b'Psychology, Counseling, and Family TherapyUsing Self-Determination Theory to Understand Academic Motivation and Resilience in Adult Children of DivorceJigzy U. Nwanegbo, Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family TherapyFaculty Sponsor: Dr. Meagan Arrastia-Chisholm, Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family TherapyIn 2016, the U. S. Census Bureau (2016) identified 6.3 million children living with a divorced parent, a sharp rise from 1.1 million children in 2004. Research reports divorce is linked to negative academic outcomes in children, part of a process known as adverse childhood experience which can extend into adulthood and to those currently attending college. This study explored academic motivation and resilience of seven adult college students from divorced families within a framework of self-determination theory of motivation. Interviews examined internal strivings and external forces with regard to persistence in completing a college degree. Processes of interest focused on the extent individuals reported needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2000; Thomas & Woodside, 2011). However, participants varied in terms of their internalized and externalized processes, as well as their academic experience. Implications of this variability will be discussed.A Look into Math AnxietyAmanda Carter, Dillon Jones, and Tionna Cooper, Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Blaine L. Browne, Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family TherapyMath is one of the most anxiety inducing subjects that a child will face in school any approaches have been presented to help children conquer their math anxiety, but few have provided significant results. To further understand math anxiety, we will be analyzing potential research in the past, present, and future context. For the past, previous research has investigated the effects of motivation on math anxiety. The present will address current states of the topic. The future will encompass different paths that the topic can take and how it affects others in different ways.74'