group 1), 1-2 ACE scores reported (Group 2) and 3+ ACE scores reported
(Group 3). Participants then completed the following procedure twice: 10-minute adaptation period, 10- minute baseline, 4-minute standardized acute laboratory stress task. Using a mixed-design ANOVAs, we found that during the first stress task, Group 1 and Group 2 had similar heightened cardiovascular responses whereas Group 3 had a blunted response when compared to their cardiovascular activity during the first baseline. However, during the second stress exposure, Group 2 had a heightened response when compared to Group 1 or Group 3. The results suggest that the discrepancy between exaggerated and blunted cardiovascular reactivity seen in different individuals with ACEs may be linked to the number of traumatic events someone has experienced.

Transcriptomic Alterations Associated with Opioid Craving in the Nucleus Accumbens of Male and Female Long Evans Rats
Chau K Do, Temple University

The opioid epidemic produces societal burdens like overdose-related deaths and lifelong addictions, and relapse is a major contributing factor to the ongoing opioid crisis. Relapse following abstinence is often precipitated by drug craving. Counterintuitively, drug craving intensifies during abstinence, especially when individuals are re-exposed to previously drug-paired cues. This phenomenon is known as cue-induced incubation of craving and it may contribute to discouragingly high relapse rates associated with substance use disorder. We used a rodent model of drug self-administration and relapse to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying drug craving after extended abstinence from chronic morphine taking. We collected tissue from the nucleus accumbens shell, a key reward brain region altered by opioid consumption, at multiple durations of abstinence. We performed RNA sequencing to study changes in gene expression associated with incubation of morphine craving. Historically, most addiction research has focused on males, limiting our understanding of the female drug responses. Here, we included males and females in our assessments to highlight sex-specific changes in gene expression accompanying morphine craving during abstinence. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) diverged in males and females, despite both sexes converging in similar phenotypes of opioid craving. These results have potential implications for developing novel and efficacious relapse treatments for males and females.

Examining the Effects of Culture, Education, and Corruption on Freedom of Expression: A Multinational Study
Christopher H. Hecht, Quinnipiac University

Held as a fundamental right across most of the planet, freedom of expression is essential for both guaranteeing governmental responsibility and maintaining the democratic process. The objective of this paper is to explore the effect of several variables upon the level of freedom of expression across different countries. A review of the literature suggests that several variables have the potential to impact freedom of expression, including education, corruption, and Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions. A sample of 72 countries which had available data for all model variables was used. Using Excel and SPSS, hierarchical regression was used to analyze the statistical significance of various models, as well as examining the variance inflationary factor (VIF), which was used to measure the degree of multicollinearity between variables and which found that the results could be interpreted without concern for multicollinearity. The results of this study suggest that corruption and culture, specifically Hofstede’s uncertainty avoidance and indulgence vs. restraint dimensions, are factors that significantly affect the level of freedom of expression in a country, with the final model explaining 43.6% (p<.000) of the variance in freedom of expression. Of these three significant model variables, corruption explained the greater part of this variance and is also the model variable most able to be directly influenced by government policy aiming at an increase in the level of the freedom of expression. Limitations and implications for future research are also discussed.

Stock Prices and Investor Information Availability
Sang Hoang, University of California, Merced

Information and investment decisions are directly related according to all fundamental models of corporate finance and economics. As such, this study proposes a direct measurement of capturing investor information with the use of Google Trends - Search Volume Index (SVI). We sampled the SVI of companies in the S&P 500 and their monthly stock prices; and monthly closing stock prices extracted from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Research Data Services database (WRDS). We ran a time-series regression from 2008 to 2018 and found that there is a significant relationship between SVI’s web searches and the price of a stock 2 to 4 months from the time the search index makes a major change. The relationship between the SVI and the stock’s monthly price is negative and statistically significant at the 2 month lag. In our findings, a 3 standard deviation increase in web searches leads to a .48 dollar decrease in stock price 2 months out, controlling all attributes of the firm. The implications of this research findings confirm that Google Trends’ Search Volume Index can predict stock prices.

A Cross-Cultural Study of the Influences of National Culture, Political Culture, and Economic Wealth on Innovation
William N. James, Quinnipiac University

Understanding how nations can increase their levels of innovation, and the variables that can contribute to innovation, is vital for achieving a competitive advantage in the modern world. The available research literature suggests a number of possible antecedents of innovational activity, including national culture, political culture, and economic wealth. The objective of this research is to explore the degree to which these variables can impact a country’s innovation.
There are 67 countries examined in this study that have data on all model variables. Statistical methods used includes hierarchal regression and an analysis of potential variable multicollinearity (utilizing SPSS and Excel). Results suggest that nations with low power distance, high individualism, low uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, highly democratic political cultures, and high GDP are likely to experience increased levels of innovation, which explained 73.1% (p<.000) of the variance in country innovation. Of these variables, highly democratic political cultures, and long-term orientation, explained the greatest percentage of the variance in innovation.
Among the possible implications of this study is the suggestion that national culture does play a role in innovation, and that countries can take actions to take advantage of certain cultural characteristics like long-term orientation and uncertainty avoidance. For example: policymakers could increase government grants to individuals to encourage innovation in cultures that have high uncertainty avoidance or influence central banks to reduce interest rates and encourage new start-ups to foster new hubs of innovation. Limitations of the research and implications for future research are discussed.

The Feeling of “Kiki”: Select Tactile Exposure or Visual Imagery Can Enhance Abstract Audio-Tactile Crossmodal Correspondences, the Bouba-Kiki effect, Early in Development
Julia A. Kelly, University of Massachusetts Boston

The bouba/kiki effect, a naturally occurring association between abstract shapes, spikey or round, and nonsense words, /kiki/ or /baba/, respectively, is found across different senses (see Spence, 2011). Previously, we found developmental changes: compared to adults, 6-8 year-old children showed weaker audio-tactile (AT) associations between heard nonsense sounds and felt abstract shapes, even when shown how to optimally explore shapes via touch or given twice as many trials of exposure. Interestingly, AT associations were strengthened if participants first matched the same sounds to complementary seen abstract shapes (audio-visual). Given that prior visual exposure to shapes enhances AT associations and that early-blindness (Fryer et al., 2014) weakens AT associations in adults, we considered if previous visual experience is critical or if what matters is highlighting relevant shape features, something more automatic for vision than touch.

We tested if prior tactile-only (TT) exposure enhanced AT associations in a task highlighting relevant shape features without visual exposure and if prior imagery of shapes (TI) enhanced AT associations. In TT, children first matched a smaller shape to one of two larger shapes. Shapes only differed in 2D contour, not texture or material, and were felt, not seen. In TI, children first imagined which shape, a cloud or star, matched a felt shape.

We found TT exposure enhanced AT associations, suggesting that visual experience may be sufficient, but not necessary, in forming the abstract AT associations tested here. Visual imagery, also enhanced AT associations, suggesting direct visual experience of abstract shapes is not necessary.

The Impact of Culture, Judicial Independence, and GDP on Personal Freedom
Jaclyn C Levesque, Quinnipiac University

Personal Freedom is seen by the citizens of most countries of the world as a desirable characteristic. The objective of this research study is to explore the potential effects of national cultural dimensions, judicial independence, and gross domestic product per capita on the dependent variable of personal freedom.

The data for the dependent variable of personal freedom was obtained from the World Bank database, and focuses on concepts such as freedom of expression, freedom of association, free media, and government participation. There are 73 countries used in this study with complete datasets for all research variables. In this study all six cultural dimensions were used, the data for which came from Hofstede’s Insights. The data for the independent variable of Judicial Independence came from the World Economic Forum database and the data for the independent variable of GDP per capita came from the World Bank database.

Using hierarchical regression with SPSS the final model explains approximately 65% of the variance (p<.000) in personal freedom. Variance inflationary factor was also examined with results suggesting the results can be interpreted without concern for multicollinearity. These results suggest that cultural dimensions of individuality and uncertainty avoidance along with GDP per capita have significant impacts on personal freedom. These findings may suggest that the greater number of rules typically found in a society with a higher levels of uncertainty avoidance may give a sense of security which contributes to a greater sense of personal freedom. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

Autobiographical Storytelling in English Language Arts Instruction: Fostering Literacy and Social-Emotional Development in the Elementary English Language Learner Classroom
Elysia H. Lin, Virginia Commonwealth University

Given the changing cultural and linguistic profile of the United States classroom, culturally relevant teaching strategies that address individual learning needs and establish meaningful learning contexts have become increasingly important for student success. The integration of autobiographical student narratives into traditional English language instruction via storytelling represents a promising area of educational research. The present study sought to investigate the extent to which storytelling facilitates inclusivity, fosters positive social-emotional development, enhances engagement, and contributes to gains in academic performance of elementary-aged English language learner (ELL) students. In a comprehensive literature review, this study explored storytelling in relation to classroom demographic profiles, literacy development, dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and mechanisms of student engagement and motivation. Storytelling in promoting language achievement and social-emotional development was evaluated through the lens of Gardner’s social educational model of second language acquisition. Research found that fewer opportunities for open dialogue within diverse classrooms contribute to negative cultural stereotypes. Storytelling supports the social-emotional development of students by broadening cultural attitudes and affirming both peer-to-peer and student-teacher relationships. Storytelling, compared to traditional instruction, better incorporates multimodal literacy skills into language. Additionally, storytelling increases student engagement by creating a meaningful learning context, which in turn heightens motivation and mediates positive academic outcomes. Four guidelines for storytelling-based language instruction in diverse classrooms emerged: (1) acknowledgement and acceptance of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, (2) legitimization of student experience and student voice, (3) implementation of scaffolding techniques by teacher-storytellers, and (4) support of active student roles in learning.

Twin Status, Siblings, and Peers: Differences Between Parent-Reported and Observed Behavioral Inhibition
Kelly A. McKiness, Southern Illinois University

Twins are born with a same-age peer, providing them with a unique experience regarding social development compared to non-twins. Previous research suggests a parent report bias on shyness measures due to twin status. The current study examined the influence of twin status, daycare, and number of siblings on observed inhibition and parent-reported withdrawn behaviors. Parent-reported measures of zygosity, household demographics, childcare history, withdrawn problem behaviors, and temperament (to assess inhibition/shyness) were collected. Free play sessions between two unfamiliar (same age, same sex) children were recorded for later behavioral coding, providing an observed report of inhibition, as measured by latency to touch a toy, latency to vocalize, and interaction time. A hierarchical regression model examined the influence of alternative shyness measures and the hypothesized experiential factors (twin status, time spent in daycare, number of siblings) on age 5 observed shyness and parent-reported withdrawn problem behaviors. Results indicated temperamental shyness predicted observed shyness (β = .28, p = .017), whereas observed shyness predicted parent-reported withdrawn behavior (β = .25, p = .031). Although twin status did not predict observed shyness, it did significantly predict withdrawn problems (β = .23, p = .043). It may be that parents are less aware of their children’s withdrawn behaviors because of viewing their twins as a ‘unit,’ whereas shyness might be more noticeable in non-twins due to their lacking a ‘built-in’ playmate. Results highlight the influence of biological temperament on observed shyness and of twin status on parent-reported withdrawn problems.

A Multinational Study of Culture and Economic Freedom's Impact on Customer Orientation
Kaelin N Murray, Quinnipiac University

In order to achieve and maintain customer retention, customer orientation is a crucial element for both global and domestic businesses. Customer orientation is defined in this study as the way in which companies treat their customers. The strategies implemented to treat customers well and their overall impact on the customer will potentially lead to satisfaction and a strong sense of loyalty. The objective of this research study was to explore the impact of culture and economic freedom on customer orientation. There is limited research suggesting that these variables play a role in the degree of customer orientation achieved in a country. The study utilized 72 countries possessing data for customer orientation, culture, and economic freedom. Using SPSS and Excel, a hierarchical regression model was used to examine the relationships between these variables. Additionally, a variance inflationary factor was utilized with the models to measure the degree of multicollinearity between the variables. The results show that a country’s level of power distance, long term orientation, as well as economic freedom have a significant impact on how well companies treat their customers. Specifically, it was found that a lower degree of power distance and a higher degree of long-term orientation and economic freedom relates to a higher degree of customer orientation in that country. It is suggested from these results that international managers need to adjust their approach to customer orientation depending on cultural and economic freedom factors within their country of operation.

The Effect of Adaptability and Family Conflict on Child Externalizing Behavior
Margaret E Schlotter, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Childhood externalizing behaviors are major risk factors for later juvenile delinquency, adult crime, and violence (Farrington, 1989). Family conflict has been associated with higher externalizing behaviors in children (Pendry, Carr, Papp, & Antles, 2013). In contrast, children who are adaptable to their environments have been shown to have better academic and social outcomes (Martin, Nagle, & Paget, 1983). We hypothesized that more adaptable children would be resilient in a family with high conflict and would show fewer externalizing problems. Data were from a longitudinal twin study. Participants included 421 5-year-old twin pairs and singletons. All data were collected via parent report measures. The twins were split into two groups with one twin per family in each group to maintain sample independence. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to predict externalizing behavior from adaptability, sex, family conflict, and their interaction. The interaction between adaptability, sex, and family conflict was significant for twin sample 2 (β = .19, p < .01). Probing of the interaction showed that family conflict was positively related to externalizing only for boys low on adaptability (β = .33, p = .03). These findings show that adaptability may be protective for boys who experience higher family conflict. Boys who are less able to adapt may be more sensitive to negative environments and, as a result, respond with aggression and rule-breaking behaviors. This study points to developmental gender differences in externalizing behaviors and suggests clinical implications when creating treatment plans for boys with externalizing behaviors.

A Review and a Proposal for a Combination Treatment: Reducing the Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents by Combining Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training with Methylphenidate Medication as a Treatment
Kirti Sharma, Virginia Commonwealth University

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder among adolescents that may lead to impaired executive functioning and poor mental development. In 2018, the National Health Interview Survey reported that from 1997 to 2016, the prevalence of ADHD significantly increased from 6.1% to 10.2% in children and adolescents (age 4 to 17 years). Medication, such as methylphenidate, is considered as first-line therapy for reducing symptoms of ADHD. However, medication may produce adverse side-effects such as insomnia, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and stress. Due to its lack of long-term effectiveness, medication may inflict a financial burden on the families of adolescents with ADHD. To balance the challenges of medication-based therapy, extant psychological research has shown that mindfulness-based practices are also efficacious in managing symptoms of ADHD. Two bodies of scientific research were reviewed: the use of medication for treating ADHD, and the use of mindfulness-based practices as a therapy for ADHD in children and adolescents. Research revealed that in most cases, higher doses of methylphenidate is needed to effectively counter ADHD symptoms, leading to a significant cost burden for families. Literature related to mindfulness-based practices for treating ADHD indicated its effectiveness in attention-regulation, cost-effectiveness, and long-term effects. It is proposed that a treatment, combining methylphenidate medication and the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, a mindfulness-based practice, could be an effective therapy for reducing the symptoms of ADHD in adolescents. The findings from this study may add to the conventional medication-based methods for treating ADHD in adolescents by combining with mindfulness-based practices.

Neural Correlates of Adolescent Risk Avoidance
Abigail L. Waugh, Yale University

Adolescents are at a relatively high-risk for developing anxiety, particularly social anxiety. A primary hallmark of social anxiety is the impulse to avoid situations that introduce risk. Though
the prevalence of adolescent social anxiety risk-avoidance is high, much more attention has been given to adolescent risk-taking behaviors and their neural correlates. Here, we set out to explore risk avoidance in adolescents (N = 59), as well as its neural and behavioral correlates. The Balloon Risk Avoidance Task (BRAT) was used to measure feedback processing to risk avoidance while electroencephalography (EEG) measured neural activity, and social anxiety was measured using the social phobia and anxiety inventory for children (SPAI-C). Adolescents who showed higher levels of social anxiety on the SPAI-C (N = 28) showed larger frontal N2 amplitudes for loss conditions, smaller amplitudes of the frontal P2 for loss, and on average had a longer frontal slow-wave (SW) for loss. These three ERP effects are larger in females than in males. On the BRAT, females showed greater levels of behavioral avoidance than males. Males
had more loss trials and won more points, as a result of taking more risks. Additionally, intertrial coherence for fronto-medial theta oscillations (4-7 Hz) is negatively associated with high levels of risk avoidant behavioral measures on the BRAT, suggesting a relationship between theta signal desynchronization and risk avoidance. Results suggest that there is a relationship between social anxiety and amplitude of front-medial N2, P2, and SW potentials, and this effect is greater in females than males.

Graduate Division

Perceptions of Infidelity in Asexual and Aromantic Populations
Hailey A Hatch, Saint Louis University

Many people believe in monogamous romantic relationships and see themselves as faithful to their partners (Foster, Shrira, & Campbell, 2005). Based on moral standards, infidelity should be rare; however, it is common in both dating and marital relationships (Wiederman & Hurd, 1999). Most research examining infidelity has focused on allosexual and alloromantic populations – i.e., individuals who experience sexual and romantic attraction, respectively. In the current study, we extended this research to asexual and aromantic individuals (i.e., those that do not experience sexual and/or romantic attraction) to examine their infidelity perceptions. Asexual, aromantic, and asexual/aromantic (i.e., those with both identities) participants completed measures examining their asexual and aromantic identification, infidelity perceptions, open-ended questions, questions about previous and current relationships (if relevant), and demographic questions. Aromantic participants were less likely to perceive sexual interaction behaviors as infidelity compared to asexual and asexual/aromantic participants. Asexual participants were more likely to perceive close relationship behaviors as infidelity compared to both aromantic and asexual/aromantic participants. Further, asexual/aromantic participants were more likely to perceive close relationship behaviors as infidelity compared to aromantic participants. Further, stronger asexual identification was positively related to the perception of sexual interaction, close relationship, and casual social interaction behaviors as infidelity, whereas stronger aromantic identification was negatively related to the perception of sexual interaction and close relationship behaviors as infidelity. These findings suggest differences in infidelity perceptions within asexual and aromantic individuals. It may be that aromantic individuals’ interpretations of infidelity are guided by different mechanisms than asexual and asexual/aromantic individuals.

Prenatal Exposure to Superstorm Sandy and Maternal Education Level: Possible Influences on Parental Bonding with Three-Year-Olds
Barbara V Kinsella-Kammerer, CUNY Queens College

Superstorm Sandy in 2012 was one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes to hit the United States in last two decades. Due to the ever-increasing threat resulting from climate change, it is expected that severe and disastrous storms will become more frequent. This study examined the effects of exposure, versus non-exposure, to Superstorm Sandy in-utero on parental bonding between mothers and three-year-old children. This study further examined additional influence of the participants’ educational level on quality of bonding with their children. An independent-samples t-test revealed a significant effect of Superstorm Sandy exposure on the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) Affection subscale (p = .001). Furthermore, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant effect that lower (i.e., Bachelor’s degree and high school degree) educational attainment was associated with an increase in care/affection for their children (p = .010). This study emphasizes how individuals exposed to natural disasters, as well as those with lower education attainment, may exhibit lower levels of care toward their children. Further research needs to be conducted to examine why mothers who were exposed to natural disasters during pregnancy were less caring than those who were not.

Knowledge about Vaccine Safety and Efficacy and How it Influences Pregnant Women Living in Puerto Rico
Gabriel Sanz, University of Puerto Rico

Background and objectives: Hesitancy towards vaccines has been an obstacle and an area of serious concern within the public health community for many years. The spread of misinformation on social media and the internet in general has been associated with a resurgence of the anti-vaccination movement which has lead to numerous measles outbreaks within the United States. A crucial step in tackling the recent upsurge of this sentiment is making an objective measurement of public attitudes as well as knowledge about immunizations in general. Methods: To better understand this phenomenon and establish a baseline on the island, we created a cross sectional study with 64 female patients at the Adult University Hospital (AUH) prenatal clinics in Puerto Rico Medical Center using two previously developed and validated instruments to assess for our populations knowledge and attitudes about vaccination while exploring their association with each patient’s sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Our study, in accordance with previous publications, suggests that attitudes towards immunization remain generally positive. However, knowledge about its safety and its interaction with the immune system remains unacceptably low. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the encouraging findings regarding attitudes, insufficient knowledge is of high concern given the increased susceptibility to misinformation. Efforts should be made to increase health literacy within this population to limit the increasing prevalence of preventable diseases. Acknowledgements: The authors declare they have no conflict of interest. Approved by IRB.

Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Mental Health Help-Seeking in a Midwestern Undergraduate Sample
Rebecca D Taylor, Saint Louis University

BACKGROUND: Mental health symptomatology continues to negatively impact college students in the U.S. Early intervention and referral to mental health resources is critical in promoting healthy undergraduate students. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) can be utilized to inform intervention strategies and to provide insight into mental health help-seeking behavior. TPB includes the constructs of individual beliefs, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control which combine to impact intention and behavioral outcome. This study examines mental health help-seeking behavior in a sample of Midwestern undergraduate students, applying TPB.
METHODS: Midwestern undergraduate students (N = 160) completed a survey assessing demographic information, stress, and mental health help-seeking behavior including informal and formal supports. A multiple linear regression model was calculated to predict TPB scores based on stress, participation in activities, general help-seeking, past counseling, and knowledge of mental health campus resources adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics.
RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analyses indicated female gender (B = 9.75, p < .01), decreased levels of stress (B = -0.38, p < .05), past counseling (B = 4.86, p < .05), knowledge of campus mental health resources (B = 5.51, p < .05), and increased likelihood of reaching out to informal and formal emotional supports (B = 0.50, p < .001), were important predictors of TPB scores, indicating increased mental health help-seeking.
IMPLICATIONS: University programming focusing on positive stress management techniques, healthy ways to support others in emotional distress, disseminating campus mental health resources, and targeting males would prove useful in increasing mental health help-seeking behavior.

Stimulus Preceding Negativity During Anticipation of Social Evaluative Feedback in relation to Adolescents’ Social Anxiety and Pubertal Development
Selin Topel, Leiden University, Turkey

Social information and peer interactions become increasingly important in adolescence as individuals start forming new social groups, romantic relationships, and become more independent (Blakemore & Mills, 2014; Guyer, Silk, & Nelson, 2016). Learning to navigate this complex social world requires adaptive skills. Anticipation of social situations has an adaptive function in most cases (Baumeister, Vohs, & Oettingen, 2016), providing opportunity to adjust behavior and cope with adversity in social contexts. However, individuals with high levels of social anxiety may engage in maladaptive anticipatory processing (Grupe & Nitschke, 2013; Hinrichsen & Clark, 2003). Moreover, an uptick in problematic social anxiety commonly coincides with adolescence (Kessler et al., 2012). In this study, we investigated neural responses during anticipation of evaluative feedback in 106 adolescents aged 12 – 17 using EEG. Particularly, we studied the differences in the anticipatory event-related potentials (i.e., the SPN) in relation to social anxiety levels and pubertal development. The adolescents showed a negative memory bias for feedback which was more pronounced in socially anxious adolescents. As expected, the right frontal SPN was more negative during feedback anticipation, particularly for adolescents with higher social anxiety and adolescents who were in a more advanced stage in pubertal development. The right posterior SPN was more negative during acceptance anticipation than rejection anticipation. Anticipatory reactivity in adolescence appears related to social anxiety and pubertal maturation in a social evaluative situation. This study provides evidence for the development of social anticipatory processes in adolescence and potential mechanisms underlying maladaptive anticipation in social anxiety.

VIRTUAL STUDENT SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM 2020 PRESENTATIONS

Human Behavioral and Social Sciences - Poster Presentations

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