April 2001

The Psychology Newsletter

PSI CHI INITIATION

The Worcester State College chapter of Psi Chi, the national Psychology Honor Society, held its annual initiation banquet April 20 at the Leicester Country Club. The following students were inducted into the society:  

CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2001

 ON THE INSIDE

Much of this newsletter reports on faculty and student research. Psychology students are presenting projects at several conferences this spring. Fall and winter presentations were listed in earlier newsletters. We want to acknowledge their achievements and to encourage others for next year. Research publication or presentation is a major asset when applying to graduate schools.

Good luck everyone on finals!

 BUREAUCRACY, ETC

  If you plan to take a summer course in your major or minor field at another college, you should obtain an approval form from the Registrar and have it signed by your academic advisor or the department chair before the end of the spring term. Without prior approval, the course may not be credited to the major/minor requirements. Also, be sure to have the other college send a transcript to WSC.

FACULTY PUBLICATIONS

The Griffin Group, an on-campus student organization, honored 29 faculty at WSC for their recent publications. Three of the faculty were in Psychology: Dr. Lori Dawson, Dr. Chris Marco and Dr. Pearl Mosher-Ashley.

Recent publications by faculty and students:

Books

Harvey, C. P. & Allard, M.J. (in press).  Understanding and Managing Diversity:  Readings, Cases and Exercises, 2^nd ed.

Ostenson, R.S. (2000). Who’s in and who’s out:  The results of oppression. In J.Chrisler, C. Golden, & P. Rozee (Eds.), Lectures on the psychology of women, 2^nd ed. (pp. 16-25). Boston: McGraw-Hill.  

Professional Publications

Dawson, L. J., Chunis, M. L., Smith, D.M., and Carboni, A.A. (2001).  The role of academic discipline and gender in higher school teachers’ AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes.  Journal of School Health, 71, 3-8.

French*, E.M., and Mosher-Ashley, P.M. (2000). Factors affecting college students' attitudes toward residential care facilities. Educational Gerontology, 26, 583-603.

French*, E.M., Wiener, C.B., and Mosher-Ashley, P.M. (2000). Referral patterns of elderly persons to psychotherapy by primary care providers at a community health center. Clinical Gerontologist, 21, 65-71.

Kiernan**, H. W. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. (in press). Strategies to Expand a Pen Pal Program from Simple Letters into a Full Intergenerational Experience. Educational Gerontology.

McGuinn*, K.,  Mosher-Ashley, P. M. (2000) Participation in Recreational Activities: Perception of Life Satisfaction of Older Adults in Long -Term Care. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 25 (1), 77-86.

McGuinn*, K.,  Mosher-Ashley, P. M., & Ainlay, J. (2000) Experiential Education in Gerontology: Design and Process in Offering an Interdisciplinary Internship. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 20 (3), 73-85.

Mosher-Ashley, P. M., Henrikson*, N. & French, E. (2000). Managing the needs of the mentally ill in Massachusetts-based emergency shelters. Journal of Social Distress and the Homelessness, 9, 1-17.

Mosher-Ashley, P. M. & Lemay*, E. (in press). Suggestions to Improve Residents' Life Satisfaction. Nursing Homes.

Roberts*, R. and Pearl Mosher-Ashley (2000) Factors that influence students to choose a career working with elderly persons. Educational Gerontology, 26, 725-736.

Slowiaczek, L.M., McQueen, J.M., Soltano, E.G., & Lynch, M.B. (2000).  Phonological representations in prelexical speech processing:  Evidence from form-based priming.  Journal of Memory and Language, 43, 530-560. 

FACULTY RESEARCH

Annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, Monterey CA, March, 2001.

Marco, C. A., Schwartz, J. E., & Stone, A. A. Job characteristics and health-related quality of life.

Stroud, L. R., Schwartz, J. E., Niaura, R. S.,       Marco, C. A., & Pickering, T. G. Work vs. home settings but not children, influence men’s and women’s ambulatory blood pressure: The Worksite Blood Pressure Study.

2001 Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April, 2001.

Kanner, B. G., & Budwig,N. Age related changes and gender differences in types of  conflict and conflict resolution among preschoolers.

Kimball, R.  Creating a course on the psychology of men and masculinity. Paper presented. Poster  presentation.15^th Annual Conference on Undergraduate Teaching of Psychology, Ellenville, N.Y., March, 2001

 ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS

If you have not set up a Placement file (containing letters of recommendation and other pertinent information) at the Career Services Office (Student Center), you should do so immediately. They will keep this information on file for you, so  three years from now, even if your advisor has moved to Tibet, her letter of recommendation is still available.

Some of you have already been accepted to graduate school. If you were not accepted or did not apply, check the Graduate Openings List at www.apa.org/edu in May to find out which schools still have spots or consider starting next year on a part-time basis. Master’s programs usually accept two transfer courses and there is no better proof of your ability to succeed in grad work than success in graduate courses. When you are accepted to graduate school or get a job for next year please tell your advisor or the Dept. secretary, Mrs. King. We are proud of you and we want to keep track of your successes.  

FACULTY/STUDENT RESEARCH

Many graduate programs favor applicants with research experience. Many opportunities exist to do this type of work at WSC. In the following listings of presentations and publications names with one * are current WSC students and names with ** are recent WSC graduates whose papers were based on work done while at WSC. *** Student at the College of the Holy Cross.

 NATIONAL & REGIONAL CONFERENCES

Joint conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging, New Orleans, LA., March, 2001

Charbonneau*, D., Mosher-Ashley, P. M. & Stanford-Pollock, M. Comparison of age and gender in perceptions of successful aging. Poster presentation.  

Cote**, N. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. Linking long-term care residents with elementary students via a pen pal Program. Paper presented as part of a Program Exchange.

Kiernan**, H. W. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. Strategies to expand a pen pal program from simple letters into a full intergenerational experience. Paper presented as part of a Program Exchange

McIver**, A., Williams**, J. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. Encouraging college students to actively participate in the American Society on Aging Conference. Round Table Discussion.

Noone***, M. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M.  Providing a stimulating environment for the mentally ill elderly: A profile of SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation for Worcester. Paper presented as part of a Program Exchange  

Wright*, V. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. (2001, March). Factors influencing the life satisfaction of residents in nursing homes. Poster presentation

72^nd Annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., April, 2001

Chunis*, M. L., Gaston, D.W., and Dawson, L. J.  Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse experiences among homeless women: Correlates and consequences.  Paper presentation

Lemley**, P. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. College students’ perceptions of potential disabilities in later life. Poster presentation

Martone**, M., Lamarche**, K., & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. Interpersonal relationships among residents in long-term care facilities. Poster presentation.

71^st annual meeting of Eastern Psychological Association, Baltimore, MD., April, 2000  

Chunis*, M.L., Smith, D.M., Dawson, L.J., and Carboni, A.A..  High schools teachers’ HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes.  Paper presented  

STATE AND LOCAL PRESENTATIONS

5^th annual conference on Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, Creative, and Public Service Activities sponsored by the Massachusetts Public System of Higher Education, Boston, April, 2001.

Fenner**, S. & Ellis**, L. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. Assessing elderly clients’ satisfaction with initial agency contact. Poster submitted

Kelly**, L. (Faculty Sponsor: Pearl M. Mosher-Ashley). The relationship between locus of control and academic achievement. Poster submitted

Mount Holyoke College Undergraduate Conference in Psychology, South Hadley, MA, May, 2001.

Harris**, J. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. Factors influencing the fear of aging. Poster submitted

Lewandowski,**T., Kanner, B., & Mishra, G. Cultural differences in college students’  expectations for marriage in India and the United States. Poster submitted

Lewandowski**, T., Murphy**, K., & Mosher-Ashley. Employment patterns of alumni of an undergraduate gerontology certificate program. Poster submitted

Miller**, J. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. a comparison between assisted living facilities and nursing homes on participation in activities. Poster submitted

Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Conference May, 2001

Robertson**, S. & Mosher-Ashley, P. M. The Alzheimer's Center at Quabbin Valley Healthcare: a working design model for dementia care. Paper submitted.

STUDENT SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY IN PROGRESS

Bray**, J. & Marco, C.A. Relationship between socioeconomic status, optimism, and health.

Finck**, S. & Marco, C.A. Short-term effects of exercise on mood.

Lewandowski**, T. & Marco, C.A. Mindfulness meditation in college students.

Marco, C.A., McIver**, A., Lemley*, P. & Ouimette**, C. Role conflict and academic performance in traditional and non-traditional college students.

Marco, C.A., McIver**, A., Lemley*, P. & Ouimette**, C. Stress and health in traditional and non-traditional college students.

Miller**, J. & Marco, C.A. Religiousness and spirituality: Is there a link to consummate love and marital satisfaction?

Rabidou**, J. & Marco, C.A. Daily experiences of flow and life satisfaction in college freshmen.

Sweares-Ferraro**, N. & Marco, C.A. Relationship between anger expression, depression, and headache symptoms.

HONORS Program Research in Progress

Kristina LaMarche.  Topic:  Men’s resistance to mental health treatment. Advisor: Dr. Richard Kimball

Tisia Lewandowski  Topic:  A cultural comparison of college students’expectations for marriage in India and the United States. Advisor: Dr. Bonnie Kanner

ESPECIALLY FOR JUNIORS

If you are interested in graduate school, the summer between your junior and senior and year is a critical time to explore your options and prepare to apply:  

• Send for program information and tentatively choose the schools you want;

• Check out financial aid sources; 

• Visit schools and try to meet some faculty;

• Study preparation materials for the GRE; 

• Begin to draft your resume and assemble a portfolio;  

• Do volunteer work if you have no relevant job or internship experience.  

• For more information pick up copies of the grad school preparation materials in the Psychology Office.

Do you have news about a WSC graduate in Psychology? Please let us know. Send an email message to pmosherashley@worcester.edu  

JOBS

A sample of jobs recently advertised in Central Massachusetts and be appropriate for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology:  

Wilderness counselor – energetic counselor to work with at-risk youth at college prep boarding school
Counselor in transition housing program.
Vocational rehabilitation counselor – employment counseling, job development and community assessment with clients with disabilities
Assistant Day health program manager for therapeutic recreation program for elders
Residential counselor – group home for emotionally disturbed adolescents
HIV prevention & education outreach worker – organize events, do group and individual education, street outreach to at-risk populations
Social worker - supervise foster homes for emotionally disturbed youths
Case manager – day care placement and support for at-risk families
Care management – develop and monitor service plans with elders.
Family life educator - work with residents of homeless shelter
Rape crisis counselor.
Behavior interventionist – work with emotionally disturbed students in private school.
Projects coordinator/grant writer in rural community health center.
Case manager/advocate for homeless.

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