Posted June 28, 2024 — Researchers from the University of Houston College of Education will share their scholarship on autism, ADHD, depression and other important topics related to mental health and learning at the 2024 American Psychological Association Convention. 

The conference, taking place Aug. 8-10 in Seattle and virtually, will bring together thousands of scholars around the theme of “Community, Impact and Learning.” 

Presenters from the College of Education include faculty, students and alumni. 

Jacob Crocker, a student in the counseling psychology Ph.D. program, will present research with Professor Nathan Grant Smith about the impact of recent legislation in various states on the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals. 

“We found that more concern about anti-LGBTQ politics and living in a less supportive state were both related to more depression,” said Smith, who serves as the College’s associate dean for research. 

Another presenter, Christian Stewart, who earned a Ph.D. in school psychology in 2023, will present research on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in youth and college students. Specifically, he’s focused on the concept of positive illusory bias, or the tendency for individuals with ADHD “to overestimate their abilities compared to reality,” he said.  

“PIB can actually lessen the negative impacts of ADHD symptoms on university students, even for those without a diagnosis,” Stewart said. 

In addition, research from Assistant Professor Allison Master and Shaila Sharmin, a Ph.D. student in the measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences program, focuses on increasing diversity in STEM fields. Their study examined images from primary school students who participated in the “Draw a Scientist” Test.

“Findings of this study suggest that children’s stereotypes of scientists as ‘smart men in lab coats’ may have changed in recent years,” Master said. “Development of intervention programs informed from the findings will help to boost students’ identification with STEM fields and enable next-generation innovations.”

Explore the list of all APA presentations and meetings featuring UH College of Education members. 

Note that times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). 

Thursday, August 8, 2024

• Pandemic Learning Loss in Math among Texas Students with Disabilities
  2 - 2:50 p.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Authors: Kai Yagi, Michael Matta and Milena Keller-Margulis

• Remote Assessment: Factors Influencing Behavior Coding Consensus for Elementary Students with Autism
  2 - 2:50 p.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Author: Milena Keller-Margulis

Friday, August 9, 2024

• Defining and Measuring Positive Illusory Bias in ADHD: A Scoping Review
  10 – 10:50 a.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Authors: Christian Stewart, Anna Laakman, Allison Master, Kristen Hassett and Brad Smith
• Beyond the Bills: Exploring Political-Related Affect and Depression in LGBTQ+ Individuals
  12 – 12:50 p.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Authors: Jacob Crocker, Zongqi Li, Tarik Goulbourne, Erica Rey and Nathan Grant Smith

Saturday, August 10, 2024

• Children’s conceptions of scientists as similar to them: New “Draw A Scientist” Test findings
  11 – 11:50 a.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Authors: Shaila Sharmin and Allison Master
• Measuring Parental Engagement During Remote Curriculum-Based Measurement with Autistic Students
  11 – 11:50 a.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Author: Milena Keller-Margulis
• The Role of Latino Teacher Warmth in relation to Language Development in Rural Latino Preschoolers
  11 – 11:50 a.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Authors: Mayson Spillman, Mahnoor Ahmad and Jorge Gonzalez
• Positive Illusory Bias, Impairment, and Mental Health in University Students With and Without ADHD
  3 – 3:50 p.m., Hall 4AB Seattle Convention Center - Arch at 705 Pike, Level 4
  Authors: Christian Stewart, Allison Master, Kristen Hassett and Brad Smith

Saturday, August 10, 2024: Virtual Only Sessions

• Minority Status Stress, Social Support, and Psychological Distress: A Moderation Model
  9 – 10 p.m., Virtual Poster Session
  Authors: Consuelo Arbona, Luiza Martins, Emily Naveira, Norma Olvera, Weihua Fan and Marcel de Dios
• Depression and Anxiety Among Trauma-Exposed Latinx College Students
  9 – 10 p.m., Virtual Poster Session
  Authors: Yesenia Zetino, Margit Wiesner, Norma Olvera and Consuelo Arbona

— Compiled by Kathy Patnaude