Kevin Armstrong

Education

• B.A., Carleton College, 1982
• Ph.D., Illinois Institute of Technology, 1992

Research Interests

• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and externalizing disorders in teens/emerging adults
• Religious/Spiritual Factors in Mental Health and Professional Referral Practices
• Nonprescription stimulant use in teens/emerging adults
• Cross-referral practices between professional clergy and mental health practitioners

Administrative & Service Roles

• Graduate Coordinator (10/15 to present)
• Assistant Department Head & Graduate Coordinator (1/03 to 6/12)
• Member, Clinical Psychology Training Program Committee (9/97 to present)
• Chair, University Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (8/23 to present)
• Member, University Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (9/16 to 7/22)
• Member, Graduate Council (8/18 to 7/21, 8/22 to present)
• Member, Academic Review Committee (8/19 to present)
• Chair, Provost-appointed Grad School Task Force (9/19 to 5/21)
• Past member College (8/12 to 5/15) & University (8/02 to 5/05) Committees on Curricula & Courses

Teaching

• Graduate
  • Ethics & Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
  • Behavior Therapy
  • Supervision of Doctoral Students in the Psychology Clinic
• Undergraduate
  • Behavior Modification
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Other courses as needed

(Note: Student names bolded below)

Dissertations Chaired (since 2012)

Joanna Hachtel “Predictors and correlates of nonprescription stimulant use”  Proposed 09/16, Defended 07/17

Brittany Kinman “Using the Health Belief Model to identify factors that prevent non-prescription stimulant use”  Proposed 09/16  (Co-chair with Dr. Kristina B. Hood)

Morgan Dorr “Sleep and executive function as predictors of impairment from ADHD symptoms”  Defended 06/19

Kara Nayfa “Peer and parent approval/disapproval of illicit use of prescription stimulants”  Defended 06/21

Master’s Theses Chaired (since 2012)

Melanie Morse “Testing an experimental manipulation of social desirability and its impact on substance use self-report in late adolescents”  Defended 03/12

Hannah Morton “Current trends in researcher methodology regarding the Asperger’s Disorder diagnosis: Implications for the DSM-5 revision” (Co-chair with Dr. Jared Keeley)   Defended  04/12

Claire Kirk “Sex differences in how ADHD is sampled and studied in high-impact discipline representative journals”  Defended 05/12

Brittany Kinman “Perceptions on nonprescription stimulant use among college students: Sharing and selling behaviors”  Defended 12/14

Joanna Hachtel “Illicit use of ADHD stimulant medications: Gender differences in Perceptions of Risk”  Defended 08/15

Morgan Dorr “Impairment in adult ADHD”  Defended 01/18

Kara Nayfa “Racial (and gender) differences in risk/benefit perceptions of illicit use of prescription stimulants by college students” Defended 10/18

Justin Mendonca “Predicting the Frequency of Illicit Use of Prescription Stimulants” Defended 03/21

Professional Conference Presentations (since 2012)

Morse, M., & Armstrong, K. J. (2012, August). An experimental manipulation of social desirability on substance use self-report among adolescents. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Orlando.

Morton, H., Keeley, J., & Armstrong, K. J. (2012, August). Current trends in researcher methodology regarding the Asperger’s Disorder diagnosis. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Orlando.

Kirk, C., Hurdish, E., Roussin, L., Peterson, D., Ballard, E., Finnegan, A., Mauldin, E., Smith, M., & Armstrong, K. J. (2012, November). ADHD girls in high impact journal samples: Areas of improving and inadequate representation.  Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.

Timmons, T., Morton, H. E., Keeley, J. W., & Armstrong, K. J. (2012, November). Research assessment methodologies used for the ‘Asperger’s Disorder’ diagnosis.  Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.

Hurdish, E., Morton, H. E., Keeley, J. W., & Armstrong, K. J. (2012, November). Intellectual assessment methodologies used to describe the ‘Asperger’s Disorder’ diagnosis. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.

Morse, M., & Armstrong, K. J. (2012, November). Can a simple manipulation of social desirability change late adolescents’ attitudes towards substance use by peers?  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.

Morse, M. C., & Armstrong, K. J. (2013, August). Parental factors, social desirability, and perceived risk of marijuana use among adolescents. Poster presented at the 121st annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, HI.

Kinman, B., Murphy, D. P., Hachtel, J. C., Carney, E. E., Bates, K., Armstrong, K. J. (2014, March). Prescription sharing by roommates, not family, predicts stimulant medication diversion. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Nashville, TN.

Kinman, B., Hachtel, J. C., Bates, K., Carney, E. E., Murphy, D. P., Armstrong, K. J. (2014, March). Prevalence of sharing and selling of nonprescription stimulant medication. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Nashville, TN.

Hachtel, J. C., Kinman, B., Bates, K., Carney, E. E., Murphy, D. P., Armstrong, K. J. (2014, March). Stimulant medication misuse by honors students and Greek organization members. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Nashville, TN.

Hachtel, J. C., Kinman, B., Carney, E. E., Bates, K., Pagan, C., Whittle, J. L., Hood, K., & Armstrong, K. J. (2014, November). Nonprescription stimulant misuse on campuses - Not just a Greek male problem. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the   Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Kinman, B., Hachtel, J. C., Rieves, A. K., Hood, K., & Armstrong, K. J. (2014, November). College student use of prescribed and nonprescribed stimulants: Gender, appetite suppression, and body dissatisfaction. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Hachtel, J. C., Cain, T. D., Pagan, C. P., Power, A. K., McCain, O., & Armstrong, K. J. (2015, November). College student misuse of nonprescription stimulants, alcohol, and energy drinks by Greek status and ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive self-ratings. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.

Hachtel, J. C., & Armstrong, K. J. (2016, March). Illicit use of stimulant medications: Gender differences in risk perception. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Kinman, B., Hatchel, J., Messina, B. G., Armstrong, K. J. (chair), & Hood, K. B. (chair). (2016, March). Risk factors for non-prescription stimulant use. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Dorr, M. M., Hachtel, J. C., & Armstrong, K. J. (2016, November). Sensitivity and specificity of the ADHD assessor versus screener in a college sample. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York.

Hachtel, J. C., Dorr, M. M., & Armstrong, K. J. (2016, November. Disapproval of non-medical use of prescription stimulants linked to purpose and frequency. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York.

Hachtel, J. C., & Armstrong, K. J. (2017, March). Illicit use of prescription stimulants and aggressive and risky behaviors. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Atlanta, GA.

Dorr, M. M., Hachtel, J. C., & Armstrong, K. J. (2017, March). Evidence for self-medication of ADHD symptoms by students without prescriptions. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Atlanta, GA.

Nayfa, K., Hachtel, J. C., & Armstrong, K. J. (2017, March). African American college students’ nonprescription stimulant use and risk/benefit perceptions. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Atlanta, GA.

Dorr, M. M., & Armstrong, K. J. (2017, November). Risk and benefit perceptions for illicit use of prescription stimulants by upperclassmen vs. freshmen. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Diego.

Nayfa, K. L., Hachtel, J. C., & Armstrong, K. J. (2019, March). Racial/Gender differences in collegians’ risk-benefit perceptions of nonprescription stimulants. Presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association in Jacksonville, FL.

Nayfa, K. L., & Armstrong, K. J. (2019, November). Racial/ethnic differences in risk/benefit perceptions underlying illicit use of prescription stimulants. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Atlanta, GA.

Nayfa, K. L., & Armstrong, K. J. (2019, November). Illicit prescription stimulants and body image: Racial protective factors in college students. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Atlanta, GA.

Mendonca, J., & Armstrong, K. J. (2020, May). Illicit Use of Prescription Stimulants: An Unexpected Interaction between SES and Greek Affiliation. Accepted for presentation at the COVID-canceled annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.

Mendonca, J., & Armstrong, K. J. (2020, November). Illicit Use of Prescription Stimulants: ADHD Symptom Types Associated with Recreational/Academic Motivations. Accepted for presentation at the November 2020 54th annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Ellis, H. R., Mendonca, J., & Armstrong, K. J. (2021, March). Body Dissatisfaction and Appetite Suppression Beliefs Associated with College Female Stimulant Medication Consumption. Presented remotely at the 67th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Orlando, FL.

Mendonca, J., & Armstrong, K. J. (2021, November). Peer Disapproval as a Protective Factor Against Illicit Use of Prescription Stimulants Among Fraternity/Sorority Members. Presented remotely at the 55th annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New Orleans, LA.

Armstrong, K. J., Currier, J., Bisson, A., Smallwood, B, Tullos, N., Wheeler, L., Roller, A., & Paul, M. (2022, September). Cross-Referrals between Psychologists and Professional Clergy: Practical and Ethical Issues. To be presented at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Psychological Association, Hattiesburg, MS.

Publications

Kinman, B., Armstrong, K. J., & Hood, K. B. (2017). Perceptions of risks and benefits among nonprescription stimulant consumers, diverters, and non-users. Substance Use and Misuse, 52, 1256-1265.

Dorr, M. M., & Armstrong, K. J. (2019). Impairment, executive function, and symptoms: Understanding ADHD in emerging adulthood." Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(14), 1759-1765. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054718787883

Hachtel, J. C., & Armstrong, K. J.. (2019). Illicit use of prescription stimulants: Gender differences in perceptions of risk. Substance Use and Misuse, 10, 1654-1662.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2019.1608246

Nayfa, K. L., & Armstrong, K. J. (2020). Risk/benefit perceptions underlying lower African American students’ illicit stimulant use.  Addictive Behaviors, 100, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106118

===========================Older Work with Students=====================
Master’s Theses Chaired before 2012 at Mississippi State University

Heath Patterson "Perceived credibility of eyewitness testimony."  Defended 06/00.

Natalie Cowles   "Barriers to father involvement in mental health interventions for children." Defended 06/00.

Lindsay Myers    “A survey of published researchers: Which ADHD participant characteristics should be documented?”  Defended 07/02.

Jesse Hartley     “Review of documentation of ADHD diagnostic practices reported in a sample of high impact journals”  Defended 06/03.

Laura Dawkins   “An empirical review of researchers’ AD/HD diagnostic practices reported in high impact pediatric, psychology and psychopharmacological journals”  Defended 03/04.

Ji Hee Hong        “Documentation of AD/HD diagnostic practices in high impact Korean psychology and psychiatry journals”   Defended 06/05.

Shawanda (Gales) Holmes       “A survey of clinical practitioners:  Which ADHD participant characteristics should researchers document?   Defended 05/06.

Nichol Pritchard “Educational video impact on college student knowledge, opinions, and referral attitudes regarding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity”   Defended 07/08

Shane Davis       “Educational video impact on preservice teacher knowledge, opinions, and referral attitudes regarding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder”   Defended 06/08

Rebecca Roberts           “Review of diagnostic methods in the most cited articles for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder”   Defended 06/08

Lindsay Klyce    “Assessing parent-child agreement on an eating disorder symptom questionnaire”   Defended 10/08

Lindsey McKay  “Parental attributions for ADHD: Predicting treatment choices, treatment acceptability, and treatment satisfaction”    Defended 06/09