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How Does Psychopathology Impact The Trajectory From State To Trait Mindfulness?, Veronica O'Brien Jan 2025

How Does Psychopathology Impact The Trajectory From State To Trait Mindfulness?, Veronica O'Brien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has found that higher levels of trait mindfulness protect against psychopathology (e.g., Chiesa & Serretti, 2013; Desrosiers et al., 2013; Sevilla-Llewellyn-Jones et al., 2018); however, the research on state mindfulness and psychopathology is more mixed. These mixed findings suggest that some clients with higher levels of psychopathology may have greater difficulty engaging with mindfulness practice thereby hampering their progression towards trait mindfulness and its associated benefits. The present study sought to explore how psychopathology (i.e., anxiety, trauma, alcohol use, and depression) relates to the growth of state and trait mindfulness. The present study recruited 274 participants from a …


Perceived Credibility Of Allegations Of Sexual Assault Across Victim Race And Mental Health History, Liyah C. Morgan Jan 2025

Perceived Credibility Of Allegations Of Sexual Assault Across Victim Race And Mental Health History, Liyah C. Morgan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research examined the effect of victim gender and rape myth acceptance (RMA) on perceptions of victim credibility; however, little attention has been given to the impact of victim race and mental health history, and even fewer studies have explored the intersection of these two identities. The primary purpose of the current study was to identify factors affecting understanding of perceived credibility of victims of sexual assault, specifically in terms of victim race and mental health history. The study also examined the role of RMA on perceptions of credibility and explored participant attitudes related to color-blind racial attitudes and mental …


South Asian American Experiences Of Microaggressions And Wellbeing: The Moderating Role Of Social Support, Archita Birla Jan 2025

South Asian American Experiences Of Microaggressions And Wellbeing: The Moderating Role Of Social Support, Archita Birla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the South Asian American community is rapidly expanding in the United States (South Asian Americans Leading Together [SAALT], 2015), there remains a dearth of psychological research regarding the impacts on mental health and wellbeing affecting this diverse community. Racial microaggressions, or verbal or behavioral actions indicating hostile or negative attitudes toward marginalized individuals (Sue et al., 2007), negatively impact People of Color (POC) mental health and wellbeing (Forrest-Bank & Jenson, 2015a; Nadal, Wong, et al., 2015). Some research exists on South Asian American communities and microaggressions (Houshmand et al., 2014; Poolokasingham et al., 2014) but there is limited research …


Substance Misuse And Suicidal Behaviors In An Lgbtqia+ Sample: Examining The Buffering Effects Of Psychological Flexibility And Emotional Regulation, Mariano Ottone Jan 2025

Substance Misuse And Suicidal Behaviors In An Lgbtqia+ Sample: Examining The Buffering Effects Of Psychological Flexibility And Emotional Regulation, Mariano Ottone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicidal behaviors among LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly in the context of substance misuse, present a significant area of exploration for mental health research and intervention. It is particularly important to evaluate factors capable of moderating this relationship, to promote more culturally affirming prevention models. This study aimed to explore the moderating roles of emotion regulation (ER) and psychological flexibility in the relationship between substance misuse and suicidal behaviors within the LGBTQIA+ community. Data were collected from 537 LGBTQIA+ adults through an online survey platform. Participants were asked to self-report on measures assessing the constructs of interest. The analysis focused on understanding …


The Effects Of Light Cycle Disruption On The Reactive Oxygen Species Production In Zebrafish, Talia Sanders May 2024

The Effects Of Light Cycle Disruption On The Reactive Oxygen Species Production In Zebrafish, Talia Sanders

Honors College Theses

It has been proven that maintaining homeostasis is linked to regulation of circadian rhythms and the light cycles associated with them. Through investigation of zebrafish mitochondria subject to stress via unpredictable light cycle exposure, we previously studied the level of GSK3β protein as it relates to the health of the brain. The data has shown that when a brain undergoes stress, it results in the increased activation of GSK3β which leads to disruptions in circadian rhythm, inflammation, and cell death. Moreso, this overexpression results in reduced ATP production and lowered Complex 1 activity in the mitochondria. However, GSK3β activation is …


A Comprehensive Review Of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Processes To Produce Sustainable Diesel And Aviation Fuel, Joseph C. Steinagel May 2024

A Comprehensive Review Of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Processes To Produce Sustainable Diesel And Aviation Fuel, Joseph C. Steinagel

Honors College Theses

The greatest threat known to humankind today is global warming. It affects every nation on the planet and the natural order of all living things. Consequently, this ongoing crisis necessitates action to scientifically revolutionize important areas of society, including researching modern adaptations of the transportation industry. In that regard, it has been determined that an effective short-term answer to eliminating carbon emissions is to produce sustainable fuels that run cooperatively with the well-established machines of today. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one such topic of interest, and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process is an effective way of producing SAF. To that …


Navigating The Relationships Among Food Waste Practices, Environmental Intentions, And Sustainability Knowledge Of Students, Merri Claire Minshew May 2024

Navigating The Relationships Among Food Waste Practices, Environmental Intentions, And Sustainability Knowledge Of Students, Merri Claire Minshew

Honors College Theses

Colleges and university campuses are among the greatest food wasters in the US due to combined over production and plate waste from consumers. While some schools have developed programs aimed at reducing and sustainably managing food waste, much of it ends up in landfills and produces greenhouse gas emissions. The overall goal of the research was to collect a comprehensive data set on university students’ food waste practices and behavior, environmental and sustainability knowledge, and environmental intentions. For probing relationships among these drivers, a structural equation model and student survey was developed. The survey of 37 questions was collected on …


Brain Computer Interface-Based Drone Control Using Gyroscopic Data From Head Movements, Ikaia Cacha Melton May 2024

Brain Computer Interface-Based Drone Control Using Gyroscopic Data From Head Movements, Ikaia Cacha Melton

Honors College Theses

This research explores the potential of using gyroscopic data from a person’s head movement to control a DJI Tello quadcopter via a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). In this study, over 100 gyroscopic recordings capturing the X, Y and Z columns (formally known as GyroX, GyroY, GyroZ) between 4 volunteers with the Emotiv Epoc X headset were collected. The Emotiv Epoc X data captured (left, right, still, and forward) head movements of each participant associated with the DJI Tello quadcopter navigation. The data underwent thorough processing and analysis, revealing distinctive patterns in charts using Microsoft Excel. A Python condition algorithm was then …


A Nlp Approach To Automating The Generation Of Surveys For Market Research, Anav Chug May 2024

A Nlp Approach To Automating The Generation Of Surveys For Market Research, Anav Chug

Honors College Theses

Market Research is vital but includes activities that are often laborious and time consuming. Survey questionnaires are one possible output of the process and market researchers spend a lot of time manually developing questions for focus groups. The proposed research aims to develop a software prototype that utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP) to automate the process of generating survey questions for market research. The software uses a pre-trained Open AI language model to generate multiple choice survey questions based on a given product prompt, send it to a targeted email list, and also provides a real-time analysis of the responses …


Do Factors Contributing To Wrongful Conviction Differ By Crime Type?, Kaylee Baldwin May 2024

Do Factors Contributing To Wrongful Conviction Differ By Crime Type?, Kaylee Baldwin

Honors College Theses

Wrongful convictions play a big role in the criminal justice system, resulting in individuals being punished for crimes they did not commit. This study investigates the factors contributing to wrongful convictions across different crime types, utilizing data from the National Registry of Exonerations. The research aims to identify common contributors to wrongful convictions and explores variations by crime type. Results highlight the challenges associated with specific offenses. Understanding how factors vary by crime type is essential for developing strategies to prevent and address wrongful convictions.


Effect Of Waste Covid-19 Masks On Compaction Characteristics Of Silty-Clay Soil, Sydney K. Lawson May 2024

Effect Of Waste Covid-19 Masks On Compaction Characteristics Of Silty-Clay Soil, Sydney K. Lawson

Honors College Theses

The present study aims to explore the effect of adding shredded waste Covid-19 masks to silty-clay soil on the soil’s compaction characteristics for beneficial use in embankment, the subgrade of roadways, or backfill. This was accomplished by using two different types of masks: blue surgical masks and KN95 masks. Both mask types were hand shredded into half-inch sections using safety-scissors. The maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum moisture content (OMC) are the two most important compaction characteristics, and they were determined by the Standard Proctor Compaction Test (ASTM D698 / AASHTO T99). The change of both the MDD and OMC …


Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teamwork And Collaboration On Patient Care, Riana Square May 2024

Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teamwork And Collaboration On Patient Care, Riana Square

Honors College Theses

Teamwork and communication are two topics that a vast majority of nursing students are introduced to in their first semester of nursing school. Many nursing students have a desire to improve their communication skills and have a better understanding of the inner workings of interdisciplinary collaboration. A study across multiple cohorts of Georgia Southern Nursing students was conducted to explore their perceptions of the correlation between teamwork and patient care outcomes. This study also explores nursing students’ readiness to communicate with other healthcare professionals and the effectiveness of the means to practice these communication skills while in nursing school. It …


Effects Of Humorous Language In Social Media And Fandom Levels On Sport Consumers’ Merchandise Value Perceptions, Conner Martin May 2024

Effects Of Humorous Language In Social Media And Fandom Levels On Sport Consumers’ Merchandise Value Perceptions, Conner Martin

Honors College Theses

Licensed sports merchandise is a sports business sector that is projected to surpass $39.8 billion by 2027. This study examines the influence of humor in social media posts on consumers’ perceived valuations of licensed sport merchandise—specifically, apparel—with consideration to their team fandom. Guiding by Cue Utilization Theory (CUT), the research model assessed the extrinsic cues of team fandom and humor in shaping consumer perceptions, while controlling for product type (high-cost, low-cost), humorous caption (version 1, version 2), generation (Zoomers, Millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers), and gender (male, female, non-binary). Fans of South Georgia Tormenta FC, a professional soccer club, served …


Liberation Chronicles: Reformulating Black Liberation In The Face Of Persistent Oppression, Nia P. Gadson May 2024

Liberation Chronicles: Reformulating Black Liberation In The Face Of Persistent Oppression, Nia P. Gadson

Honors College Theses

Liberation movements for Black people have been prominent throughout American history. Chattel slavery and Jim Crow laws caused centuries of anti-black oppression. They continuously evolved into other anti-black structures – mass incarceration, predatory loan companies, and healthcare inequalities, to name a few – that require us to address these issues still today. The most recent Black liberation movement, Black Lives Matter, experienced a brief uptick in support after George Floyd’s murder but, overall, failed to address these issues. This thesis outlines three approaches to Black liberation in the U.S. to determine the most effective. First, drawing on Frederick Douglass’ autobiographies, …


Physical Activity Levels In First-Year University Students, Jerealya Cogdell May 2024

Physical Activity Levels In First-Year University Students, Jerealya Cogdell

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to see if physical activity (PA) is affected for students since transitioning from high school to their first semester in college. The study was conducted by asking questions pertaining to PA via an online survey through the platform Qualtrics. It will be administered to students at Georgia Southern University. However, only the data from freshmen students that meet specific criteria will be accounted for in this study. The data will be analyzed using Chi-squared to determine how PA is affected due to this transition. The data will compare the results from high school senior …


Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting To Improve Cardiometabolic Risk: A Comparative Analysis Of Muscle Strengthening Exercise And Treadmill Walking, Grace E. Anderson May 2024

Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting To Improve Cardiometabolic Risk: A Comparative Analysis Of Muscle Strengthening Exercise And Treadmill Walking, Grace E. Anderson

Honors College Theses

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of brief bouts of treadmill walking and bodyweight-based muscular strengthening exercises to mitigate the effects of sedentary behavior on blood pressure, blood glucose, cognitive performance, and perceived fatigue. Methods: Healthy young adults (n = 9) completed 3 experimental trials consisting of 4-hour sedentary periods. The trials consisted of an uninterrupted sedentary period (control), treadmill walking every 30 minutes for 5 minutes, and bodyweight-based muscular strengthening exercises every 30 minutes for 5 minutes. Blood glucose was measured at baseline and every 30 minutes thereafter. Blood pressure and fatigue were measured at baseline and every hour thereafter. …


The Controlled Narrative Of “Jane Roe:” Norma Mccorvey’S Life Beyond The 1973 Trial, Eleanor G. Strickland May 2024

The Controlled Narrative Of “Jane Roe:” Norma Mccorvey’S Life Beyond The 1973 Trial, Eleanor G. Strickland

Honors College Theses

Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade, 1973, wrote two memoirs twenty years after the Supreme Court trial that surrounded her third pregnancy. These memoirs (I Am Roe, 1994, and Won by Love, 1997), along with the recent documentary AKA Jane Roe (2020), provide an insight into McCorvey’s life and how she was used by politicians and civilians during and after the influential trial. McCorvey lived a complicated life and was constantly being pulled in different directions spiritually, politically, and personally. This thesis shows how McCorvey attempted to re-write the narrative of her life using …


Antimicrobial Activity Of Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides Felis) Gut Proteins On Different Days After Blood Feeding, Dhruva K. Karnik Apr 2024

Antimicrobial Activity Of Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides Felis) Gut Proteins On Different Days After Blood Feeding, Dhruva K. Karnik

Honors College Theses

Cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are a blood-feeding ectoparasitic insect and a common domestic pest found throughout the world. Because of their reliance on host blood, fleas are exposed to blood-borne pathogens; however, the flea gut lumen is a hostile environment for microbial colonization. For example, the gut epithelia differentially express immune genes in response to feeding. In the present study, we measured the antimicrobial activity of gut proteins from cat fleas at different days after feeding (2, 5, 7, and 14). Dissected flea guts were homogenized, passed through a syringe filter, and measured in a protein assay kit. …


Aerodynamic Design And Analysis Of A Modified 2006 Mazda Miata, William N. Recher Apr 2024

Aerodynamic Design And Analysis Of A Modified 2006 Mazda Miata, William N. Recher

Honors College Theses

Aerodynamic forces developed by automobiles have destabilizing effects at high speed. These forces tend to skew toward a vehicle’s rear which can present safety concerns, especially for rear-wheel-drive automobiles like the Mazda Miata. To address oversteer and high-speed instability, a vehicle’s design can be tailored to bring about aerodynamic balance and improve traction. LiDAR was used to bring the physical automobile into the digital space. Then, a splitter and diffuser were added to reduce the magnitude of the destabilizing forces. Next, the size and shape of the rear-wing required to balance the vehicle was calculated using a combination of parameters …


Examining Populist Political Parties In The Baltic States, Lilly Thompson Apr 2024

Examining Populist Political Parties In The Baltic States, Lilly Thompson

Honors College Theses

Globally, populist political parties and leaders have been making gains over the last decade. Many of these populist leaders have been using their power to erode democratic institutions and public trust. While the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have long distinguished themselves from the other post-communist countries of Eastern Europe, they are no exception to the populist trend. Under what conditions are populist political parties in the Baltic states successful? In this paper, I analyze the distinctive variables present that can explain the popularity of populism in all three states. I argue that there is a positive correlation …


The Representation Of Young Black Male Characters In 80s And 90s Sitcoms, Tavin M. Cochran Apr 2024

The Representation Of Young Black Male Characters In 80s And 90s Sitcoms, Tavin M. Cochran

Honors College Theses

Sitcoms are a great formulaic art form. Characters being in ridiculous situations in front of a live studio audience to emphasize the complexities of life is an exciting way of storytelling. When I was younger, I noticed that I would relate to the main characters as if their flaws were my own. I enjoyed doing it. When I began relating to side characters as well, I understood the different roles in sitcoms. You will have a main character and a side character to compliment them. Seeing another young black male on television made me feel represented. Many shows have given …


Parents' Experiences At A Mathematics Workshop Focused On K-2 Content, Abigail W. Wilkerson Apr 2024

Parents' Experiences At A Mathematics Workshop Focused On K-2 Content, Abigail W. Wilkerson

Honors College Theses

Parents’ beliefs towards math have been shown to impact their children’s academic achievement in the subject (Elliott & Bachman, 2018; Maloney et al., 2015). With the constant changing of math standards, the math taught in today’s schools may be different from the way parents were taught math. This change can lead to feelings of discomfort or nervousness when the subject is brought up. A parent workshop geared towards helping parents better understand the way math content is being taught can help them to feel more comfortable with math and more prepared to help their children. To help combat this issue, …


Paradisiacal Protection: Exploring Governance In Sustainable Spaces, Rylee Stanton Apr 2024

Paradisiacal Protection: Exploring Governance In Sustainable Spaces, Rylee Stanton

Honors College Theses

Biosphere reserves exist officially as “learning places for sustainable development,” yet they also embody an attempt to bring together ecological governance with market-based and localized solutions to the problem of economic development (UNESCO, 2020). This thesis investigates the conditions under which biosphere reserves became reimagined as an all-encompassing solution to such a diverse set of global governance challenges. I explore the relationship between biosphere reserves and the evolving discourse on sustainable development within global governance. Drawing on Foucault-inspired literature on governmentality and “technologies of governance,” I examine the practices, discourses, and subjects that have made biosphere reserves visible and governable …


Examination Of Greenhouse Conditions That Influence Scale Infestation Rates On Begonia, Madeline M. Cusick Apr 2024

Examination Of Greenhouse Conditions That Influence Scale Infestation Rates On Begonia, Madeline M. Cusick

Honors College Theses

Scale insects are common pests within greenhouse and agricultural settings. I quantified scale infestation on Begonia x Richmondensis, also known as the Dragon Wing begonia, within the Armstrong Campus Greenhouse from March to November of 2023. Six different treatments accounted for variations in sunlight, humidity, and temperature within the greenhouse with the goal of determining the insect’s preferred environmental conditions. Morphological comparisons were also made between host plant Dragon Wing begonia and other begonias present within the greenhouse. Analysis indicated a significant difference in scale presence on replicate plants by zone and sunlight treatments, with more plants hosting at least …


Uncomplicating The Complicated: The Definition Of Life, Jennifer S. Primatic Apr 2024

Uncomplicating The Complicated: The Definition Of Life, Jennifer S. Primatic

Honors College Theses

The issue of defining life has long been debated by biologists and philosophers alike, but the issue surrounding it has been that the definition is overcomplicated and attempts to include so many definitions from previous scientific discussions. The proposed definition is– a living thing consists of an organic entity which, taken out of the ideal condition, will work toward sustaining itself without outside influence. This definition addresses many issues present in the previous definition, while also including organic entities which should be considered alive.


Exploration Of Characteristic Curve In Fox Float 3 Shock Dampers To Expedite Shock Damp Tuning., Joshua R. Moore Apr 2024

Exploration Of Characteristic Curve In Fox Float 3 Shock Dampers To Expedite Shock Damp Tuning., Joshua R. Moore

Honors College Theses

The shock absorber is an integral part of a vehicle suspension system and has a strong influence on its performance, especially in the case of motorsports. It is important to study the force versus velocity relationship, commonly known as the characteristic curve of the shock absorber both during compression and rebound. Vendor-supplied characteristics often reflect the behavior of the shock absorber in a particular setting. However, during the installation, the settings inside the shock absorber are adjusted to increase the human comfort level and performance of the vehicle. This may change the characteristic curve of the shock. The available data …


Using Education To Protect The Elderly Against Fraud, Erik Charles Apr 2024

Using Education To Protect The Elderly Against Fraud, Erik Charles

Honors College Theses

This study’s goal is to provide a guide to anyone looking to educate the elderly on fraud. Advice is provided for those who want to help an elderly person in their life and for people who wish to create fraud educations programs of their own. My own experience creating and giving a fraud lecture at a senior living facility is used as evidence for my advice, as well as research into various elderly and fraud related topics.


Borglum’S Horse Flies: The Early Opposition To Mount Rushmore, Riley Merritt Apr 2024

Borglum’S Horse Flies: The Early Opposition To Mount Rushmore, Riley Merritt

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores the evolution of opposition to Mount Rushmore from 1923-1927—the period before carving began. The resistance was led by a group of preservationists who were concerned about the potential ecological and societal impacts of the project. While much of the existing scholarship has focused on the relationship between the local Indigenous community and the monument, I argue that the preservationists, who opposed the site for their own reasons, deserve similar attention. I aim to reframe the Mount Rushmore controversy within the broader context of the conservation movement, thereby contributing to wider environmental and historical debates. I also emphasize …


Unilateralism And Strategic Ambiguity In American Foreign Policy: Contextualizing The Taiwan Relations Act, James L. Landers Apr 2024

Unilateralism And Strategic Ambiguity In American Foreign Policy: Contextualizing The Taiwan Relations Act, James L. Landers

Honors College Theses

The goal of this thesis is to examine the unique historical context surrounding the enactment of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act in order to demonstrate how congressional unilateralism, a core component of enacting the TRA, led the United States to strengthen a policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan and China. As a result of its enactment, the TRA has been criticized by the mainland Chinese government as an example of foreign policy that is contrary to the traditional values promoted by the United States. This study examines the creation of the TRA through government documents, legislation, and speeches and aims …


Prevalence Of Depression In Physical Therapy Environments For Young Adult Populations In The U.S.: A Systematic Literature Review, Audrey N. Baucom Apr 2024

Prevalence Of Depression In Physical Therapy Environments For Young Adult Populations In The U.S.: A Systematic Literature Review, Audrey N. Baucom

Honors College Theses

Objective: This systematic review aimed to examine interactions of depression symptoms and diagnoses and its prevalence in physical therapy settings among the young adult population ages 18-24 in the United States through current literature and to identify existing literature. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA guidelines to form a systematic review. Ten databases were extensively searched. Results were screened by one researcher and those that met the criteria were verified as inclusive by a second researcher. Results: The search yielded 3,017 results and included two studies. In each study, age was not identified as a prevalent variable in mental health …