Digital Commons Network^™

Bullying Experiences And Resilience In Lgbtq Youth, Melinda Mccormick

Dissertations

Many young LGBTQ people are experiencing bullying which can lead to increased risk of suicide, drug abuse, and depression, as well as an increased risk of out-of-home placements in either foster care or homeless shelters. As a result of this, LGBTQ young adults are often framed as being at risk. Although this has been helpful in the past in order to raise awareness of the challenges experienced by LGBTQ young people, there is also evidence that they show resilience in response to those challenges. In order to advance the social work value of being strengths-based, this research looked for examples …

Montane Valley Grassland Plant Communities Are Highly Resistant To Wildfire, Martina M. Suazo

Biology ETDs

Understanding the ecological role of fire in fire-adapted plant communities is of great importance for restoration and preservation; however, limited research has been conducted on the response of upper elevation, C₃ grassland plant communities to wildfire. This study investigates the effects of the Las Conchas wildfire of 2011 on plant community structure and function in the montane valley grasslands of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico, USA. Long term monitoring of nine burned and seven unburned grassland sites was used to measure vegetation composition and dynamics both spatially and temporally relative to fire. Results show that …

Improving Small Community Flood Resilience: The Multiple Strategies Of Watershed Partnerships, Nicole Gillett

Masters Theses

Flooding in New England is often seen as a coastal concern, but inland, in the mountainous rural communities of New England, river floods present serious threats to communities and livelihoods. Recent large storm events such as Tropical Storm Irene, and rising concerns over climate change, have catalyzed conversations over the vulnerability of communities across inland New England to flooding. This thesis examines two very different watershed organizations in New England; the White River Partnership and Deerfield Creating Resilient Communities. Both are working towards flood resilience in their communities. My approach is not to judge “best practices” or to evaluate what …

Minority Adolescent Health: A Factor Analytic Approach Towards Conceptualizing Health Behaviors And Resilience Constructs From The New Mexico Youth Risk Resiliency Survey, Jeremiah Simmons

Psychology ETDs

Current researchers in the adolescent health field are beginning to argue that the descriptive knowledge base of adolescent health lacks a strong conceptual base and may be inadequate to sufficiently inform a comprehensive assessment of adolescent health behaviors. This study aimed to build upon the conceptual base by integrating a descriptive epidemiologic study (2013 New Mexico Youth Risk Resilience Survey) with psychological theory and factor analytic methodologies to better understand the relationship between health behaviors and resilience factors. This study replicated a previously identified four-factor health behavior structure and an expanded six-factor health behavior structure across a racially/ethnically diverse sample. …

Academic Risk And Protective Factors Of Latinos Of Undocumented Status: A Narrative Approach, Claudio Rivera

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

There are currently 11 million immigrants of undocumented status in the United States, with over 80% comprising of Latinos. Latinos attain less education than other racial/ethnic groups, and immigrants of undocumented status face additional barriers to a higher education, such as being ineligible for federal financial aid. Using a resiliency framework, this study sought to identify the academic risk and protective factors affecting young Latinos of undocumented status in the United States. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 Latinos of undocumented status; eligible participants were between the ages of 16 and 30 who immigrated to the United States without …

Exploring Masculinity For A Healthy Campus Culture, Jason M. Gant

Master's Projects and Capstones

1 in 5 female students is and will be sexually assaulted in college. This is a public health issue as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexual violence (SV) is a significant problem in the United States. SV refers to sexual activity when consent is not obtained or not given freely. Anyone can experience SV, but most victims are female. The person responsible for the violence is typically male and usually someone the victim is familiar with. The person can be, but is not limited to, a friend, coworker, neighbor, family member and even classmate. Boys …

Surviving Collapse: Collective Memory And Political Reorganization At Actuncan, Belize, David Williams Mixter

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on a study of political reorganization at the ancient Maya site of Actuncan, Belize following the 9th century collapse of Classic Maya society. During the Terminal Classic period (A.D. 780–1000), Maya divine kingship was gradually abandoned, leading to increased warfare, regional food scarcity, and mass migration. In contrast to broader trends, the residents of Actuncan did not leave. In this dissertation, I draw on the theoretical frameworks of resilience theory and collective memory to explain why Actuncan was not abandoned and how the local community reorganized its political and ritual institutions after the failure of divine kingship. …

Intergenerational Transmission Of Violence: Parent-Child Profiles And Dating Violence In Latino Adolescents, Rebecca Rodriguez

Psychology Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical public health problem that has a broad range of negative consequences on not only the individuals in the relationship but also on their children. Although Latino adolescents experience dating violence at a higher rate than White adolescents, little research has investigated the risk and protective factors associated with this group. Witnessing domestic violence has been associated to an increased risk in experiencing dating violence as adolescents. The pattern of IPV exposed youth to later experience violent relationships has been described as the intergenerational transmission of violence (ITV). Although youth exposed to IPV are …

Transgender Self-Attitudes: Formation And Change A Qualitative Study, Juliet Ezhil Meggs

Doctoral Dissertations

The current study explored attitudes of transgender people about being transgender and how these attitudes had formed and changed over participants’ lifetimes. Using a qualitative, grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2003), interviews with 11 transgender adults were coded and analyzed. Two primary categories of attitudes were identified: participant attitudes regarding acceptability of being transgender and attitudes regarding how possible they believed it is to be transgender and/or transition genders. Early in life, most participants had little exposure to the idea of being transgender, and those that knew of it often initially believed that it would too difficult or impossible to transition. …

Native American Young Adults In Their Transition To College, And Persistence Through The First Year, Adrian Alexander Rodriguez

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation study focused on a mixed-methods exploration of Native American students’ perceptions of risks and protective factors as they transitioned to college at a predominately White institution (PWI), and navigated through their first year. Due to low numbers of Native Americans at PWIs, individuals have described feeling invisible, which negatively impacts their ethnic identity development, sense of belonging, wellbeing, and retention in college. Factors involving respect, positive relationships, cultural affirmation, and resiliency are associated with success and retention for Native American students.

A mixed-methods model, guided by grounded theory and principles of social justice advocacy provided a reflection on …

South Padre Island Beach Management: Assessment Of Dune Restoration, Shelby Rose Bessette

Theses and Dissertations

Dune restoration is a common method of increasing coastal resilience. A dune restoration program was initiated by the City of South Padre Island, TX in 2010 consisting primarily of plantings of Sea Oats, Uniola paniculata, and Bitter Panicum, Panicum amarum and has continued approximately annually thereafter. These restoration efforts were evaluated in this study by comparing dune ecological structure and function among reference sites and restoration plots ranging in age from 2 to 5 years. Plant and animal communities were examined using a combination of quadrat sampling, funnel traps, pit-falls and sweep nets. Soil organic content and soil electric …

How Elementary School Principals In An Ontario School Board Use Resiliency Strategies To Manage Adversity In Their Leadership, Catherine Elizabeth Zeisner

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to gather, examine, and define school leadership ‘adversity experiences’ of elementary school principals in an Ontario school board. This qualitative study examined how principals use resiliency strategies to manage adversity in the course of their school leadership. Lastly, the study examined supports, professional learning, and/or programs specific to the Ontario context that exist for principals experiencing adversity.

The purposeful sample was fifteen elementary school principals and one superintendent of education. They were interviewed one-on-one using semi-structured questions during the winter 2016. Those data were analyzed using a modified form of constant comparative …

Educational Implications: Homeless Children's Perception Of Resilience, Maria M. Costa

Doctoral Dissertations

There is a historic high number of homeless children in the United States, based on the most recent U.S. Department of Education count of homeless children in public schools and on the 2013 U.S. Census data. There was an 8% increase nationally in the number of children experiencing homelessness from 2012-2013. In the United States 1 in 30 children are homeless. Research has focused primarily on risk and protective factors as reasons why some children are able to cope with adversity, while others are not. Most studies have relied heavily on the perspective of parents or educators working with homeless …

Fault Resilient And Reconfigurable Power Management Using Photovoltaic Integrated With Cmos Switches, Rakeshkumar Mahto

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

A Photovoltaic (PV) cell is a device which converts light incident upon it to electric current. The push for green energy due to global warming and diminution of fossil fuels opens up a huge market for PV cells. Hence, a lot of interest is being garnered for using PV cells for various applications. However, a PV module's performance degrades due to many anomalies such as failure of individual PV cell within a module, the opening of interconnection, a short circuit in the connection, failure of bypass diode, failure in voltage regulator or partial shading. To some extent all of these …

Supportive Relationships As Protective For Children Exposed To Violence: Exploring Underlying Mechanisms, Jessica Houston

Dissertations (1934 -)

The present study examined supportive relationships with parents, teachers, peers, and neighbors as protective for youths exposed to violence. To explore how support promotes resilience, four potential mediators were examined: secure attachment, adaptive coping, processing traumatic experiences with a supportive person (parent, teacher, friend, or community adult), and an optimistic outlook on life. An at-risk sample of 107 students (71% male) aged 8-19 years (M=15) who were predominantly African American completed measures of violence exposure, social support, attachment security, coping ability, trauma-processing, and optimism. Resilience was assessed with multiple measures that included self-esteem, competence in several domains (social, scholastic, athletic, …

The Relationship Between Resilience, Attachment, And Emotional Coping Styles, Jennika K. Jenkins

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The construct of resilience has been widely associated with the ability to adequately cope with stressors, which leads to positive long-term health outcomes. Attachment and emotional coping style literatures have both been tentatively linked to resilience, with dismissive and secure attachment styles as well as the repressive coping style positively associated with resilience. However, both avoidantly attached and repressive individuals employ coping strategies that allow them to dissociate from negative emotions, which seems to contradict the stress adaptive quality of resilience. The goal of this study was to explore the theoretical parallel between the attachment and emotional coping styles literature …

The Influence Of Racial Socialization On The Academic Achievement Of Black College Students, Vanessa R. Laurent

Dissertations

Black college students continue to have difficulties reaching academic success in various domains; however, understanding the nature of how academic success is cultivated by Black college students is vital for counselors, educators, and university administrators. The objective of the study was to understand how racial socialization influenced academic success. Research suggests that racial socialization contributes to positive long-term outcomes among African Americans and may be connected to academic achievement (Bowman & Howard, 1985; Boykin & Tom, 1985; Davis & Stevenson, 2006; Neblett, Terzian, & Harriott, 2010; Stevenson, 1994, 1995). Participants were 349 Black college students from a predominately White institution …

Preserving Biodiversity For A Climate Change Future: A Resilience Assessment Of Three Bay Area Species--Adenostoma Fasciculatum (Chamise), Arctostaphylos Canescens (Hoary Manzanita), And Arctostaphylos Virgata (Marin Manzanita), Alison S. Pollack

Master's Projects and Capstones

Anthropogenic climate change is an undeniable threat to the future of the natural world and human civilization. These shifts will have profound impacts on vegetation, especially for species endemic to isolated regions or sensitive to climate change factors. However, species resilience can predict success into the next century. Resilience is defined as the ability to withstand climate change factors, whereas vulnerability is defined as susceptibility to climate induced stress or damage.

Chaparral and coastal scrub ecosystems within the Bay Area of California provide a unique context for examining resilience, as many species are adapted to high temperatures, drought, and wildfire—all …

Exploring The Associations Among College Students Self-Reported Resilience, Coping Behavior, Goal Orientation And Passion For Academics, Sara C. Mcmillan

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The current study expanded research on resilience by examining associations between resilience, coping behaviors, goal orientation and passion for academics of college students. Participants were 252 undergraduate students (147 female, 105 male) with an average age of 19. Three resilience scales assessed in this study, Resilience Scale for Adults, Brief Resilience Scale and the Academic Resilience Scale, were positively correlated with each other. Resilience was positively correlated with adaptive coping, learning goals and harmonious passion. Resilience and maladaptive coping were negatively correlated. This study connected variables not previously examined in a college student population. Limitations and implications of the findings …

A Mixed Methods Analysis Of The Relationship Between Attachment, Post-Traumatic Stress, And Post-Traumatic Growth Among United States Service Members, Chauncy T. Brinton

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The impact of secure military relationships on US service members’ response to trauma during military service was examined in this mixed methods study. Veterans with and without combat exposure evidence a high rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the military has tried to institute resilience-based programs in anticipation of the psychological challenges experienced by soldiers. At the same time, research has shown that some service members report positive outcomes associated with military service including the phenomena of post-traumatic growth (PTG). The constructs from attachment theory (safe haven and exploration) have begun to be the focus of research with service …

New York City Underwater: Climate Change Mitigation And Adaptation, Anna Marshall

Student Theses 2015-Present

I address the effects of climate change on New York City, and what can be done to minimize these effects. I explain the causes and impacts of sea level rise on New York City, specifically referencing New York City policies and programs that can help mitigate these impacts. I use data from New York City government, the New York City Panel on Climate Change, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to collect information about greenhouse gas emissions, and describe how this leads to sea level rise. Then, I use environmental socio-economics, urban planning, and environmental politics in New York …

Natural Disasters Aren't The Problem: Poverty And Environmental Degradation In Rural Coastal Tanzania, Sarah R. Martin

International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)

This paper examines how two theoretical frameworks, systems and resilience thinking, provide differing understandings of natural disasters, poverty and environmental degradation in rural coastal Tanzania. Both frameworks aim to expand the scope of reductionist thinking, in order to better understand the complex interrelationships between various actors, which may have not otherwise been considered. Although both theories have their individual strengths and weaknesses, neither have been able to catalyze effective solutions to these problems. As a result, I propose a hybrid version of systems and resilience thinking, as a means to best examine poverty and environmental degradation in rural coastal Tanzania. …

Aging Out Of Foster Care Successfully, Kelly Prettyman

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Annually, in Minnesota, thousands of youth transition out of foster care. The purpose of this content analysis was to explore some of the variables associated with a successful transition while “aging out of” foster care, and to better understand how youth define and experience this transition from their perspective and in their own words. I asked questions such as: what do youth perceive as having helped them, what do they need from formal and informal caregivers, and what might they need as they transition into the greater independence associated with young adulthood. Data were collected from online interviews, documentaries, blogs …

The Resiliency And Leadership Of Burley Tobacco Producers In Greene County, Tennessee: A Qualitative Study, Melody T. Rose

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of current Greene County burley tobacco producers regarding the resiliency in a declining global tobacco industry and how the producers perceive their leadership in burley tobacco production will be impacted in Greene County.

Ten Greene County producers participated in this study through an interview conducted utilizing a series of 33 questions aimed at determining specific themes in regards to resiliency in their communities, as well as the individual producers adaptive leadership styles.

Tobacco remains a viable and economic contributor to the Greene County economy. This study focused on current and …

The Relationship Between Resilience And Sleep Quality, Tyler S. Mccuistion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Complaints about sleep quality are common and some epidemiological surveys indicate that 15-35% of adults complain of frequent sleep disturbances. Impaired sleep is also a central feature in a number of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. This study was aimed at examining the relationship between sleep quality and resilience (the ability to cope and deal with stress). The hypothesis was that the two variables would be related; as resilience increased, it was predicted that sleep quality would also increase. Individuals (N = 167) were given the opportunity to complete a number of brief, self-report inventories assessing …

The Effect Of Childhood Loss On The Relations Between Resilience And Grief Among Bereaved Emerging Adults, Laura Elizabeth Schwartz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous grief research has centered on one time-point, without considering how loss may occur across developmental periods. Taking a lifespan approach, the current study divided 441 bereaved emerging adults into three groups: those who experienced death in childhood, in emerging adulthood, or during both developmental periods. Differences between the groups on circumstances of the loss, cumulative trauma, trait resilience, and grief symptomatology were examined. Significant group differences for time since loss, relationship to the deceased, cumulative trauma, cumulative loss, and grief symptomatology were found. A moderation model was conducted to determine the direct effect of resilience on grief and how …

Differential Prediction Of Resilience Among Individuals With And Without A History Of Abuse, Laura Ann Bailey Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated teh differential relationship between spirituality, hope, and mutuality for predicitng resilience among 253 young adult participants (47 men, 206 women; M = 22; SD = 5.66) with a history of abuse (n = 64) or without (n = 189). Backwards-stepwise mulitple regression analyses revealed statistically significant models in populations with a hisotry of abuse (p < .01, R2 = .43) and those without (p < .01, R2 = .36), with no statisitical difference in the variance between models (Z = .51,p = .30). Implications for counselors are provided.

Population Fluctuation Of The Nodular Coral Psammocora Stellata In The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: An Indicator Of Community Resilience And Implications For Future Management, Kathryn Brown

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Corals are experiencing a worldwide decline in abundance and diversity. Reasons for this include anthropogenic impacts and associated changes to environmental conditions, including global climate change. Increasing atmospheric CO₂ levels lead to a coordinated increase in sea surface temperatures and decrease in oceanic pH. Warming events associated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) amplify the impacts of steadily increasing temperatures. For example, coral communities in the Galápagos Islands experienced mortality rates of up to 95-99% during severe ENSO warming in 1982-1983. Persisting through such extreme conditions imposes additional challenges to survival in already marginal environments for coral growth and development …

Coral Genotype Influence On Growth And Stress Resistance In Acropora Cervicornis: Investigating Potential Energy Tradeoffs, Peter T. Grasso

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Over the last few decades coral reefs have faced unprecedented declines in health due to natural and anthropogenic sources. Until recently few studies have examined genotypic variation of growth and thermal stress resistance in Acropora cervicornis. This study aims to assess the potential for energy trade-offs between growth and thermal stress resistance by following 120 coral fragments from 12 genotypes of Acropora cervicornis over the course of 15 months to determine average growth rates for each genotype. Following the completion of the growth observation a bleaching event occurred in the lower Florida Keys providing the opportunity for examining thermal …

Resilience And Internalizing Symptoms Among Adolescent Girls In Residential Treatment: An Evaluation Of Strong Teens, Luke Andrew Marvin

Theses and Dissertations

Strong Teens is an evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed to target internalizing disorders by promoting emotional resilience and social competence. In this study, Strong Teens was implemented among 36 adolescent girls during group therapy in a residential treatment center (RTC). A non-equivalent, quasi-experimental wait-list control group design was used. The curriculum was evaluated by tracking the girls' social and emotional knowledge, internalizing symptoms, and resilience from the perspectives of the girls, group therapists, and a supervisor who was blind to the study. Although the results indicated that exposure to Strong Teens was not effective in increasing the …