Previous research has shown an executive function advantage for bilingual populations, indicating that bilingual individuals possess higher working memory capacity than monolinguals.  Recent findings, however, have suggested that this advantage may be due to socioeconomic status (SES), because tested bilingual populations tended to also have higher SES. If bilingualism produces higher working memory, other cognitive functions that draw upon this capacity, spatial and multitasking abilities, might also be enhanced. The purpose of this study was to examine potential differences between bilingual and monolingual samples in working memory, spatial ability, and multitasking, controlling for variables related to SES. One hundred four undergraduate students participated in this study. During the first part of the study, information about participants’ socioeconomic status and language abilities was collected. Based on a language score derived from participants’ responses, participants were classified as either Monolingual (N = 46) or Bilingual (N = 58). Volunteers were then assigned to complete two working memory tasks (Reading and Symmetry Span), followed by the Perspective Taking/Spatial Orientation Test (PTSOT), measuring participants’ spatial awareness. The Multitasking Ability Test (MTAT) was then administered. Correlational analysis found bilingualism was not related to reading span, symmetry span, spatial ability, or multitasking. In contrast, income predicted multitasking ability (r =-.172) and reading span (r = .214). Income also predicted bilingualism (r = -.457) where lower incomes were associated with a higher degree of bilingualism. Other components of SES (education and professionalism) bore no relationship to cognitive measures. Spatial orientation predicted both measures of working memory, and the two span measures were associated. These results results suggest that an underlying third variable, SES, is responsible for previously found bilingual advantages. A particular component of SES, income, is the factor that predicts working memory. Lower levels of income could lead to impoverished environments, poor nutrition, or a lack of stimulation; resulting in lower working memory capacity. These findings also suggest that bilingual populations are different from one another; previous samples had higher SES levels while our sample had lower SES levels. Future studies should further explore demographic information to clarify the effects of bilingualism, income, education, and professionalism.

Poster Presentation

Session 1

9:15am – 10:30am
Grand Salon

Psychology

Study in fear of artificial intelligence has found correlation with fear of loneliness, use of drones, and unemployment. The items seemed probing with “How afraid”, “replacing”, and “trusting” being used. However, a great portion (38.6%) of the participants claimed to be afraid of artificial intelligence. They also found that fear of autonomous robots and artificial intelligence was positively correlated with fear of loneliness (r(1480) = .25, p < .001). The first hypothesis is how the threat of artificial intelligence is impacted by loneliness and a manipulation of artificial intelligence. My second hypothesis is that loneliness will impact the threat of artificial intelligence. We are running a survey using Qualtrics and our participants will be recruited from CloudResearch which was formerly known as Amazon Turkprime. We have funds to collect 1000 to 1700 participants. Our current study will use the Loneliness-Deprivation Scale and an adapted Threats of Artificial Intelligence Scale (TAIS). The Interaction portion of the TAIS will be used in correlation with loneliness. The subsection surveys how threatening AI is in social aspects to the participant. They will take a survey that has been manipulated by my research team. The participants will be randomly assorted into three categories. The first group will receive no manipulation and will be used as a control group. The second group will be told that artificial intelligence has been used in helping create the first half of the survey, but was ultimately created by us (the researchers). The third group will be told that the entire first half of the survey was created completely by artificial intelligence. After the groups have completed the first half of the survey about demographics, personality, loneliness, job satisfaction, and financial worry they will receive a manipulation by us, telling them about the AI intervention in reference to group two and three. Artificial intelligence has not been used to create any of the survey and has been accepted by the IRB. I expect the participants in group three to have the highest AI threat levels and to be affected to a greater extent when scoring high on the loneliness scale.

Poster Presentation

Session 3

2:45pm – 4:00pm
Grand Salon

Psychology

The neurovisceral integration model highlights the intricate process of self regulation and dysregulation, which can be understood through a functional and structural network. Self-regulation involves not only emotion regulation but also attention regulation. Difficulty in self-regulating cognitions and behaviors leads to rumination and worry, which are often seen in various psychological disorders. Vagal tone is an indicator of autonomic nervous system regulation, which has been found to be related to attention and emotion regulation. A high vagal tone reflects parasympathetic nervous system activity and is linked to better attention, emotion regulation, and behavioral flexibility. Prior studies have found that breathing at a slow pace can increase vagal tone, resulting in higher heart rate variability and improved decision-making. Past studies have also shown that executive functioning of the prefrontal cortex and heart rate variability (HRV) are connected and that HRV is an indicator of vagal tone. This study aimed to look at the effects of a slow-paced breathing task on participants’ cognitive function and HRV and assess whether slow-paced breathing was beneficial. A slow-paced breathing technique was used to examine the effects of stress levels when completing the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), a measure of cognitive flexibility. Specifically, this study examined the effect of slow-paced breathing on state rumination and stress levels by looking at participants’ individual self-control, rumination and HRV scores. Participants were California State University Channel Islands undergraduate students. Physiological data was collected from 53 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control (nature video) or experimental (slow-paced breathing) condition. We hypothesized that slow-paced breathing would reduce state rumination in those with higher self-control scores and increase HRV in all participants. The results indicated slow paced breathing, self control, and rumination had no influence on HRV during the WCST. The current study found that higher self control was associated with lower scores on the brooding subscale.

Poster Presentation

Session 1

9:15am – 10:30am
Grand Salon

Psychology

The present study aimed to investigate how gendered traits and acculturation may be related to various parenting styles. In a previous study, their results showed that higher levels of acculturation in Chinese immigrant mothers was associated with less authoritarian parenting and more authoritative parenting (Vu et al., 2019). In another study, researchers found that emerging adults in Bulgaria prefer authoritative parenting and were highly likely to identify with a feminine gender-role orientation (Papazova & Gervanova, 2019). Given the results of the above studies, we decided to further explore the relationship between acculturation and gendered traits in the US. This study has implications for addressing the gap in literature about the possible relationship between parenting styles, acculturation, and gendered traits. In our study, each participants’ level of acculturation was measured via the PAN Acculturation scale (Soriano & Hough, 2000), parenting styles were assessed through the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (Robinson et al., 2001), and tendency towards certain gendered traits were measured using the Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974). Data for the present study were collected online, with participants recruited from social media websites, including Facebook, as well as through the local community. Surveys were open to parents of 2-17 year olds residing in California. The participants (84% women, 14% men) ranged from 21 to 56 years old (M = 38), including 48% White, 30% Hispanic, 4% Black, 8% Asian, 2% identified as another ethnicity, and 8% were multiethnic. Our results showed that there was a marginally significant positive relationship between authoritative parenting and acculturation (r [114] = .17, p = .06), while authoritarian  (r [116] = – .01, p = .90) and permissive parenting styles (r [109] = -.01, p = .95) were not significantly correlated with acculturation. Additional results revealed that feminine traits were negatively correlated with authoritarian parenting (r [118] = -.22, p = .02), positively correlated with authoritative parenting (r [112] = .44, p &lt; .01), and not significantly correlated with permissive parenting. Masculine traits were not significantly correlated with any parenting styles. Additional analyses will also examine the role of ethnicity in these relationships.

Poster Presentation

Session 1

9:15am – 10:30am
Grand Salon

Psychology

A better understanding of the potential impact religion and culture have on the stigma of Postpartum depression (PPD) and the relationship with attitudes toward seeking mental health services is essential because lack of maternal professional, social, or familial support is a predictor of PPD (Reid & Taylor, 2015).  Previous research has demonstrated significant ethnic disparities in health care, including in mental health care (SAMSHA, 2021). However, there is a gap in the research literature regarding the stigma of Postpartum Depression (PPD) by culture and religion and the relationship between seeking mental health support. In a recent study in India, more than half of the participants thought ghost possession, doing sin, or black magic caused PPD (Poreddi et al., 2020) – further highlighting the importance of assessing cultural and religious variation in beliefs. The present study aims to examine how religion and culture relate to the stigma of postpartum depression (PPD) and its relationship with seeking mental health services. Participants included 43 men, 41 women, and 4 non-binary participants ranging from 19 to 72 years old (M = 36.39). Participant ethnicity included 69% White, 19% Hispanic/Latinx, 11% Asian, 11% Black/African American, and 4% Native American or Other. Participants were recruited online via Prolific and completed the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale-Revised (Brenner et al., 2021), Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Help Scale (Fischer & Turner, 1970), and Mexican American Cultural Values Scale (Knight et al., 2010). Results demonstrated no significant relation between the stigma of PPD and religiosity (r = -.09, p = .42), Mexican (r = -.10, p = .33), or American cultural orientation (r = -.08, p = .45). Attitudes towards seeking help for mental health were negatively correlated with the stigma of PPD (r = -.42, p &lt; .001). Additional analyses will examine the religiosity of Mexican and American orientations moderate the relationship between the stigma of PPD and attitudes toward seeking mental health services.  Findings may help clinicians and educators better understand the perceptions of PPD, including how religious and cultural factors may relate to those perceptions and help improve awareness and reduce the stigma associated with PPD.

Poster Presentation

Session 1

9:15am – 10:30am
Grand Salon

Psychology