UMSS21 Social Sciences and Humanities
UMSS21 Presentations by Category
UMSS21 Physical and Mathematical Sciences
UMSS21 Engineering and Information Sciences
UMSS21 Interdisciplinary Research
UMSS21 Business, Education, and Art
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0701. Are Adverse Childhood Experiences Associated with Worse Cognitive Function in Older Adults?
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Amy Halpin, Angelica Boeve, Sahvannah Michaud, Michael Fagan Mentor(s): Dr. Rebecca MacAulay
Abstract: Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences have been associated with increased risk for dementia. However, prior research is mixed regarding the relationship between early life adversity and cognition and remains understudied in older adult populations. Therefore, the current study aimed to characterize associations among early life adversity with relevant risk factors and cognitive performance in a group of socioeconomically diverse older adults. Participants and Methods: Participants included 121 community-dwelling older adults (74% female, Mage=70.7) without diagnosis of moderate to severe psychiatric, cognitive, or neurological disorders. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was used to assess estimated verbal/non-verbal intelligence, visual/verbal memory, working memory, executive function, processing speed, and attention. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire measured childhood experiences of sexual and physical abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. ACE groups were formed based upon the number of adverse events endorsed. Results: Over 56% of older adults reported an adverse childhood event. ACE scores were positively associated with lower socioeconomic status (lower education and income). There were no significant differences in estimated intelligence or neuropsychological performance between low and high ACE groups; however, the latter group reported significantly less self-efficacy and higher levels of depression and subjective cognitive concerns. Discussion: Early life abuse and neglect did not have a direct association with cognitive function but did associate with psychological factors associated with risk and resiliency for dementia. Given the high prevalence of abuse, future research should place emphasis on addressing these modifiable risk factors in efforts to attenuate risk for future cognitive decline.
0702. Effects of the Transportation and Climate Initiative on the Maine Economy: An Analysis of Cap-and-Invest and its Heterogeneous Impacts on Rural and Urban Households
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): William Somes Mentor(s): Jonathan Rubin
Abstract: In December 2020, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was released by the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P), a collaboration of 13 jurisdictions in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Modeled on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the TCI-P follows a cap-and-invest framework to reduce emissions from the transportation sector by 26% from 2022 to 2032. Since the TCI-P is expected to raise the price of gasoline by 5¢ to 9¢ per gallon, there has been concern that some populations may be disproportionately affected. The present research studies the potential heterogeneous impacts of the TCI-P on rural and urban populations within the state of Maine. The author hypothesizes that rural Mainers will be more sensitive (i.e., elastic) to changes in the price of gasoline, leading to a disproportionate economic burden for this population. Research methods rely on a short-run household price elasticity of demand estimate from Spiller, Stephens, and Chen (2017), which is adapted to reflect the demographic characteristics of rural and urban households in Maine. Elasticities were weighted according to their relative importance. Reductions in households’ transportation emissions are calculated for each population, along with the economic loss and burden, to reveal the expected heterogeneous impacts of the TCI-P in Maine. Results found a short-run, weighted elasticity for rural households of -0.97. The adapted elasticity for urban households was found to be -0.75, for a Maine average of -0.87. Given price increases of 5¢ or 9¢, rural households were shown to face relatively small but disproportionate economic losses and burdens as compared to urban households. The additional cost to rural households is estimated to range from $52 to $92 per year, while the cost to urban households is estimated to range from $51 to $91 per year. These costs represent between 2% and 4% of fuel expenditures for the average Maine household. The economic burden of a 9¢ increase in the price of gasoline amounts to approximately 2% of the variable costs of driving a used vehicle and just 1% of the total driving costs of a used vehicle. The median household income in rural and urban Maine is $53,701 and $60,571, respectively. The author concludes with a series of investment portfolios and messaging and communication strategies that have the potential to increase public support for the TCI-P. This research provides key insights into potential heterogeneous impacts on Maine households while contributing to the public discourse on an important topic in climate policy.
0703. Wabanaki Tools of Diplomacy and LD 291: Storying Protocols as Political Will
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Nolan Altvater, Bridie Mcgreavy, Darren Ranco Mentor(s): Darren Ranco
Abstract: Oral history suggests Wabanaki people have inhabited what is now New England and the Canadian maritimes since time immemorial, and for at least 13,000 years according to archeological records. Throughout this existence, the Wabanaki survived by adapting to the surrounding environment by creating and using tools relevant to their epistemological and ontological foundations; their ways of knowing and being. These tools were not just physical, handheld objects, but also took the form of words and images. Two examples of these tools within Wabanaki epistemes include wikhikonal, birch bark carvings, and wapapayil, wampum. Both of these tools and their processes involve a specific diplomatic protocol and synergy that needs to be maintained in order to be used and create change in the physical environment. Using Indigenous Research Methodologies in conjunction with Decolonizing Methodologies (Smith, 2012), this project explores how these tools have been used throughout time by the Wabanaki for diplomatic and storying purposes. Our research provides an epistemological analysis of the tools, exploring their concepts and how they were used before and during early contact with Western systems. Additionally, it explores how, despite adapting to Settler Colonialism and attempted epistemicide, the same protocol and synergy is still applied to their new forms in modern contexts, showing the skill of cultural dynamism of the Wabanaki. The project then connects this analysis to the current context of the Wabanaki Studies Law (LD 291), responding to and supporting the development of the needed protocol and action for successful implementation of this law.
0704. Understanding Current Public Sentiment Towards Biologically Engineered Food Products
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Kathleen Tims Mentor(s): Ek Han Tan
Abstract: While commonplace in our grocery stores, GMO-foods have persevered through years of controversy. Availability of BE commodities is growing and agrobiotechnical industries are making strides, however the average consumers’ knowledge concerning biotechnology is not. Pew Research Center recently found that a majority of their American participants responded as unsure when asked if GM foods were safe to eat and that younger groups responded more wary of potential risks (1). Other studies show that younger adults report having very little knowledge about GMOs and more than half of their student respondents evaluated GMO-food as “dangerous and unfavourable” for human health (2). Both the general lack of knowledge regarding biologically-engineered commodities reported by young adults, especially students, and the recent USDA-AMS mandate for BE product labeling prompts further research into consumer perspective on bioengineered products (3). My thesis project includes a combination of both literature review, helping contextualize my investigation, and statistical data review and collection. I look to explore the prevailing student perspective on biotechnology using digital social questionnaires to garner anonymous, qualitative information, focusing on individual BIO350 Genetics students’ perspectives towards topics such as GMOs, knowledge of BE products, and BE labeling. This information will be analyzed with respect to how education, through an undergraduate genetics course, plays a role in forming these attitudes.Considering their growing presence in our food systems, scale of public misconception, and the approaching BE labeling compliance date, consumer concerns and attitudes towards GMO products and bioengineering must be evaluated. Works Cited Pew Research Center. The New Food Fights: U.S. Public Divides Over Food Science. Pew Res. Cent. 100 (2016). Jurkiewicz, A., Zagórski, J., Bujak, F., Lachowski, S. & Florek-Łuszczki, M. Emotional attitudes of young people completing secondary schools towards genetic modification of organisms (GMO) and genetically modified foods (GMF). Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. AAEM 21, 205–211 (2014). Overview of The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Feb 2019.
0705. Preliminary Effects of Brief RO DBT Intervention on Dyadic Social Interaction and Overcontrol in Young Adults
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Jennifer Hugg Mentor(s): Cynthia Erdley
Abstract: While commonplace in our grocery stores, GMO-foods have persevered through years of controversy. Availability of BE commodities is growing and agrobiotechnical industries are making strides, however the average consumers’ knowledge concerning biotechnology is not. Pew Research Center recently found that a majority of their American participants responded as unsure when asked if GM foods were safe to eat and that younger groups responded more wary of potential risks (1). Other studies show that younger adults report having very little knowledge about GMOs and more than half of their student respondents evaluated GMO-food as “dangerous and unfavourable” for human health (2). Both the general lack of knowledge regarding biologically-engineered commodities reported by young adults, especially students, and the recent USDA-AMS mandate for BE product labeling prompts further research into consumer perspective on bioengineered products (3). My thesis project includes a combination of both literature review, helping contextualize my investigation, and statistical data review and collection. I look to explore the prevailing student perspective on biotechnology using digital social questionnaires to garner anonymous, qualitative information, focusing on individual BIO350 Genetics students’ perspectives towards topics such as GMOs, knowledge of BE products, and BE labeling. This information will be analyzed with respect to how education, through an undergraduate genetics course, plays a role in forming these attitudes.Considering their growing presence in our food systems, scale of public misconception, and the approaching BE labeling compliance date, consumer concerns and attitudes towards GMO products and bioengineering must be evaluated. Works Cited Pew Research Center. The New Food Fights: U.S. Public Divides Over Food Science. Pew Res. Cent. 100 (2016). Jurkiewicz, A., Zagórski, J., Bujak, F., Lachowski, S. & Florek-Łuszczki, M. Emotional attitudes of young people completing secondary schools towards genetic modification of organisms (GMO) and genetically modified foods (GMF). Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. AAEM 21, 205–211 (2014). Overview of The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Feb 2019.
0706. Systemic Language Discrimination in the United States
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Stephanie Tillotson Mentor(s): Dr. Zachary Rockwell Ludington
Abstract: Language discrimination, legally prohibited in all sectors of US society by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and theoretically curtailed by US judicial precedent, remains widespread in many areas of US society. Longstanding patterns of language discrimination persist in widely varying contexts with disparate legal requirements, making understanding language discrimination comprehensively a complex legal and ethical task. Scholars have taken up the task only relatively recently, developing the field of Linguistic Human Rights to address the legal, social, and ethical questions involved. The present project surveys some discrete forms of language discrimination in the United States which have not previously been understood as examples of a broader historical and systemic pattern. The goal of the research is to synthesize a general concept of language discrimination in the United States from heretofore unconnected phenomena. It will be shown that American society’s blindness to language discrimination qua language discrimination belies such discrimination’s systemic nature; such discrimination is subtly resistant to existing international and domestic legal prohibitions, even as it runs counter to the U.S.’s concept of fundamental rights.
0707. How Alumnae of a Feminist Organization Perceive Their Involvement as Related to Their Academic Self-Concept in Middle-High School
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Miranda Snyder Mentor(s): Susan K. Gardner
Abstract: Research has found that youth involvement in activism can benefit sense of self and belief in one’s abilities to make positive change for those involved through unique communication with people who are passionate about the same issue, a sense of personal empowerment, and a deepened sociopolitical consciousness to understand the complexities of social-justice issues. This qualitative study provided greater understanding of how youth perceive their involvement in a feminist organization related to their academic self-concept in middle-high school. Six alumnae of the Girls Advisory Board (G.A.B.) of Hardy Girls Healthy Women, a Maine-based nonprofit that focuses on the empowerment of young women, were interviewed. Participants were asked to reflect on their experiences and perceptions of themselves in activist organizations, specifically in GAB, and academic situations. Findings indicated that alumnae recalled community-oriented affordances of activism, a high work ethic, increased personal understanding and empowerment via activism, and a multi-faceted academic self-concept that incorporates their own and others’ perceptions as related to their involvement in activism during middle-high school. Suggestions for youth looking to be involved in activist organizations and schools aiming to increase students’ academic self-concept are drawn from this study’s findings. For instance, youth hoping to increase their sense of importance and community should be encouraged to join or participate in efforts sponsored by youth-led activist organizations. Schools may also work toward increasing self-driven learning opportunities for students and offer an array of activism-based practices for students to engage in, such as service-learning-based efforts.
0708. Assessing the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Working Memory, and Perceived Stress
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Sahvannah Michaud, Amy Haplin, Angelica Boeve, Rebecca MacAulay Mentor(s): Rebecca MacAulay
Abstract: Objectives. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with several deleterious outcomes across the lifespan. Given evidence of working memory (WM) difficulties in those with high ACE scores and associations between perceived stress and WM impairment, the present study aimed to better understand the relationship between WM and ACE in older adults and whether this relationship was moderated by perceived stress. Methods. Data collected from 121 participants enrolled in the Maine Aging Behavior Learning and Enrichment study was used. The ACE Questionnaire measured number of and type of early life adverse events. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV digit span tests evaluated auditory WM. The National Institute of Health-Cognitive Toolbox List Sorting Test measured visual WM. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment measured global cognition. The Perceived Stress Questionnaire evaluated levels of subjective stress. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses investigated the effect of ACE on visual and auditory WM. Moderated regression analyses investigated the effects of perceived stress scores. Results: Results revealed that ACE scores contributed to 3.7% of the variance in visual WM performance, after adjusting for age, education, and global cognition, F (4, 116) = 9.15, p < .001. ACE scores were not significantly associated with auditory WM. Perceived stress, while positively associated with ACE scores, did not significantly affect the relationship between WM and ACE. Conclusions: ACE exhibited a domain-specific effect upon WM. Further investigation of visual as compared to auditory effects on cognition may lead to an improved understanding of underlying neurological mechanisms involved in cognitive decline in those with ACE.
0709. How androcentric are university forestry program cultures? A cross-institutional qualitative case study of university forestry student experiences
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Emily Roth, Jessica Leahy, Mindy Crandall, Laura Kenefic Mentor(s): Jessica Leahy
Abstract: How androcentric are university forestry program cultures? A cross-institutional qualitative case study of undergraduate forestry student experiences Emily Roth, University of Maine Dr. Jessica Leahy, University of Maine Dr. Mindy Crandall, Oregon State University Dr. Laura Kenefic, U.S. Forest Service Forestry, like other natural resource sciences, is a field dominated by men due to the continuing systemic exclusion of other genders. One route of perpetuating this exclusion is the use of gendered language, which refers to discourse that tends to favor the hegemonic gender in forestry. A common example of gendered language is the use of he/him/his pronouns when referring to a hypothetical, genderless group, such as professional foresters. In this study, we aim to understand undergraduate forestry students’ gender-based experiences, particularly in relation to gendered language. A total of twenty students from Society of American Foresters accredited majors at one East Coast Land Grant University (LGU1) and one West Coast Land Grant University (LGU2) were selected to be interviewed from a volunteer form sent to all potential participants. Selections were based on cohort, gender, and major, so as to equally represent gender minorities (women and non binary) and majorities (men). Using Zoom as a platform, we asked questions designed to understand the impact of gendered language in university forestry program settings on undergraduate students, identify changes in students’ gender-based experiences throughout their college career, assess students’ university experiences in terms of diversity and inclusion, and identify obstacles students have noted that can enhance university inclusion practices. Preliminary results indicate that the use of gendered language in university forestry programs is frequent and perpetuates gender minority students’ feelings of exclusion and inability. Previous research has not focused on the unique intersection of gendered language and undergraduate forestry programs, and with this study, we hope to further discern the intricacies of gender diversity in forestry, promote the use of gender-fair language, and potentially provide information to forestry educators about gender diversity, equity, and inclusion.
0712. Role of Chronic and Acuter Stress in the Develpoment of Obesity Between Members of Different Socioeconic Groups
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Isabelle Stevens, Shelby Helwig, Shannon McCoy Mentor(s): Shannon McCoy
Abstract: Obesity is a global epidemic and has been declared the largest unrecognized health problem by the World Health Organization. The many comorbidities of obesity make it a highly deadly disease and America is one of the countries most greatly affected by this epidemic. Identifying risk factors is essential in reducing the prevalence of obesity. Social inequality, measured by socioeconomic status (SES), is associated with disparities in health outcomes, including obesity. In the current project, I examined the role of chronic and acute stress in the development of obesity between members of different socioeconomic groups, specifically showing that these effects can be observed in young adults. UMaine college students completed a self-report survey measuring their socioeconomic status before arriving for an experiment in the laboratory. During the experiment, students participated in a stressful activity (i.e., giving a 5-minute recorded speech about their future goals and plans to a judge) while their cardiovascular responses, including their heart rate variability and blood pressure, were recorded to measure their typical stress response. After the experiment, I recorded body measurements such as weight, height, and waist circumference. The relationships between SES, stress reactivity, and obesity and the implications for these results are discussed. These results may inform public health practices to emphasize reducing social inequalities as an effective strategy for reducing the overall prevalence of obesity and health disparities.
0714. The Stigmatization of Formerly Incarcerated Citizens
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Amy Frankel, Sydney Massa, Marina Slover Mentor(s): Elizabeth DePoy
Abstract: Previous studies have primarily explored the topic of stigma with family members of incarcerated citizens (Gueta, 2018), (Saunders, 2018), (Tadros, Fye & Ray, 2020), currently incarcerated women (Bove & Tyron, 2018), and gender specific groups of men and women, at a similar stage in their reentry process (Bahr, Armstrong, Gibbs, Harris & Fisher, 2005), (Celinska, 2000), (Gunn, Sacks & Alexis, 2018), (Riccardelli & Mooney, 2018). Building on the important body of knowledge as the basis for facilitating the reentry and positive adjustment of this population, the aim of this mixed-methods study is to examine the nature of stigma in the lives of males and females who share the experience of being incarcerated, and who have spent varying lengths of time back in their communities following their completion of a term of incarceration. Our research questions are: What is the degree of stigma experienced by formerly incarcerated citizens? To what extent does our population offer insights beyond what is found in existing literature? What insights are relevant for dissemination? We rely on the classic definition of stigma generated by Goffman, an “attribute that is deeply discrediting,” which reduces an individual “from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one.” Methods Beginning our study by conducting interviews is the most appropriate and culturally sensitive way to engage our population. Purposive and snowball sampling will be used to recruit participants who meet the criteria for our study. Following a mixed-methods approach, we will use interviews, consisting of six, open-ended questions, as our method of data collection. Qualitative data will utilize thematic analysis. Once we have completed our qualitative analysis, responses to our open-ended questions will be assigned response categories to enable quantitative analysis. Interviews will be conducted by phone to allow for privacy and in consideration of current Covid-19 restrictions. The findings will add to the current knowledge base and inform praxis with this population.
0716. The Effects of Different Curricula on Perceptions of the Science-Religion Relationship
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Darby Casey, Sally B. Barker, Jordan P. LaBouff Mentor(s): Jordan P. LaBouff
Abstract: Science and religion appear to clash in many ways regarding how we understand the world around us. A current example is how some religious organizations are lobbying against COVID-19 restrictions on religious grounds in order to have more people in their places of worship. However, many people see science and religion as compatible (e.g., many religious scientists). Education is a powerful force for changing people’s attitudes and promoting cooperation, yet little research has been done regarding its impact on the perception of science and religious compatibility. The purpose of this study is to determine whether different curriculums (religiously diverse vs traditional general education) have an impact on student’s perceptions on the science-religion relationship. Specifically, we are comparing the honors program versus non-honors programs at the University of Maine to see if students in either curriculum differ in their beliefs towards science and religious compatibility. Students in either HON 112 or PSY 100 were recruited to complete self report measures of religious compatibility, religious commitment, and one’s identity as a religious person or scientist. We expect that students in a more religiously diverse curriculum will express more compatible attitudes between science and religion. Results could inform curriculum decisions and help understand the relationship between science and religion.
0715. The Impact of COVID-19 and Telehealth Usage for Recovery Programs Participants at Seaport Community Health Center
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Sarah Juster, Colleen Keegan, Kate Pontius, Priscilla Domingo, Samuel Roy Mentor(s): Elizabeth Armstrong
Abstract: Concurrent to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic continues to escalate in the United States. In Maine, a 27% increase of overdose deaths was recorded in the first half of 2020 compared to the prior 6 month period. This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on recovery processes and treatment access for participants in a medication-assisted treatment program in mid-coast Maine using both paper and electronic surveys. We hypothesized that mechanisms for poorer recovery outcomes would include increased social isolation, financial stress, and mental stress, and that lower rates of technology ownership and privacy at home would lead to lower approval ratings for Zoom-based group therapy. Preliminary analysis of early responses (N=14) suggests a statistically significant correlation between increased social isolation and poorer recovery outcomes during COVID-19, as well as between increased mental stress and poorer recovery outcomes. Fewer than half of initial respondents reported owning a computer with Zoom capability, although internet stability and privacy at home were not reported as major barriers to Zoom-based group therapy. Data demonstrating the impact of COVID-19 on recovery processes and treatment access is of critical value both to the specific treatment center involved in this study as well as to the broader field of substance-use disorder-related research.
0716. The Effects of Different Curricula on Perceptions of the Science-Religion Relationship
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Darby Casey, Sally B. Barker, Jordan P. LaBouff Mentor(s): Jordan LaBouff
Abstract: Science and religion appear to clash in many ways regarding how we understand the world around us. A current example is how some religious organizations are lobbying against COVID-19 restrictions on religious grounds in order to have more people in their places of worship. However, many people see science and religion as compatible (e.g., many religious scientists). Education is a powerful force for changing people’s attitudes and promoting cooperation, yet little research has been done regarding its impact on the perception of science and religious compatibility. The purpose of this study is to determine whether different curriculums (religiously diverse vs traditional general education) have an impact on student’s perceptions on the science-religion relationship. Specifically, we are comparing the honors program versus non-honors programs at the University of Maine to see if students in either curriculum differ in their beliefs towards science and religious compatibility. Students in either HON 112 or PSY 100 were recruited to complete self report measures of religious compatibility, religious commitment, and one’s identity as a religious person or scientist. We expect that students in a more religiously diverse curriculum will express more compatible attitudes between science and religion. Results could inform curriculum decisions and help understand the relationship between science and religion.
0717. Cardiovascular Effects on Cognition in Young Adults: The Relationship Between Exercise, Physical Activity, and Processing Speed
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Taylor McMillan, Lindsey Lagerstrom, Jennifer Thompson, Fayeza Ahmed Mentor(s): Fayeza Ahmed
Abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a well-established risk factor for cognitive decline and is likely to accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).1 Evidence suggests moderate intensity exercise is effective at reducing cardiovascular risk, while higher intensity exercise may offer greater cardioprotection.2 General physical activity has long been associated with a decreased risk in CVD.3 The purpose of the current study is to identify the relationship between exercise intensity, general physical activity, and processing speed to potentially identify early vascular effects on cognition. College-aged participants (N = 113) were recruited from the Middle Age: Cognition, Activity, and Health study database, that includes measures of cognition, motor/sensory activities and cardiovascular health. Participants were administered the NIH Toolbox, where they completed measures of processing speed. Processing speed was examined in relation to average daily physical activity (total steps as measured by FitBit) and intensity of structured exercise (metabolic equivalent; MET). Results indicated there were no significant correlations between MET, FitBit active minutes, and processing speed. However, total self-reported exercise minutes (? = .32) accounted for significant variance in processing speed (R2 = .10, Adj R2 = .09, SEE = 17.95, F (1, 111) = 12.11, p = .001). While behavioral symptoms of AD (e.g., memory loss) do not occur until late adulthood, neurophysiological changes precede these much earlier. Additionally, processing speed is regarded as one of the most correlated cognitive domains impacted by age.4 This study aims to identify possible changes among young adults to identify opportunities for early intervention.
0720. Sleep Health Domains Differentially Impact Aspects of Executive Function in Older Adults
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Angelica Boeve, Amy Halpin, Michael Fagan, Sahvannah Michaud, Rebecca K. MacAulay Mentor(s): Dr. Rebecca MacAulay
Abstract: Objective: Sleep health and executive function are multifaceted constructs that decline with age. Some evidence suggests that poor sleep health may underlie declines in executive function but this relationship is not consistently found in cognitively normal older adults.
Method: The present study systematically investigated distinct sleep health domain associations with specific aspects of executive function to clarify mixed findings in the literature. Community-dwelling older adults completed clinical interviews, comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and subjective measures of sleep. Four sleep health domains were investigated: satisfaction/quality, sleep efficiency, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness/fatigue. Hierarchical multiple regressions analyses examined whether the sleep health domains differentially predicted executive function. Results: After adjusting for significant covariates, separate analyses found that: greater sleep efficiency predicted better inhibitory control and greater daytime sleepiness/fatigue predicted worse cognitive flexibility performance. Sleep duration, satisfaction and quality did not demonstrate any statistically significant associations with executive function measures. Additionally, performance on working memory or problem solving/concept formation did not associate with sleep health. Conclusions: Our findings align with evidence that suggests that sleep efficiency and daytime fatigue may underlie difficulties with inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. These results support the need to evaluate the effect of sleep efficiency and daytime sleepiness/fatigue on cognitive test performance. Further, these findings potentially indicate that interventions that target these sleep mechanisms may help to reduce declines in executive function.
0726. Communicating Carcharodon carcharias Forecasting and Conservation Using eDNA Analysis From the Gulf of Maine
Undergraduate
Author(s): Bradlyn McEttrick Mentor(s): Heather Leslie, Jessica Reilly-Moman
Abstract: In recent years, the presence of Carcharodon carcharias (Great White shark) has risen in New England coastal waters, attracting research attention and public concern (Curtis et al., 2014). Tools for shark detection exist, but have not been aggregated for use in spatial or temporal forecasts in the New England area, however it has been accomplished in warmer waters (Lafferty et al., 2018). Following the first recorded fatal shark attack in Maine in July 2020, researchers at the Bigelow Laboratory and the University of Maine began testing the capabilities of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect white sharks with the goal of using eDNA and existing tools to forecast white shark presence in the Gulf of Maine. However, researchers face multiple communication challenges, specifically in communicating about new detection technology, forecast uncertainty, apex ocean predator conservation efforts, and the effects of climate change on white shark presence in Maine. Consequently, we created a strategic communication plan to identify potential stakeholders while integrating communication strategies for eDNA science with ongoing white shark conservation efforts. The plan supports internal collaborative dialogue and highlights potential external partnerships for researchers on the Maine-eDNA project; it explicitly identifies potential communication challenges, and it illuminates opportunities to increase understanding of both eDNA science and white shark conservation. By developing a strategic communication plan, we aim to not only support improved science communication for emergent eDNA forecasting, but to also bolster wider stakeholder interest in C. carcharias conservation efforts as their presence increases in our rapidly changing climate. References Curtis, T. H., McCandless, C. T., Carlson, J. K., Skomal, G. B., Kohler, N. E., Natanson, L. J., Burgess, G. H., Hoey, J. J., & Pratt, H. L. (2014). Seasonal Distribution and Historic Trends in Abundance of White Sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, in the Western North Atlantic Ocean. PLoS ONE, 9(6), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099240 Lafferty, K. D., Benesh, K. C., Mahon, A. R., Jerde, C. L., & Lowe, C. G. (2018). Detecting Southern California’s White Sharks With Environmental DNA. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00355
0727. Maine’s Rural Youth: Exploring Migration Plans through Place and Community Attachment Theories
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Zachary Davis, Kathleen Bell, Mindy Crandall
Mentor(s): Jessica Leahy
Abstract: Rural youth out-migration can intensify workforce shortages, population declines, brain-drain, and other social and economic issues that threaten the sustainability of rural communities in Maine and across the United States. In this research, we advance knowledge of youth migration decisions by incorporating measures of place and community attachment. We focus on testing for positive associations between the desire to live in a rural area and place attachment as well as community attachment. We designed and administered a survey to 666 middle and high school students in Piscataquis and northern Somerset County in 2019 (response rate=87%). Using 578 survey responses provided by students from 5 schools, we use regression and statistical tests to assess empirically the associations between the stated desire to live in a rural area and measures of place and community attachment. In addition to measuring place and community attachment, we control for relevant economic factors (e.g., age, income, and stated human capital goals). Results reveal positive associations between place and community attachment and the desire to live in a rural area. In contrast, advanced education goals were negatively associated with the desire to live in a rural area. Our findings suggest that by using policies and practices that build both place and community attachment, rural communities could influence the future migration decisions of rural youth. We highlight actions families, schools, non-profit community organizations, and private businesses could take to create opportunities for rural youth to build place and community attachment and foster community well-being.
0728. The Impact of Mental Health Stigma on Hireability
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Cassidy McCusker Mentor(s): Mollie Ruben
Abstract: Society tends to view those with mental illness as dangerous, impulsive, and unstable. These perceptions are often made quickly, with very little information available, and have lasting impacts (e.g., impacting job opportunities). The purpose of the current research is to examine stigma associated with various mental health disorders as compared to a physical health disorder or no disorder on perceptions of warmth, stability, openness, competence, and hireability of a candidate for a job. Undergraduate participants (N = 329) rated deidentified medical forms as part of a job application that varied in terms of diagnosis (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia), past hospitalization (yes vs. no), medication use (yes. vs. no), and gender (male, female, gender nonconforming) on hireability. It was hypothesized that stigma, as judged by lower ratings of hireability, would vary as a consequence of mental health disorder. Additionally, it was hypothesized that past hospitalizations and medication use as a result of mental illness would affect hireability ratings. Finally, we examined how the perceiver’s own experiences with mental health impacted their hireability ratings. Results showed that hireability ratings varied by mental health diagnosis such that those without a mental health diagnosis or with a physical health diagnosis were significantly more likely to be hired compared to those with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, in that order. Perceiver mental health experience impacted ratings of hireability such that those with mental health experience themselves were more likely to hire others in general, while those with no mental health experience were less likely to hire applicants. Implications of this work include informing interventions that reduce barriers in seeking mental healthcare, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when mental health symptoms are at an all time high.
0729. Honors and Eating Concerns
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Ailin Liebler-Bendix, Jamie Ginguere, Ethan Lowell, Bailey Lewis Mentor(s): Jeffrey Hecker
Abstract: The focus of this project is to explore the relationship between pathological disturbances in eating, food ideation and the incidence of perfectionism in honors students at the University of Maine. Our research group is composed of four undergraduate students that are part of the UMaine Honors College, as well as two professors. The literature we have reviewed suggests that high levels of perfectionism are linked with the development of maladaptive eating behaviors. We formulated two hypotheses; 1) Honors college students will demonstrate high levels of either self-orientated perfectionism or socially prescribed perfectionism; 2) Socially prescribed perfectionism will be positively correlated with problematic eating attitudes and behavior, and negatively correlated with body self-image. For this study, a survey containing the 45-item Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the 25-item Eating Disorder Inventory and the 18-item Three Factor Eating Questionnaire was deployed to University of Maine Honors College students for a period of two weeks. Upon completion of the two-week testing period, we received 238 responses to the questionnaire. We are currently cleaning up our data and looking towards completing various tests on the data in SP2021 to determine if any significant correlations exist. The ultimate goal of this study is to put forward hypotheses related to specific components of the student lifestyle and honors curriculum that may encourage maladaptive traits for further study.
0722. Parent-Adolescent Relationships of International Boarding High-School Students
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Kittiya Reeves, Jessie Anderson, Kristen Brewer Mentor(s): Daniel Puhlman
Abstract: Parent-Adolescent Relationships of International Boarding High-School Students Many scholars have explored parent-adolescent relationships during the period of adolescent transition. Hofer & Moore (2010) stated that parents who monitor their children tend to continue to do so after high school, and for many families, this continues through the year after the children graduate from college. Over monitoring from parents might be more harmful to children than be beneficial or supportive. It is challenging for international students and parents to maintain their relationships over long distances. This qualitative study examines the relationships between international students who study in the United States and their parents who live in their home countries. The study focuses on how parents and children communicate over long distances and the difference in their communication at home. The study also examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted this communication and subsequently impacted their parent-child relationships. Interviews were conducted with twelve students who are studying abroad, and five of their parents who live overseas. The findings from this study will help us better understand the parent-adolescent relationships of international boarding high-school students. It will also help us better understand the adjustments and adaptations that parents and students make to maintain bonds, and communication for better and healthy parent-child relationships when living internationally.
0723. A Lens Model Approach to the Nonverbal Expression of Fatigue
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Morgan Stosic, Mollie Ruben Mentor(s): Mollie Ruben
Abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome, characterized by persistent mental fatigue and severe physical disability, significantly impairs several components of performance including speed and accuracy, hand-eye coordination, and decision-making and memory. Learning how to detect chronic fatigue through nonverbal markers (i.e., eye movements, facial expressions) is an important avenue for research as it will allow for outside observers to be trained to accurately identify fatigue and intervene in performance-based jobs where accidents and errors are critical. Therefore, the purpose of the current proposal is to identify objective, nonverbal behaviors associated with chronic fatigue and to examine if naïve observers are accurate in detecting fatigue in others. In phase one, participants (N = 64) were videotaped having 5-minute “getting-to-know-you” conversations with one another and we subsequently asked to complete a validated measure of chronic fatigue. In phase two, new participants (N = 82) were recruited to watch 30-second clips of these interactions, and judge how much fatigue they perceived the targets to be experiencing. Finally, in phase three, the recordings from phase one were subjected to rigorous nonverbal coding by objective coding softwares, as well as by trained research assistants in order to determine which specific nonverbal cues are the most reliable predictors of chronic fatigue, as well as whether perceivers are utilizing these cues in their assessment of fatigue. In addition, we correlated targets’ self-reports of chronic fatigue with perceivers’ judgments of fatigue in order to determine overall levels of accuracy in detecting fatigue in others. Result and implications are discussed.
0725. Joe Polis and the Search for the Northern Highlands
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Jacob McCarthy Mentor(s): Kreg Ettenger
Abstract: Joe Polis (1809-84) was a well-known Penobscot leader. Scholars have examined his Penobscot language writings (MacDougall, 2000) and his relationship with Henry David Thoreau (Lynch, 1997), but little is known about his role in the Northeast Boundary Commission of 1838. Preceding the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, the northeast border was contested. Several previous surveys had been completed without settling the issue (Carroll 2001). In 1838 Maine Governor Edward Kent charged John G. Dean with leading the Northeast Boundary Commission north of the St. John River to identify the highland referenced in the 1783 Treaty of Paris as the northern border (Deane, 1838). Deane hired Polis to guide his trip. While Deane and trip surveyor William Parrott did not mention Polis in their final reports, a close examination of Deane’s personal journal reveals that Polis played a critical role in the commission’s success. By comparing the official accounts of the trip with Deane’s personal journal, this research illuminates Polis’s significant contributions and raises questions about the visibility of Native American guides in historical documents.
0726. Communicating Carcharodon carcharias Forecasting and Conservation Using eDNA Analysis From the Gulf of Maine
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Bradlyn McEttrick Mentor(s): Jessica Reilly-Moman
Abstract: In recent years, the presence of Carcharodon carcharias (Great White shark) has risen in New England coastal waters, attracting research attention and public concern (Curtis et al., 2014). Tools for shark detection exist, but have not been aggregated for use in spatial or temporal forecasts in the New England area, however it has been accomplished in warmer waters (Lafferty et al., 2018). Following the first recorded fatal shark attack in Maine in July 2020, researchers at the Bigelow Laboratory and the University of Maine began testing the capabilities of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect white sharks with the goal of using eDNA and existing tools to forecast white shark presence in the Gulf of Maine. However, researchers face multiple communication challenges, specifically in communicating about new detection technology, forecast uncertainty, apex ocean predator conservation efforts, and the effects of climate change on white shark presence in Maine. Consequently, we created a strategic communication plan to identify potential stakeholders while integrating communication strategies for eDNA science with ongoing white shark conservation efforts. The plan supports internal collaborative dialogue and highlights potential external partnerships for researchers on the Maine-eDNA project; it explicitly identifies potential communication challenges, and it illuminates opportunities to increase understanding of both eDNA science and white shark conservation. By developing a strategic communication plan, we aim to not only support improved science communication for emergent eDNA forecasting, but to also bolster wider stakeholder interest in C. carcharias conservation efforts as their presence increases in our rapidly changing climate. References Curtis, T. H., McCandless, C. T., Carlson, J. K., Skomal, G. B., Kohler, N. E., Natanson, L. J., Burgess, G. H., Hoey, J. J., & Pratt, H. L. (2014). Seasonal Distribution and Historic Trends in Abundance of White Sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, in the Western North Atlantic Ocean. PLoS ONE, 9(6), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099240 Lafferty, K. D., Benesh, K. C., Mahon, A. R., Jerde, C. L., & Lowe, C. G. (2018). Detecting Southern California’s White Sharks With Environmental DNA. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00355
0730. Monitoring Uncertainty
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Rose Deng Mentor(s): Shawn Ell
Abstract: Monitoring one’s own knowledge and understanding, or lack thereof, can enable individuals to identify gaps in their own knowledge, in order to adaptively learn and adjust strategies to meet the demands of novel problems and tasks. Understanding how humans make decisions under uncertainty is crucial for improving pedagogical approaches that aim to support learning and transfer of knowledge. Thus, the role of uncertainty monitoring during category learning and transfer was explored. Participants learned about Chemistry concepts using one of two training methods that either required participants to respond to all task questions, or presented participants with the option of monitoring and reporting their decisional uncertainty (e.g., admitting they didn’t know the answer). All participants were able to learn the concepts regardless of training method. Those who were trained to monitor their uncertainty, however, were observed to have greater performance on a novel task. These preliminary results suggest that people who actively monitor their uncertainty may be better equipped to transfer learned information to novel contexts.
0731. The Effects of COVID-19 on Hospitality and Building Supply Sales in Maine
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Yelshaday Gebreselassie Mentor(s): Todd Gabe
Abstract: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on hospitality and building supply sales in Maine. The pandemic impacted the two sectors in opposite ways. While the hospitality sector suffered significant losses, the building sector has shown increased revenue from what is suggested by our forecast measures. We use statewide monthly taxable sales and the Box-Jenkins model for our analysis. Our empirical results show large negative impacts of COVID-19 on Maine hospitality sales. For example, hospitality sales in Maine were 64.1 percent lower than predicted in April 2020, and 35.3 percent lower than expected in July 2020. Overall, the Maine hospitality sector saw a $608 million reduction in sales between April 2020 and July 2020. Conversely, the building supply sector experienced higher than expected sales over the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Building supply sales in Maine were 11.2 percent higher than expected in April 2020, and 26 percent above our forecast in July 2020. Overall, the building supply sector saw a $138.2 million increase in sales between April 2020 and July 2020. Our results have important implications. Firstly, the impact is not similar across both sectors. Although most sectors have shown decline in revenue for the early parts of 2020, the building supply sector has consistently recorded higher revenue than predicted. Another important implication which follows the first is that measuring the exact impact of COVID-19 on different sectors helps the State of Maine allocate resources efficiently to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on the economy.
0732. Moose (Alces alces) in the Dawnland: Parasitic pressures, fragmented management, and sustaining culturally important relationships with the Wabanaki Confederacy
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Alaina Woods, Jason Brough, Elizabeth Leclerc, Steven Golieb Mentor(s): Katie Glover
Abstract: In the state of Maine, Indigenous voices, values, and ecological knowledge are not typically represented in the state’s wildlife management policies, despite the implications these policies have for Wabanaki relationships with the natural world. Meanwhile, the state is adapting its management approach to contend with climate change-related increases in winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) that threaten to destabilize the state’s population of moose (Alces alces). This emerging issue will require collaboration between state and tribal wildlife managers and provides an opportunity to redress previous failures to incorporate Indigenous concerns in the management of this iconic and culturally significant species. Here we aim to describe human-moose relationships within the Dawnland, the traditional homelands of the Wabanaki people, and provide a venue for Wabanaki voices to be heard. We outline the ecological, cultural, and political factors entangled in this issue: the role of climate change in winter tick prevalence and their threat to moose; the deep-time and ongoing relationships between Wabanaki peoples and moose; and the fraught history between the Wabanaki and settler/colonial governments. We then qualitatively assess relevant state and tribal wildlife management policies to evaluate how these management frameworks affect the ability of Wabanaki peoples to maintain and sustain their relationships with moose. This review will provide a basis for understanding the various factors underlying the issue of Indigenous representation in moose management, which we hope will support efforts to develop collaborative, complementary, and equitable management frameworks among state and tribal entities.
0733. Pathfinder
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Tyler D’Ambrosio Mentor(s): Jon Ippolito
Abstract: Currently, 1 in every 100 adults and 1 in every 200 children in the United States suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder— that’s over 2 million adults and over 500,000 children. The current primary therapy method is Exposure and Response Prevention, which introduces patients to their fears in a safe, clinical environment. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a need for an option that can be done in isolation. I am in the process of creating a digital therapy application in the form of a mobile game. The demographic will be youths aged 8-12 who have been diagnosed with, or are starting to show symptoms of, OCD. It will be able to be used as a stand-alone application, or in conjunction with conventional therapies. The intended purpose is to teach the users how their mental illness works, as well as show users how to mitigate their symptoms via in-game challenges that are analogous to real-life situations.
0734. College Students Combat Period Poverty: Free Access to Menstruation Products
Undergraduate Presentation
Author(s): Teresa Gallanti Mentor(s): Dr. Lois-Ann Kuntz
Abstract: Even though it costs around $10.00 a month for basic supplies for menstruation there are about 42 million menstruators that suffer from period poverty. This is the umbrella term for the inequalities related to menstruation. The emotional stress from period poverty is traumatizing due to unexpectedly starting menstruating in public without supplies (Smith, 2020). According to a recent article, individuals “who reported experiencing period poverty every month, 68% also reported symptoms consistent with moderate or severe depression, … which linked the trend with similar ties between food insecurity and mental health” (Srikanth, 2021, p. 1). Others say they feel isolated to their homes unable to leave for work, school or civic life (Smith, 2020). This project examined how the University of Maine at Machias (UMM) could provide free menstrual products to students, and how this would impact these effects on their students. A majority of UMM students receive financial aid for their tuition. Many of these menstruators could be affected by period poverty. Almost 20% of all individuals in Washington County live below the poverty level (U.S. Census, 2020). Details of proposing free access to campus administrators will be presented and these include: online research, interviews with period product organizations, and interviews and group discussions with Student Senate at UMM and Student Life at University of Maine (UM) and UMM. From this investigation, it was found that the costs would be negligible for UMM to provide free access even after accounting for maintenance and facility workers.
0736. Assessing the role of traditional ecological knowledge in sustainable food systems
Graduate Presentation.
Author(s): Matthew James, Douglas Hasson, Alex Bromley, Elise Gudde Mentor(s): Greg Zaro
Abstract: Climate change has severe impacts on agricultural systems and the way that the world cultivates its food. In the coming years, climate models have predicted changes that are in direct relation to our food systems, including; the intensity and frequency of anomalous precipitation and drought events, increases in pests, and more frequent crop failure. Traditional ecological knowledge may have an increased value in the future, as the need for de-industrialization and increased sustainability grows, and its incorporation into contemporary farming may alleviate the negative results from these changes. The primary goal of our research asks if contemporary farmers can utilize geographically and ecologically specific practices developed by generations of indigenous peoples to help preserve their crops, farms, and livelihoods. Four case studies from various regions and indigenous groups around the world were evaluated in terms of the practicality and resilience of their agricultural and subsistence practices. Additionally, we consider how the adoption of these practices impact the indigenous group and contemporary farmers beyond economic value or crop yield.
0738. S.S. Media: Giving Researchers access to Social Media
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Ryan Handlon, Colleen DeMaris, Griffin Fluet, Abdullah Karim, James West, Ryan Handlon Mentor(s): Terry Yoo
Abstract: Social media has grown to be an extremely large part of society in recent years. Because of this, a need to gather data from it has also arisen. Black Bear Analytics is creating a tool that allows researchers to scrape public data from posts on Twitter and Instagram. This tool was requested by Doctor Judith Rosenbaum of UMaine’s Department of Communication and Journalism. The S.S. Media will have an easy-to-navigate interface that allows users to switch between scraping public posts on Instagram and Twitter. The New Search page gives the user an option of either an advanced search or a basic search. The basic option searches by specified hashtags, locations, or phrases, and an acceptable start and end date to check with each post scraped, while an advanced search has the same general functions as the basic search, but adds the ability to search for more than one topic (hashtag, location, phrase), as well as run the search once every specified amount of time. The tool will store a number of scrape requests, so that users can either inspect a previous scrape request or request it again. Once the scraping is completed, the data will be downloaded to the user’s computer in the form of a .csv file, and images will be stored in a corresponding folder. The outcome of this project will hopefully be that researchers like Doctor Rosenbaum can have a tool that will enable them to easily search for data and trends on social media sites.
0739. Increasing Childhood Educational Attainment Through Family Resource Connections and Advocacy
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Ambrosia Ross Mentor(s): Lois-Ann Kuntz
Abstract: By fourth grade, 68% of American students are reading below where they should. Of these functionally illiterate students, 82% are from low-income families (30 Key Child Literacy Stats Parents Need To Be Aware Of, 2019). In Maine, in 2014, over 48,000 children were living in poverty (Child Wellbeing Indicators & Data: KIDS COUNT Data Center, n.d.). These children are often missing important components of education because of truancy, low literacy exposure, and parents being unable to attend parent functions or meetings, due to a lack of family and community supports (McCrea, 2018; Smith, 2006). Work on this proposal included conversations with the Community Caring Collaborative non-profit organization about interest and have resulted in a presentation of this work to one of their funders later this spring. Washington County has over thirty-five family resource programs already available, however each program has separate focuses and eligibility requirements. This project would help families in order to maximize their childrens’ educational potential by concentrating on connecting them to community resources specific to the family which will boost the child’s educational ability. An advocate would be assigned to provide families with help developing individualized action plans and identifying gaps in their current resource accessibility. The action planning process involves developing family goals and choosing success markers to use based on program suggestions. The advocate will help maintain communication between the client and the community resource programs to meet deadlines. Potential success benchmarks for this program will be discussed (Freedman, 2012).
0740. Supporting US Military Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Life: Exploring a New Model
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Carol Lane Mentor(s): Lois Ann Kuntz
Abstract:Serving in the Armed Forces is a unique experience where strong bonds can form between peers as they experience the culture shock of military life. After discharge from the Armed Forces, US veterans are found to be overrepresented in the prison system, the homeless population, and even in suicide – much of which is related to readjusting to civilian life. (Elnitsky, et al, 2017) Further research suggests these outcomes are related to separation from peers (Castro & Truusa, 2019). In an attempt to identify the reasons for this disconnect between veterans and existing veteran-help-based services, an online survey was posted to various social media boards. A sample of 59 veterans participated and 61% reported a difficult transition to civilian life, while 40% who visited community-based outpatient clinics to seek help indicated it was unhelpful. Thousands of programs have been created to help veterans, however, the annual numbers of those succumbing to trouble with transitioning remain steady or have increased. The multitude of data and research available suggests that a new approach that addresses the concerns of these Veterans should be considered. This proposed new model that includes a veteran-staffed organization with proactive peer support was favorably received by 68% of those surveyed, while 81% stated that they would volunteer for such an organization. The beneficial peer support cultivated in the services would allow our veterans to employ the skills they already possess to assist veterans in the home community potentially reducing rates of incarceration, homelessness, and suicide attempts.
0741. Cyber Victimization and Internalizing Distress: Avoidant Problem-Solving Style Moderates Depressive, but not Social Anxiety Symptoms
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Allison Marcellino, Jade Perry, Michelle Buffie, Douglas Nangle Mentor(s): Douglas Nangle
Abstract: Social anxiety and depression are prevalent disorders that result in substantial distress and impaired functioning among young adults. Particularly, research has suggested that there is a positive association between cyber victimization (CV), social anxiety, and depression among young adults. Social problem solving (SPS) styles, or ways in which a person attempts to understand, cope with, and find effective solutions to a problem, also have well documented relations with internalizing distress. Of interest in this study is the avoidant style (AS) social problem solving, characterized as a passive, inactive, approach that is maladaptive because it leads to the avoidance and exacerbation of problems. Research has shown that AS social problem solving is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Though SPS styles have been found to be moderators of internalized distress in numerous studies (Nezu & Ronan, 1988; McCabe et al., 1999), no studies have examined their possible moderating effects on the impact of CV. While both depression and social anxiety are associated with SPS and CV, the stronger associations with depression has led to much fewer investigations exploring these relationships with social anxiety. Thus, the present study investigates the role of AS problem solving in the relationship between CV, depression, and social anxiety symptoms. We hypothesize that AS problem solving will moderate the relationship between CV and both depression and social anxiety symptoms. Method: Undergraduate students (N = 325) aged 17-25 completed the Cyber Peer Experiences Questionnaire, Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-Revised, and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale. Results: Two separate moderated regression analyses were conducted: the first examined CV and AS’s relationship with depressive symptoms as the outcome and the second examined social anxiety symptoms as the outcome. CV and AS explained 28% of the variance in depressive symptoms and 18% of the variance in social anxiety symptoms. The interaction between CV and AS significantly added to the amount of variance explained for depressive symptoms (R2Δ = .01, F[1, 326] = 4.21, p = .04), but not for social anxiety symptoms (R2Δ = .00, F[1, 321] = .61, p = .44). Discussion: As hypothesized, AS problem solving was found to be a significant moderator in the relationship between CV and depression; however, AS was not found to be a significant moderator in the relationship between CV and social anxiety. As such, it is suggested that people who are victimized online and have an avoidant problem solving style may have an increase in depressive symptoms, but not symptoms of social anxiety. These findings help characterize the nuanced relationships between SPS style, CV, and internalized distress and highlights the need for further investigation.
0742. What It Was And What I Know: Attempts at Family History
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Katherine Reardon Mentor(s): Gregory Howard
Abstract: Family stories and family histories are contingent on how they are remembered. As these stories are passed down, the ways that they are remembered can change, with the truthful aspects of these stories disappearing over time. As a result, many family stories are not necessarily truthful, but this does not discount their value. The aim of this project is to explore these ideas while also answering the following question: to what extent are family stories bound by the ‘truth’? In order to answer this question, I have explored my own family stories that I know may not be true and have told them how I remember them; ultimately telling stories that are a bit different than how other members of my family might remember them. I have done so by creating a work of creative nonfiction that is composed of small stories and vignettes that all tie into these overarching themes and attempt to answer this larger question. In doing this work, I have also explored how these stories affect me and how I fit into them; ultimately finding that it is not the truth in these stories that matters, but how we feel about them.
0744. Talking with Children About COVID-19: A Content Analysis of National Media Coverage
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Colby Kreider, Natalie Coleman, Isabel Larsen, Gabriella Miller Mentor(s): Sandra L Caron
Abstract: This research project focused on how the news media has covered the topic of talking to children about COVID-19. A number of important professional organizations have released guidance for parents. We were interested in examining the extent to which news outlets have covered this guidance and what focus there has been in the news media. Our research questions included: What has the news media coverage been in terms of the importance of parents talking with their children about COVID-19? and What have the news articles focused on when discussing parents talking with their children about the pandemic? We identified 75 articles appearing in the top US news sources in the first six months of the pandemic. Seven major themes emerged. Findings and implications will be discussed.
0745. Investigating Emptiness in Buddhism and Daoism
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Aubree Nygaard Mentor(s): Hao Hong
Abstract: This project focuses on the concept of emptiness in both Buddhism and Daoism. In particular, we look at emptiness in Buddhism as described by the Indian philosopher, Nāgārjuna, who is widely considered to be one of the most important Buddhist philosophers. In Buddhism, emptiness, or śūnyatā, refers not to non-existence, but absence. Specifically, the absence of svabhāva, usually translated as “inherent existence” or “intrinsic existence”. For something to exist with svabhāva means that it exists independently of anything else that exists. Nāgārjuna details contradictions that arise if one believes in svabhāva. This relates to the idea of dependent origination in Buddhism, that all things come to exist dependently and a thing’s existence is determined by its relations to other things. Emptiness is also a central concept in Daoism. In Daoism, the concept refers to a state of quiet and simplicity that is attributed to both the nature of the Dao and a living style in accordance with the Dao. The Dao is empty and is considered to be the source of all things. The importance of emptiness can be illustrated by the example of a clay pot: it is the empty space inside the pot that allows the pot to fulfill its function. This project analyzes the concept of emptiness in Buddhism and Daoism and explores the similarities and differences of the concept in these two traditions.
0746. Mediation of the Religion Prejudice Link
Undergraduate Presentation.
Author(s): Aaron Dustin, Sally B. Barker, Jordan P. LaBouff Mentor(s): Jordan LaBouff
Abstract: Although religious teachings typically recommend prosocial behavior, religiosity is reliably linked to prejudice. This paradoxical relationship raises the question: what is it about religion that might lead to prejudice despite religion’s apparent drive for prosociality? The answer may lie with religious fundamentalism, a particularly rigid way of holding one’s religious beliefs as the single deepest and most certain source of truth. We propose that religious fundamentalism mediates the relationship between religiosity and prejudice. We also propose that any relationship between religious fundamentalism and prejudice will be further mediated by three facets of inflexible thinking: belief rigidity, dualism, and inviolacy. We’re going to look specifically at prejudice against Muslims in a Christian sample for several reasons: 1) Christians see Muslims as a value-violating outgroup and previous research has linked Christian religious fundamentalism to anti-Muslim prejudice, 2) prejudice against Muslims in the U.S. is fairly common, and 3) anti-Muslim prejudice in the U.S. is not as stigmatized as many other forms of prejudice making it easier to measure directly. To test this mediation, we plan to use an online survey of an all-Christian sample (n=~232) collected at UMaine. Participants will complete measures of religiosity, prejudice against Muslims, religious fundamentalism, belief rigidity, dualism, and inviolacy. We expect that mediation analyses will show that religiosity is linked to prejudice through the mechanism of religious fundamentalism, and that religious fundamentalism is linked to prejudice through the mechanisms of belief rigidity, dualism, and inviolacy.