PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE.

Chair: Pamela Banks, University of Mississippi Medical Center 

THURSDAY MORNING

Caprice Room

9:45 Joint Divisional Business Meeting with Social Sciences

10:15 MISTRUST AND DISINTEREST BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS

Shawn L. Clark, Jerome Burt, and Billy A. Barrios [*], University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

In the eyes of many of this nation and the world, Mississippi continues to be seen as the worst place on earth with regards to just and harmonious relations between the races. Numerous commentaries have been written tracing the long history of White oppression of Blacks in the state. And yet, there have been few empirical investigations into the nature of Black-White relations in the state. The present paper reports the two most recent investigations in our ongoing program of research on Black-White relations at the University of Mississippi. Study I examined the fundamental soundness of a self-report measure of "mistrust of Whites" among Black male students. Strong support was obtained for an empirically-derived four factor solution, with each of the factor scores found to be highly reliable, moderately related to one another, and correspondingly related to other relevant individual difference and situational variables. Study II examined the fundamental soundness of an unobtrusive, observational procedure f or the assessment of "receptivity to Blacks" among White male students. The procedure consisted of surreptitious recording of participants in a waiting room situation with either a Black male confederate or a White male confederate, with these four-minute interactions being coded by raters for eye contact, interpersonal distance, openness of body posture, positive affect, and engaging verbal responses. High interrater reliability estimates were obtained for the behavioral measures along with high interrelationships among the measures. With respect to differential responding between the two waiting room situations, our White male subjects displayed more eye contact, greater levels of conversation, more positive affect, and greater openness of body posture towards the White confederate than they did towards the Black confederate. Together, the two studies offer support for the soundness and the promise of the constructs of mistrust and receptivity in investigating and understanding race relations at the Univers ity of Mississippi.

10:30 EFFECTS OF AGE AND CONSPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS ON SCENT-MARKING BEHAVIOR IN THE BUSHBABY

S. Watson [*], D. Spires, T. White, N. Pearce, and S. Turner, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217

The small-eared bushbaby (Otolemur garnettii) is a nocturnal prosimian primate. Like many nocturnal mammals, their social systems are highly dependent on olfactory cues. Thus, scent-marking is a primary means of communication. Scent-marking serves a variety of adaptive functions and may vary in response to different environmental stimuli. Two forms of scentmarking (urine-washing, ano-genital marking) have been associated with reproductive activities whereas two others (foot marking, chest marking) have been described as displacement behaviors associated with novel environments. We examined these scent-marking behaviors in four sexually mature and four immature male bushbabies. The subjects were exposed to an open field environment that had been previously unoccupied (BASELINE) or occupied by either another male (MALE), a sexually mature female (MF), or a sexually immature female (IF) conspecific. Mature bushbabies performed more foot marking in both BASELINE (p = .01) and MALE conditions (p[less than].001) t han immature bushbabies. Mature bushbabies also displayed more chest marking in the BASELINE condition (p=.008). Marking behavior of mature and immature bushbabies did not differ in the MF or IF conditions. Overall, subjects performed more displacement-type scent-marking than reproductive-type scent-marking (p = .04). These results suggest that the bushbabies may have been more responsive to the novelty/territoriality aspects of the open field environment than to the presence of cues from conspecifics. This research was supported by NSF grant #9874475.

10:45 ANGER AND RETENTION IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT

Carmenita Jiles [1][*], Robert M. Awalt [2], Michael S. Shopshire [2], and Patrick M. Reilly [2], (1.) Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217 and (2.) San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143

Anger control problems have been correlated with substance abuse, relapse to substance abuse, and treatment retention. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of dysfunctional anger and the best predictor of treatment retention. The prevalence of anger and treatment retention was studied in 319 male substance abuse patients enrolled in treatment at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Tile Addiction Severity Index (ASI; McLellan, Luborsky, O'Brien, & Woody, 1980) measured substance use. The State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI; Spielberger, 1988) assessed dysfunctional levels of anger. It was hypothesized that many patients would report dysfunctional levels of anger and dysfunctional anger would be a strong predictor of treatment retention. Results showed that 45% of the sample (mean score = 27.31, SD 4.51) reported a score of 22 or above on the STAXI, indicating dysfunctional anger. Dysfunctional anger was not a strong predictor of treatment retention. Results of sur vival analysis showed that patients with greater ASI drug use scores stayed in treatment an average of 58 days (mean score = 26.7), while patients with lower ASI drug use scores stayed in treatment an average of 47 days (mean score = 4.56). ASI composite scores were found to be the best predictors of treatment retention. Determining anger prevalence and retention may improve treatment options.

11:00 THE EFFECTS OF CO-VICTIMIZATION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS' PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING 

Bryman E. Williams, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217

The prevalence of violence within African American communities and schools is causing some African American adolescents to experience deficits in their psychological well-being. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of co-victimization on three different groups (e.g., college students, rural adolescents, and institutionalized adolescents) of African American adolescents. Covictimization refers to the experience of directly observing the violent assault of another person, including incest, sexual abuse, sexual assault, aggravated physical assault, armed robbery arson, and murder The sample consisted of 238 adolescents (187 males, 141 females). The data were collected from freshmen attending southern university in Louisiana (n=80), a rural, predominantly African American high school (6th - 12th grade) in Louisiana (n=173), and a correctional facility (n=75). The Beck Depression Inventory, Piers-Harris Children's Self-Perception Scale, a co-victimization scale, and a demographic questionnaire wer e completed by each participant. It was hypothesized that African American adolescents who are co-victimized by violence will have low self-esteem and high levels of depression. The major findings were as follows: (1) there was a statistically significant correlation relationship between depression and co-victimization and (2) the relationship between self-esteem and co-victimization was not statistically significant. An analysis by group was also conducted. The findings were: (1) the institutionalized adolescents experience every level of violence assessed on the survey; (2) there was a statistically significant correlation between depression and co-victimization for the rural group, but not the institutional or college group; and (3) perception of neighborhood violence and co-victimization (p [less than].001) were correlated for all three groups. Gender differences on depression, covictimization, and self-esteem were not found. In sum, existing research indicates that adolescents' psychological well-being s uffer as a result of co-victimization. These findings have implications for behavioral interventions designed to instill and/or reinforce resiliency in adolescents.

11:15 Divisional Poster Session 

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN AN OUTPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC POPULATION

Cho Y. Lam [*], Phillip R. Godding, Dinesh Mittal, and Rafael A. Torres, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 32216 and and G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216

The Cognitive Capacity Screening Examination (CCSE) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to 76 psychiatric outpatients with 3 different types of diagnosis (i.e., cognitive disorders, non-depressive psychiatric disorders, and mood disorders). Results showed a significant association, after controlling for age, between cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms, r = -.48, p [less than].01. Participants who performed poorly-on a cognitive screening exam were more likely than those who performed well on the same test to report a severe level of depressive symptomatology. Participants were divided into three age categories: under 55 year old, 55 to 65 year old, and over 65 year old. This study found a significant difference in mean CCSE score among the three age groups, F = 118.43, p [less than].05. Participants in the highest age group (over 65 year old) were more likely than their younger counterparts to receive a low CCSE score and be diagnosed with cognitive disorders. Furthermore, a s ignificant difference in disorders prevalence was found among the three different age groups, [X.sup.2] 15.54, p [less than].01. Participants who were under 55 year old, 55 to 65 year old, and over 65 year old were most frequently diagnosed with non-depressive psychiatric disorders, mood disorders, and cognitive disorders respectively. These findings indicated that issues of comorbidity should be carefully considered when working with elderly patients in an outpatient psychiatric setting.

BODY SHAPE SATISFACTION AND GENERAL HEALTH

Leslie Sumberlin [*] and Katherine Kocel, Jackson State University, Jackson MS 39217

Health practices established during late adolescence have been linked to chronic diseases. Recent research suggests that appearance motivates health care in young people. Understanding the relationship between appearance concerns and health may enable better health care interventions. Gender and ethnic groups seem to differ with regard to body shape satisfaction and weight satisfaction. This investigation attempts to evaluate the relationship between satisfaction with body shape and weight and general health. Gender related differences in body shape and weight satisfaction have been reported in predominantly white populations, with females showing less satisfaction with body shape and weight. Black Americans report more body shape satisfaction and less concern with weight. A survey of health related beliefs of students at two major Mississippi Universities was completed. 245 of the participants were females and 203 were males. Mean age was 18.9. 242 were of European ancestry and 198 were of African ancestry. Blacks were significantly more satisfied with their body shape. There were no gender or ethnicity related differences in weight satisfaction. Body shape satisfaction was significantly related to high levels of general health. There was a significant interaction with black men reporting the highest levels of general health and black women the lowest. White men and women did not differ with regard to general health. It appears that there may be gender and ethnic differences in the association between appearance concerns and health.

NEUROLOGICAL IMPEDANCE PATTERNS: AN INVESTIGATION INTO A POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN THE NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS AND THE LATERAL HYPOTHALAMUS 

Veronica M. Osborne* and Stephen F. Bollinger, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217

In our laboratory, impedance patterns and frequencies of the nucleus accumbens have been similar to those of the lateral hypothalamus. Lateral hypothalamus has been associated with onset of hunger. The nucleus accumbens has been identified as an incentive site (Kalat, 1998). The purpose of this study was to examine the possible link between lateral hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens patterns and frequencies. It was hypothesized that lateral hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens would produce approximately the same amount of frequencies and have a similar pattern. Two sexually mature male albino Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with one platinum bipolar electrode in one of the selected sites. After ten days rats were tested in an experimental chamber for six minutes daily. During testing, impedance measurements were recorded for two minutes prior to the rat eating chocolate, two minutes while the rat ate chocolate, and two minutes after the rat ate chocolate. The results were recorded with a physiograph. Data were assessed by visual inspection and compared for variations in patterns- Our hypothesis that lateral hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens would produce approximately the same amount of frequencies was supported. However, our hypothesis that the pattern would be similar was not supported. The lateral hypothalamus pattern displayed a higher amplitude than the nucleus accumbens' pattern.

GENDER, RACIAL, AND FAMILIAL INFLUENCES ON EARLY ADOLESCENT PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

Lakeisha M. Bland [1][*], Oksana Malanchuk [2] , and Jacqueline Eccles [2], (1.) Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217 and (2.) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of problem behavior in a racially and economically diverse sample of young adolescents. Using data collected in the Prince George's County study, problem behavior in 1,032 eighth graders was examined. The research investigated differences in the occurrence of problem behavior by gender, ethnicity, family structure, and socio-economic status (SES). Additionally, the moderating effects of authoritative parenting and affective relationships on problem behavior were examined. Consistent with the literature, gender was found to be a predictor of problem behavior with males displaying more problem behavior than females (t = 6.57, p[less than].000). Contrary to the literature, family structure was not found to be predictive of problem behavior for males. Neither race nor SES was found to be a predictor of problem behavior. Finally, in families with either an authoritative parenting style or high parent-adolescent affective relationships, adolescents reported f ewer behavior problems. overall the best predictor of problem behavior was previous problem behavior. These results suggest that problem behavior in adolescence may be minimized by early intervention. Additionally, research focusing on pre-adolescent risk factors may reveal preventive child-rearing strategies.