Digital Commons Network^™

Implications Of Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs (Ipses) On Quality Of Life For Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Sarah K. Eggleston

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Students with intellectual disability (ID) who are aging out from qualifying for special education services through the public school system often encounter difficulty in the transition to early adulthood. While students with disabilities in Virginia have access to employment and transition services to aid them in seeking job placement, some students with ID still carry aspirations of going to college like many of their peers without disabilities. College is an experience that allows emerging adults to gain independence, social skills, pivotal identity development, and opportunities to explore academic and professional interests, while increasing their qualifications for more competitive employment. In …

The Impact Of Anxiety On College Students' Academic Lives, Alex Connolly

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Anxiety appears to be a problem facing many college students. The literature on anxiety in college students is expansive, but there is very little research on how students are able to balance their anxiety with academics. The researches in this study conducted semi-structured interviews with five students, four males and one female, at James Madison University on how their anxiety impacts their academics and what they do to succeed. The students came from a limited sample size but were varied in their mental health diagnoses. The results of the study showed many different techniques that students used to combat anxiety. …

Addressing Anxiety In College: A Mindfulness Group For Use In College Counseling Centers, Sarah Deprey-Severance

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

This project proposes a mindfulness group to address anxiety in college counseling settings. As will be discussed, anxiety is often cited as the most common presenting concern in college counseling centers, and as the need for mental health services in college is increasing, the necessity for cost effective and timely interventions (i.e., groups) becomes apparent. Research on the efficacy of mindfulness as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder is reviewed, as is the potential for self-compassion to be used as a complement to learning mindfulness skills to address anxiety. Finally, an eight-session group protocol that incorporates …

The Effect Of Depression On Bone Mineral Density In College-Aged Females, Caitlin A. Cadematori

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Research regarding the relationship between depression and bone mineral density (BMD) has produced very inconsistent and limited results, especially in younger females. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between depression scores and BMD in college-aged female students. Forty-six participants, ages 18-24 (+/-1.0368) completed a 24-hour dietary recall, medical history, Beck’s Depression Inventory and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) and had their femur and sacral vertebrae BMD, z-score, and t-score measured in the Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) machine. Participant demographics were analyzed with descriptive statistics and potential variable correlations were analyzed by partial and bipartial …

Changing Peer’S Attitudes Towards Accommodations For Disabled Students, Dylan G. Kitley

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Previous research on attitudes towards accommodations given to university students with disabilities has examined three groups: Faculty, disabled students, and their non-disabled peers. In general, faculty members have positive attitudes about implementing accommodations as long as they do not drastically change the curriculum. Both disabled and non-disabled students had similar positive attitudes for external disabilities such as visual impairment, cerebral palsy, and brain injury but less positive attitudes towards non-physical disabilities like depression. The purpose of this study was to see if an online educational intervention could change attitudes towards accommodations of disabilities. Participants (N = 122) were divided …

The Effect Of Stress On Bone Mineral Density In College Aged Females, Grace C. Berardini

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The relationship between psychological variables and bone mineral density (BMD) has been increasingly studied in the past few years, with research suggesting that decreased mood may play a role in decreased BMD. The purpose of this study was to determine if stress in college aged females on the James Madison University campus was related to decreased BMD. This study included 46 females between the ages of 18-24, who were currently enrolled in the Fall of 2015. All participants completed a medical questionnaire, 24-hour dietary recall, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Participants’ BMD …

The Real F-Word: Feminism An Exploration Of Feminism And The Female Experience On College Campuses, Beatrice R. Owens

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Using third-wave feminism and playwriting as the foundation, this project intends to examine the history of feminism as it influences the current third-wave in the United States of American with a specific focus on the impact it has on college students. This project examines the development of feminism throughout history and asks whether that historical development has contributed significantly to the way in which millennial men and women understand and relate to feminism presently. Through the compilation of research and the creation of a performance piece, performed on April 1, 2016 in the Wayland Performance Studio, this project examines what …

The Development Of A Psychological Check-Up: Assessing Character And Well-Being Via The Unified Approach, Lindsay Michele Anmuth

Dissertations, 2014-2019

This dissertation presents a model of assessing and addressing the growing college student mental health crisis (CSMHC), which pertains to the rise of student pathology over time and difficulty meeting the needs of that growing population. A theory driven conceptual paradigm was developed, based on Henriques’ (2011; Henriques & Stout, 2012) Unified Approach to psychology and psychotherapy and, specifically, the Nested Model of Well-being (Henriques, Kleinman, & Asselin, 2014) and Character Adaptation Systems Theory (CAST). Based on those conceptual models and an understanding of college student mental health concerns, the Psychological Check-Up was designed. The Psychological Check-Up consists of a …

Examining Well-Being Among College Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) And Co-Morbid Diagnoses: An Integrative Approach To Understanding Mental Health, Michael T. Strand

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Deficit and dysfunction in college students with ADHD diagnoses are now well studied and known to be commonplace in clinical psychology research literature (see Green & Rabiner, 2014, for review). However, areas of positive functioning and psychological well-being have not been well examined. This dissertation aims to investigate the extent to aspects of well-being may be more or less developed among college students carrying a diagnosis of ADHD, in comparison to their college peers. This examination utilized a subset of data collected from annual national “Healthy Minds” survey of college student mental health in the United States (Eisenberg, D., Hunt, …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Related To Emergency Contraception Among College Students, Sarah Donohue

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

More than 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. Though recent regulations have expanded access to EC, the numerous policy changes, lack of knowledge, and unreliable sources of information regarding EC prevent women from utilizing the benefits that EC can offer.

The purpose of this study was to assess students’ knowledge and attitudes about emergency contraception (EC) and to determine if there is a relationship between sexual behaviors and the use of EC. Two hundred and twelve undergraduate students from James Madison University completed an anonymous 29-question survey regarding EC.

Results indicated that students were reasonably knowledgeable regarding …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Self-Esteem And High-Risk Sexual Behaviors In College- Aged Black Women, Deborah P. Cameron

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between self- esteem and high-risk sexual behaviors. This project aimed to determine if there was a significant difference in this relationship in Black females and non-Black females. Exploring self-esteem and high-risk sexual behaviors could enhance sexual health programs. A pilot survey was developed to measure high-risk behaviors, self-esteem and intentions of practicing safe sex. The survey was distributed via email to all female undergraduate students attending James Madison University during the Spring 2015 semester. SPSS was used to analyze the data collected. The participants of the study (n=268) were …

To Expel, Or To Not Expel? An Analysis Of James Madison University's Crisis Communication And Response To Sexual Assault, Julie M. Hirschhorn

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Over the past decades, there have been several communication crises domestically and internationally. The public relations team behind each company, organization or public figure handles each crisis in a unique fashion. Some crisis management techniques work to rebuild the image of the organization effected, while other strategies fail to produce the desired outcome. It is important to study the practice of crisis management and crisis communication to understand how public relations teams operate in times of pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis, as well as how they improve internal and external communications with the significant affected publics. This project will focus on …

What Do I Assume? An Applied Lesson Approach Integrating Critical Thinking And Student-Directed Learning, Ayn T. Balija

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The applied music lesson remains a revered symbol of Western European tradition in American music education. Very little research exists assessing its continued viability as a method in its current form. This paper examines eight author observed assumptions about applied music lessons which flaw the learning process. Through available research, the assumptions demonstrate that the traditional applied lesson is teacher centered and difficult to assess. Exposing the resultant delusions of the eight assumptions reveals how a holistic approach in a studio can engage students in critical thinking and enhance student self-awareness. These primary goals place the educational emphasis on the …

Comparison: Perception And Knowledge Of Protein Consumption In Female Athletes For Post Weight Lifting Recovery, Samantha Jane Lofton

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

A study was conducted on James Madison University’s campus to assess the knowledge, beliefs, perceptions and habits of protein consumption post resistance training in female student athletes. Sixty-two female athletes who regularly partake in resistance training filled out a recovery-cue questionnaire containing 10 statements/questions on the subject of protein consumption. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS, Version 21.0 and Microsoft Office Excel. Eight percent of respondents stated they are aware of how much protein they should be consuming post workout, and 21% feel what they consume post workout is an adequate amount of protein for muscle recovery. Forty-six percent …

How Purpose In Life And Locus Of Control Relate To Alcohol Behaviors Among College Students, Chelsea Marie Woods

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Alcohol is a significant problem on university campuses, and rates of alcohol use and abuse are higher on college campuses than those found in the population at large (Rivenus, 1988). This study examines two constructs that may be related to alcohol behavior: purpose and locus of control. Moran (2009) defines purpose as: "an internal compass that integrates engagement in activities that affect others, self-awareness of one's reasons, and the intention to continue these activities" (p. 143). Locus of control refers to the degree to which a person takes responsibility over events in their life. There are two types of locus …