The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate how first-year college students describe their experiences with stress and coping. This study sought to understand what coping mechanisms first-year college students use when they experience stress. Prior to this dissertation, it was not known how first-year college students describe…

Adolescence is a challenging and sensitive developmental period in which mothers and adolescents may be vulnerable to internalizing symptoms. The current study aimed to understand how patterns of changes in mother-adolescent perceived parenting (i.e., mother-adolescent perceived parenting transition profiles) corresponded with trajectories of…

Objective/Participants: In a large, diverse sample of college students (N = 2,230), this online study investigated racial/ethnic differences on type of discriminatory event experienced and perceived stress, and whether discrimination-related stress was associated with mental health symptoms. Methods: Prevalence of lifetime/past year discriminatory…

Objective: Baylor University established a surveillance system to assess the needs of students and faculty in isolation from SARS-CoV-2 as well as any longer-term symptoms. Participants: Overall, there were 309 responses between March 20 and May 19, 2021. Methods: A survey covering experience in isolation, symptoms, vaccination, and demographic…

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous disorder that is highly impairing. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes long-term positive outcomes for youth with ADHD. Tests of executive functioning (EF) are potential tools for screening and differential diagnosis of ADHD subtypes. However, previous research has been…

Objective: The present study examines the relationship between minority stress and academic outcomes for ethnic minority college students in the U.S. We explore to what extent anxiety functions as a potential mediating mechanism for these relationships. Participants: Data were obtained from 347 undergraduate ethnic minority college students…

Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed more in males than females, this difference is even more prevalent if the female is of at least average intelligence. The problem addressed by this qualitative exploratory case study was the under-identification of females with autism due to their masking behavior. This problem directly impacts females who…

The last four years in special education have been challenging. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and what it did to special education teachers during the school closures, returning to campus, and in recent years has led to many of them leaving or retiring early. Burnout is often cited as one of the main reasons these teachers leave. Texas…

Objective: The interrelationships between cannabis use disorder (CUD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) were examined. Participants: Undergraduates (N = 363) who reported using cannabis within the past six months were recruited. Method: Mediation analyses was conducted to examine if…

Background: Higher subjective social status (SSS) is associated with better mental health among youth; however, few studies have examined youth's perceptions of past (childhood) or future (adulthood) SSS. Methods: Utilizing latent profile analysis, we examined unique profiles of past, present, and future SSS among 401 college students in the…

Objective: Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-age students in the U.S., with disparities in suicide ideation and attempts among Latinas. The current study aims to examine if depression severity predicts suicide ideation and attempts and to examine if caregiver intergeneration acculturation conflict (IAC) moderates this…

Research has widely documented the high stress levels posed to college students by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the role of social support in mitigating the mental health impacts of stressors like residential instability among college students is less well-researched. Using data from a multi-campus online survey of college…

The present study examined (1) intraindividual changes in the frequency of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use across young adulthood, 18 to 30 years old, and (2) if depressive symptoms and sensation-seeking tendencies, independently and in interaction with one another, were associated with these changes. Data were from a longitudinal…

Engaging in healthy daily 24-h movement behaviors (e.g., moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] [greater than or equal to] 60 minutes, screen time <2 hours, and sleep [greater than or equal to] 7 hours) is suggested to be associated with favorable mental health outcomes (e.g., less depressive symptoms and higher quality of life). Given…

Objective: We examined the prevalence of sleep paralysis (SP), its association with stress and sleep, and associated subjective experiences and beliefs. Participants: 1,115 college students from a large university in the southwestern United States. The sample was predominantly Hispanic (94%) and female (70%). Methods: Validated measures of…