Psychology Department
For more information related to the department, please contact Tomanika Taylor, 310-243-3427, totaylor@csudh.edu
Faculty Research Projects
The Neuropsychology Laboratory
Welcome to the Neuropsychology Laboratory! Below you will find a list of ongoing and completed projects as well as those currently in development. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Wilson’s research has focused on the effects of HIV on neurocognitive functioning, drug and alcohol abuse in HIV, and the study of neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric predictors of antiretroviral medication adherence. Currently, her research examines ethnic disparities in HIV/AIDS, with a focus on HIV-associated resilience. Other areas of research include: psychological and neurocognitive functioning in college students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and psychosocial functioning in children with developmental disorders. Neuropsychology Lab Coordinator
Chaka has co-authored two published manuscripts, had three first place presentations in the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences at Student Research Day at CSUDH and been selected for three consecutive years as Outstanding Psychology Graduate Student of the Year. She is passionate about research that seeks to ameliorate the lives of minorities and underrepresented populations by illuminating specific barriers and coping strategies associated with positive psychosocial and biological health outcomes in an effort to develop culturally relevant prevention and intervention modalities. Chaka shares her intellectual enthusiasm with other students by assisting them with their research projects and motivating them to strive for academic excellence. SCORE Project Coordinator Delashawn Kemp Newly Funded Project Abstract As HIV/AIDS is reconcepualized as a chronic condition, there is an increased need for knowledge of factors contributing to the long term adjustment and successful coping among HIV+ persons in order to develop new interventions with the potential to maximize mental and physical health and well being. In addition, despite the changing demographics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the high prevalence of HIV infection in African Americans, there is a paucity of research investigating ethnic disparities as it relates to health outcome. An objective of the proposed study is to explore neurocognitive and psychosocial factors contributing to the disparities seen in the health outcome of 190 HIV-infected adults. Multivariate analyses of variance will be used to first examine ethnic disparities with respect to health outcome, and a regression approach will be used to identify those factors that predict positive health outcome. Data obtained from the current study could result in a better understanding of HIV-related health issues. The results could also lead to the development of effective, culturally-appropriate interventions that would improve the health of individuals with HIV/AIDS and reduce financial burden due to health care costs. Other Ongoing Projects
Completed Projects
Student Presentations/Published Abstracts: Dodson, C. J., Gibson, J., Kemp, D. & Mason, K. I. (2011, August). Is Quality Better than Quantity? An Examination of Social Support and Medical Adherence among African American Men with HIV<. Poster session accepted for presentation at the American Psychological Association 119th Annual Convention, August 4-7, Washington, D.C.
Kemp, D. Wilson, K. Dodson, C.J. (2011, February). Spirituality and Religious Coping as a Protective Factor Against HIV Related Stress. Paper Session presentenced at Student Research Day California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA. Kemp, D. Wilson, K. Dodson, C.J. Meyers, H. (2011, April). Social Support as a Protective Factor Mason, K. I., Dodson, C., Kemp, D., & Myers, H. (2011, June). Gender differences in the factors associated with depression and anxiety in HIV+ adults. Paper session presented at the 10th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, June 1-4, Honolulu, Hawaii. Mason, K. I., Dodson, C., & Maalouf, H. (2010). Ethnic disparities in the factors associated with positive health outcome in HIV-infected adults. 9th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, June 3-6, Honolulu, Hawaii. Dodson, C. J. and Mason, K. I. (May 2010). Gender Differences in the Effects of Crack/Cocaine on Executive Functioning and Depression among HIV+ African Americans. Paper session presented at CHIPTS HIV Research: The Next Generation, Westwood, CA. Aufmann, S., Villarreal, B., & Mason, K. I. (2010). Comparison of ADHD Subtypes with Respect to Depression, Anxiety, Rejection and Self-concept. Poster presented at Student Research Day at California State University Dominguez Hills, February 18, Carson, CA. Villarreal, B. & Ruiz, P. (2010). The Relationship Between Risk Behavior, Sensation-seeking, and Daily Spiritual Experiences. Paper presented at Student Research Day at California State University Dominguez Hills, February 18, Carson, CA.
Dodson, C. (Faculty mentor- K. Mason) (2009, February). Does knowing someone with HIV/AIDS affect the attitudes and sexual behaviors of urban college students. Oral presentation presented at the 2008 Student Research Day at California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA. Dodson, C. & Mason, K. (2008). Executive function influences depression, anxiety and resiliency in HIV-infected men. Western Psychological Association Annual Meeting, April 10-13, Irvine, CA. Maury, T. & Mason, K. (2008). Social competence in children with a learning disorder and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Western Psychological Association Annual Meeting, April 10-13, Irvine, CA. Maalouf, H. & Mason, K. I. (2008). Ethnic disparities in the association between spirituality and resiliency in HIV-infected adults. American Psychological Association Annual Convention, August 14-17, Boston, MA. Becker, B. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2007, November). Using electronic diaries to investigate psychopathological problems that arise in a family setting. Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Dodson, C. (Faculty mentor – K. Mason) (2007, November). The impact of neurocognition on depression and resilience in HIV-positive men. Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Albertella, M., & Mason, K. I. (2007). Disturbances in Mood Contribute to Discrepancies between Subjective and Objective Measures of Executive Functioning in College Students with “Probable” Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. [abstract] Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13 (S1), 142. Albertella, M. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). Metacognition in college students with probable Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The ability for accurate self-assessment. Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Maalouf, H. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). The influence of social support on academic success among college students with “probable ADHD.” Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Okano, S. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). Academic performance and self-efficacy in individuals with “probable ADHD.” Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Proctor, K. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). ‘Probable ADHD’ and comorbid disorders of anxiety and depression in college students. Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Reynosa, A. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). Undiagnosed childhood AD/HD symptoms in college students with ‘probable’ AD/HD. Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Mason, K., Divinity, R., Hinkin, C., & Myers, H. (2006). Ethnicity Uniquely Contributes to Differences in the Neurocognitive Functioning of HIV-Infected Adults. American Psychological Association Annual Convention, August 10-13, New Orleans, LA. Mason, K. I., Bekele, A., Rodriguez, N., & Hinkin, C. (2005). Ethnic Disparities in the Health of HIV-Infected Adults: A Preliminary Study. Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, June 13-16, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii. Bekele, A., Rodriguez, N., & Mason, K. I. (2005). The Effects of Gender and Older Age on Mood in HIV/AIDS: A Preliminary Investigation. Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, June 13-16, Honolulu, Hawaii. Price, M. (Faculty mentor- K. Mason) (2005, November). Are there ethnic disparities in the neurocognitive and psychological functioning of those infected with HIV? Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA. Sample of Dr. Mason’s Publications: Foley. J., Ettenhofer, M., Wright. M. J., Siddiqi, I., Choi, M., Thames, A. D., Mason, K., Castellon, S., & Hinkin, C. H. (2010). Neurocognitive functioning in HIV-1-infection: Effects of cerebrovascular risk factors and age. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 24, 265-285. Barclay, T. R., Hinkin, C. H., Mason, K. I., Reinhard, M. J., Marion, S. D., Levine, A. J., & Castellon, S. A. (2007). Age-associated predictors of medication adherence in HIV-positive adults: Health beliefs, self-efficacy, and neurocognitive status. Health Psychology, 26(1), 40-49. Durvasula, R. S., Myers, H. F., Mason, K. I., & Hinkin, C. (2006). Relationship between alcohol use/abuse, HIV infection and neuropsychological performance in African American men. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 28(3), 383-404. Levine, A., Hinkin, C, Castellon, S., Mason, K., Lam, M., Robinet, M., Longshore, D., Newton, T., Myers, H., Durvasula, R., & Hardy, D. (2005). Variations in patterns of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) adherence. AIDS & Behavior, 9(3), 355-362. Hinkin, C. H., Hardy, D. J., Mason, K. I., Castellon, S. A., Durvasula, R. S., Lam, M. N., & Stefaniak, M. (2004). Medication adherence in HIV-infected adults: effect of patient age, cognitive status, and substance abuse. AIDS, 18, Suppl. 1, S19-25. Hinkin, C. H., Castellon, S. A., Durvasula, R. S., Hardy, D. J., Lam, M. N., Mason, K. I., Thrasher, D., Goetz, M. B., & Stefaniak, M. (2002). Medication adherence among HIV+ adults: effects of cognitive dysfunction and regimen complexity. Neurology, 59, 1944-1950. Evans, D. L., & Mason, K. I. (2002). Neuropsychiatric manifestations of HIV-1 infection and AIDS. In K. L. Davis, D. Charney, J. T. Coyle, & C. Nemeroff (Eds.), Neuropsychopharmacology - The Fifth Generation of Progress (pp. 1281-1299). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Hinkin, C. H., Hardy, D. J., Mason, K. I., Castellon, S. A., Lam, M. N., Stefaniak, M. & Zolnikov, B. (2002). Verbal and spatial working memory performance among HIV-infected adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 8, 1-7. Mason, K. I., Campbell, A., Hawkins, P., Madhere, S., Johnson & Takushi-Chinen, R. (1998). Neuropsychological functioning in HIV seropositive African American women with a history of drug use. Journal of the National Medical Association, 90 (11), 665-674. |
Karen I. Wilson, Ph.D.
Chaka J. Dodson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) in 2007 and will graduate with a Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology at CSUDH Spring 2011. Chaka’s research experience has focused on substance abuse, sexual risks behaviors, neurocognitive function and HIV. She served as a Research Assistant for four years at the Urban Community Research Center and the Neuropsychology Laboratory. She worked as Project Coordinator for thefirst year of Dr. Karen Mason’s Ethnic Disparities HIV Resilience Study and she is currently Coordinator of the Neuropsychology Laboratory.
is a Clinical Psychology graduate student here at California State University Dominguez Hills. She graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies from CSUDH in 2009. Delashawn grew up in the local community and has decided to focus her career and research working with minorities and people who live in the inner city. She has a passion for helping people who are facing difficult circumstances such as health issues, violence, and discrimination. Delashawn is currently working as the Research Project Coordinator for Dr. Karen Mason on an Ethnic Health Disparity Study. Her prior research includes CSUDH Women’s Health and Wellness Study in which she presented her work at CSUDH Student Research Day. She is currently working on her graduate thesis and preparing to present at the Western Psychological Association and American Psychological Association Conventions in 2011. Her current research examines psychosocial factors that help promote the health and wellbeing of those living with HIV.
This proposed project will examine: 1) psychosocial and neurocognitive issues associated with positive health outcome in those with HIV/AIDS and 2) ethnic disparities in the resilience and health status of HIV seropositive African American and White adults.
Gibson, J., Dodson, C. J., Wilson, S. & Mason, K. I. (2011, February). The Dual Aspects of Stress in Relation to Medical Adherence in HIV+ African Americans.Poster session presented at Student Research Day California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA.
Villarreal, B. (Faculty mentor- K. Mason) (2009, February). Sensation-seeking and high-risk sexual behavior among urban college students. Oral presentation presented at the 2008 Student Research Day at California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA.