Colonial mentality describes how oppressed groups internalize the colonial narratives that have dehumanized them and made them subject to extreme physical, economic, and psychological violence rooted in racism and White supremacy. Beyond lacerating individuals’ identities, colonial mentality could also function as a mechanism to create intragroup conflicts. This exploratory study investigated how colonial mentality manifests through fragmentation and horizontal oppression among 13 Puerto Rican adults living in the United States. To do this, I examined the differences between their perception of the self and their perceptions of other Puerto Ricans. A thematic analysis yielded three themes: (a) fragmentation, (b) horizontal oppression, and (c) cognitive dissonance. Each theme had several subthemes portraying participants’ perceived differences in what makes an exemplary Puerto Rican juxtaposed with undesirable portrayals of being Puerto Rican. Results also portrayed how colonial mentality’s insidiousness is associated with ruptures, antagonization, and reproduction of oppression at the intragroup level. Within the last theme, however, participants’ language and narratives conveyed resistance to colonial mentality and an oasis for hope when battling coloniality at the interpersonal and relational levels. Findings from this study help expand the understanding of how colonial trauma also has significant effects on Puerto Ricans’ intragroup dynamics.

Among Latinxs living in the United States (U.S.), AfroLatinx individuals are more susceptible to dying from COVID-19 because of pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension (Chapman, 2020). These health disparities, in turn, have been associated with economic inequalities AfroLatinx communities face in the U.S. due to discrimination and racism (Weinstein et al., 2017). Scholars have called attention to the need to focus on AfroLatinx populations, given the systematic denial of AfroLatinx experiences in the psychological literature (Sanchez, 2021) and the systemic and institutional barriers AfroLatinx face when seeking physical and mental health support (Borrell, 2005). Using Borrell's (2005) framework for studying the determinants of health disparities affecting AfroLatinxs, in Study 1, I examined the association between individual characteristics (e.g., socioeconomic indicators), psychosocial factors (e.g., economic distress), and contextual factors (e.g., discrimination) reported by AfroLatinx adults and emotional and physical health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an expansion of Borrell's model, I also examined whether having a pre-existing condition can help explain mental health distress above and beyond other determinants of health disparity. Study 2 built on the first study by helping identify the specific areas of stress and needs identified by AfroLatinxs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second aim of Study 2 was to determine the more frequent and effective strategies AfroLatinxs with pre-existing conditions used to cope with COVID-19-related stressors and needs.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in aspects of executive functioning such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). These challenges may impact learning and information retrieval, leading to variations in academic, vocational, and social skill development (APA, 2022). Precise assessment of these skills is crucial for understanding the diverse cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges associated with an ADHD diagnosis. Despite a global prevalence rate between 5-10%, no standardized assessment method has been established (Neprily et al., 2023). The development of digital tools like the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NTCB) and Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) offer enhanced accessibility and efficacy in early detection (Greenberg et al., 2007; Weintraub et al., 2013).The study evaluates select NTCB measures of executive functioning, assessing their convergent and discriminant validity alongside established neuropsychological tests. It also investigates whether the T.O.V.A. and NTCB can identify unique cognitive profiles in an ADHD sample, further evaluating sex- and age-based profile differences. Correlation analyses using SPSS (Version 28) revealed strong convergent and discriminant validity of the NTCB Flanker, Dimensional Change Card Sort, and Pattern Comparison tests, with variable discriminant validity on the List Sorting test. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct profiles using NTCB and T.O.V.A. tests within a sample of 213 participants between the ages of 5 and 26 years diagnosed with ADHD. Analyses were performed using MPlus8 statistical software, with missing data being accounted for by using full information likelihood estimation (FIML). Model selections were based on the number of fit indices and criteria (Nylund et al., 2013). By adjusting unique combinations of subtests and scores from both measures, 2 to 3 distinct profiles emerged within the data, underscoring the heterogeneity and complexity of this clinical population. The data did not support sex-based performance differences; however, older cohorts demonstrated stronger NTCB working memory and processing speed performances. The results highlight the versatility of the NTCB and T.O.V.A. in identifying unique neurocognitive profiles. Future research should explore their efficacy in diagnosing ADHD within diverse medical and psychiatric cohorts, aligning with emerging neuronal circuit theories.

White women are and have historically been an integral part of White supremacy. Yet their role in the movement remains understudied, especially as it pertains to deradicalization. As such, in the current investigation I focused on women’s roles and experiences in White supremacist deradicalization. My dissertation comprised two studies: Study One, which explored the experiences of women who left White supremacist groups and became anti-hate activists, and Study Two, which sought to understand the experiences of women who facilitated the disengagement and deradicalization of White supremacists. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) as a methodological framework, I identified significant themes from the experiences of women who left their hate groups and became anti-hate activists, as well as from the experiences of women who facilitated hate group exit. I found that for women who left their hate groups and became anti-hate activists, hate group exit was a gendered experience, psychological transformations were common, and loving and supportive connections facilitated the exit process. For women who facilitated hate group exit, they identified love and compassion as driving forces while also feeling emotionally burdened due to lack of external support. These findings can help guide the development of preventative and rehabilitative interventions as well as further integrate women into White supremacist prevention and deradicalization interventionist roles.

Black individuals and transgender and nonbinary (TNB) populations encounter daily microaggressions that negatively impact their mental health. Identity pride has been shown to moderate this association for Black and TNB populations separately. Unfortunately, research has not examined the impacts of simultaneously experiencing race-based and gender-based microaggressions in populations such as Black nonbinary individuals. Given this, there remains a significant gap in understanding the mental health impacts of racial and gender microaggressions and potential buffers for Black nonbinary individuals. The current study (N = 65) aimed to evaluate the association between intersectional microaggressions (IM) and depression and anxiety in Black nonbinary adults and the potential moderating effects of Black pride and nonbinary pride. A sample of Black nonbinary individuals was obtained from a larger longitudinal study with nonbinary adults. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were run to examine the association between intersectional microaggressions and mental health outcomes and the interactions of Black pride and nonbinary pride. Results showed that intersectional microaggressions did not significantly predict depression or anxiety. Neither Black nor nonbinary pride were significant moderators of the association between IM and depression. For anxiety, results showed that Black pride was a significant moderator, such that those with higher levels of Black pride showed a stronger association between IM and anxiety. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of Black pride on anxiety and identify additional protective factors outside of pride for Black nonbinary individuals.

Multiple psychological frameworks have been developed to conceptualize how people internalize colonial logics about their cultural identity and culture, and how these logics in turn influence their psychological wellbeing. The extant literature has also offered various empirically supported frameworks to understand the role colonialism may have on the cultural identity and psychological wellbeing of Puerto Ricans, a community still enduring colonial oppression. This study analyzes cultural control as a mechanism of internalized colonialism, or more specifically, what messages Puerto Ricans internalize about their culture. The current qualitative research involved individual phone interviews with 12 self-identified Puerto Ricans living in Arizona and Florida. This study used qualitative thematic analysis of the transcripts, and hypothesized that Puerto Rican participants will internalize colonial logics. This study contributes to the foundational understanding of Puerto Ricans’ perception of culture, so a more complete framework can be utilized by clinicians who provide therapy to this unique and understudied population.

The current study examines responses of Latinx young adult’s (n=65) perceptions, as youth, of disruptions related to the divorce of their parents. To do this, a sample of Latinx young adults who experienced parental divorce during adolescence were asked to retrospectively assess their experiences surrounding their parents’ divorce and their adherence to Latinx cultural values, ethnic socialization, and ethnic identity. Findings indicated higher levels of parental divorce disruptions experienced by participants. Additionally, association between the perceived disruptions and adherence to Latinx cultural values varied across different domains of disruptions related to the divorce. Families also appeared to engage in ethnic socialization of the youth, as the divorce did not disrupt this process. Clinical implications encourage mental health professionals to provide culturally relevant care and opportunities for ethnic identity exploration for Latinx young adult clients who are from divorced households.

Latinx sexual minority adults experience diverse types of discrimination, including heterosexism and ethnic/racial discrimination, which may contribute to worse physical health. Yet little research has examined how intersectional forms of discrimination, for example, discrimination within another marginalized community contribute to physical health. Greater experiences of discrimination can lead to greater psychological distress which may then exacerbate physical symptoms. It was hypothesized that the association between intersecting forms of discrimination and physical symptom severity would be mediated by psychological distress. Participants (N = 369) identified as Latinx/Hispanic/Latino and as a sexual or gender minority. Data were collected via a self-report web-based survey. Using structural equation modeling, this study tested two theory-informed structure equation models (SEM) proposing pathways between perceived general and within-group discrimination (i.e., Model 1 = racism and racism within LGBTQ+ community; Model 2 = heterosexism and heterosexism within ethnic/racial community), psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression), and physical symptom severity. Both structural models demonstrated good fit to the data. As hypothesized, heterosexist discrimination (β = .184, p = .007) and racist discrimination (β = .284, p = .001) significantly predicted higher physical symptom severity in their respective models. Depression symptoms significantly mediated the association between ethnic/racial discrimination and physical symptom severity (β = .189, p = .003). Similarly, greater frequency of heterosexism within one’s ethnic/racial community was indirectly related with worse physical symptoms severity via depression (β = .200, p = .002). No other indirect effects were significant. Findings from this study support that Latinx sexual minority adults may be at risk for discrimination from outside and within their own minority groups which has detrimental effects on health. Noteworthy, depressive symptoms appeared to mediate the effects of heterosexism in one’s ethnic/racial group on physical symptoms. These results highlight how overlapping forms of stigma have differential effects on health via psychological distress. These findings have important clinical and scientific implications in understanding how overlapping forms of discrimination affect health among Latinx sexual minority adults.

The current study used a Solomon four-group, experimental design to investigate the influence racist hate speech has on college students' anxiety, affective state, and attentional functioning. This study also examined if racist hate speech has differential impacts between students of color (i.e. targets of racist hate speech) and White students (i.e., non-targets of racist hate speech). Participants included 591 undergraduate students predominantly from Arizona (n = 553, 93.57%). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups (i.e., pretest experimental, pretest control, posttest only experimental, and posttest only control). Participants assigned to the experimental condition read a vignette containing a classroom incident of racist hate speech, while participants assigned to the control condition read a vignette containing a classroom incident of speech remarking on a university’s football team. Repeated measures, within-between interaction analyses of variance as well as Spearman's bivariate correlations were conducted. Findings revealed that exposure to racist hate speech in a classroom setting can raise state anxiety for students of color and White students. Unexpectedly, exposure to racist hate speech reduced positive affect among White students, and previous experiences witnessing racist hate speech was associated with greater anxiety and attentional difficulty for White students; however, students of color did not experience changes in affective outcomes following exposure to racist hate speech, and previous experiences with racist hate speech were not associated with affective or attentional outcomes for students of color. The present study and future research on this topic can help to inform university policies and campus initiatives to support students impacted by racist discourse and create a more inclusive learning environment for all students.

The neurodiversity movement is a conceptual framework and sociopolitical movement that views neurological differences and disabilities as natural human variations that can form a central component of one’s identity. Despite the attention in disciplines outside of psychology and academia, there has been little attention paid to neurodiversity within counseling psychology. The present study consists of the development and initial validation of a quantitative scale to assess endorsement of a neurodiversity framework with respect to autism. Diverse samples of adults were utilized to conduct exploratory (N = 249) and confirmatory (N = 259) factor analyses, resulting in a three-factor model that demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. Additional analyses revealed that endorsement of the neurodiversity framework is positively correlated with activist engagement and self-esteem, and that endorsement of the neurodiversity framework is negatively correlated with negative attitudes toward people with disabilities. Autistic adults endorsed the neurodiversity framework to a greater extent than neurotypical adults. Implications for psychological research regarding neurodiversity and disability identity are discussed.