Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Critical Appraisal Bibliography, Scientific Abstract, And Matrix/Evidence Table, Nicolas Fuller, Jerry Lunsford, Hayley Robinson

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and Background

As chronic and acute pain disorders continue to be diagnosed in the clinical setting, the number of patients searching for medical care in hopes of alleviating their symptoms is on the rise. Working in both medical and psychiatric facilities as a certified nursing assistant, I saw opioids frequently prescribed as a pharmacological treatment for individuals looking to lessen the pain associated with a multitude of pain related disorders. Working in long term care facilities, I watched individuals who had never struggled with substance use disorders develop clinical dependencies on narcotic medication due to the fact that they …

Process Improvement To Return Stabilized Behavioral Health Patients To Primary Care, Tessa Woodroof

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to increase the number of open patient appointments by implementing a validated process in which stabilized behavioral health patients are repatriated to primary care. Currently, there is an increased demand for behavioral health services and decreased supply of behavioral health clinicians at the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

Aims: This project aims to teach behavioral health providers how to identify appropriate patients and complete successful discharges while helping primary care providers integrate the repatriation process into their workflow. Without the proposed intervention, veterans initiating behavioral health services in the catchment area will …

I'Ll Just Weight On The Lord: Spirituality And Health Behaviors In Obese African American Women, Andrea S. Poynter, Florence M. Weierbach, Deborah L. Slawson, Jean Hemphill, Georgita T. Washington

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Obesity is one of the fastest growing health concerns impacting all racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups in the United States of America. More than one-third of the U.S. adult population is classified as being obese (Obesity Society, 2021). Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in all races and genders within the US with African American women comprising a majority of those impacted by this chronic health condition. Obesity rates are well documented within the literature but what is lacking is the role spirituality may play in obese African American women and their health behaviors. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological …

I'Ll Just Weight On The Lord: Spirituality And Health Behaviors In Obese African American Women, Andrea S. Poynter, Florence Weierbach, Deborah Slawson, Jean Hemphill, Georgita T. Washington

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Obesity is one of the fastest growing health concerns impacting all racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups in the United States of America. More than one-third of the U.S. adult population is classified as being obese (Obesity Society, 2021). Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in all races and genders within the US with African American women comprising a majority of those impacted by this chronic health condition. Obesity rates are well documented within the literature but what is lacking is the role spirituality may play in obese African American women and their health behaviors. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological …

Exploration Of Treatment Resistance In A Parenting Skills Group For At-Risk Mothers, Thomas Boyer

Tennessee Posters at the Capitol

Treatment resistance is a consistent impediment across psychological interventions. Specifically, the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences, and symptoms of depression, have both been posited to contribute to this phenomenon. This is noteworthy, particularly in parenting interventions, given that maternal ACEs and depression are predictors of suboptimal parenting outcomes and thus the risk factors that increase need for intervention may simultaneously be the very factors that impede with one’s intervention engagement. This study explored if this phenomenon replicates in Mom Power - a 10-week, trauma-informed, parenting skills group for at-risk mothers. A multiple linear regression was performed to predict intervention attendance …

Relationship Satisfaction & Diet: Exploring The Mechanisms Through Which Intimate Relationships Influence Physical Health, Lindsey Robinson, Dylan Hillock, Dr. Josh Novak

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Understanding how intimate relationships influence physical health has been an important topic of focus; however, research remains unclear on the mechanisms through which this influence occurs. The purpose of this study was to examine how relationship satisfaction relates to diet quality, through mental health (depression and anxiety) and diet self-efficacy. Using a dyadic mediation model with a sample of 234 heterosexual couples, researchers found that women's higher relationship satisfaction was associated with better diet through lower depression and higher diet self-efficacy. Results revealed the same association between women's relationship satisfaction and diet through lower anxiety. Interestingly, rather than mediation through …

The Association Between Sibling Relationship Dynamics And Empathic Abilities In Young Adulthood, Nahide Gungordu, Maria Hernandez-Reif

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Existing research concerning the effects of empathy development has primarily focused on the role of parents, culture, and education but has overlooked the role of siblings. This current retrospective study investigates sibling relationship quality and cognitive and affective empathy in young adults to address the question of whether siblings influence young adults’ empathy processes. A total of 205 young adults participated in the study and completed questionnaires examining their sibling relationship quality and empathy. Strong positive relationships were observed between affective empathy and sibling relationship quality, which suggests that siblings may play a unique role in shaping each other’s affective …

Relational, Physical, And Mental Health: How Relationship Satisfaction Influences Exercise Self-Efficacy, Dylan Hillock, Lindsey Robinson, Joshua Novak

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Can being satisfied in a relationship create the confidence to exercise? Some research suggests a positive relationship between exercise and positive relationship events for both partners (Johnson et al., 2018), yet there may be important mediators between relationships and exercise, that have not been tested. Research has found that higher relationship satisfaction is associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptoms (Whisman, Uebelacker, & Weinstock, 2004). Another important mechanism linked with exercise is self-efficacy—or the confidence to carry out a behavior (i.e., exercise; Jackson, Tucker, & Herman, 2007). Self-efficacy and mental health are also significantly related (Bandura, 1997), as is exercise …

Exploring Family Coherence And Adaptability Among Adoptive Families, Emily Shaw, Alisha Hardman Phd

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

The current study sought to answer the question: Does reported family coherence and adaptability differ between parents who completed private, public, and international adoptions? The desired population was adoptive parents in the United States. The survey utilized two existing measures, the Family Sense of Coherence (FSOC) and the Family Adaptation Scales (FAS). Results of a one-way independent ANOVA showed that adoption type (i.e. private, public, international) had no significant effect on FSOC and FAS sum scores. Future research should recruit a larger and more representative sample of adoptive parents in the United States, so that findings can be used to …

Determining Human Development Competency Training Needs Of Fcs Extension Professionals, Alligrace Story, Alisha M. Hardman, Marina D. Denny, Geoff Denny

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Extension agents with Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) programmatic responsibilities come from a variety of backgrounds but are expected to implement educational programs across FCS knowledge areas. This study examined [state] University Extension personnel’s perceived importance of and perceived ability related to human development competencies. There was a significant difference between how specialists (state-level) and agents (county-level) perceived the importance of three of the five human development concepts. Most agents’ perceived their ability across the human development competencies to be average or just above average. Using the perceived importance and perceived ability data from the agents, next steps include piloting …

Identity Development In The Gap: Emerging Adults' Experiences In Structured Gap Year Programs, Kara L. Peterson

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Identity development primarily occurs the most throughout the adolescent and emerging adulthood years (Arnett, 2000), which can be facilitated through gap years. Previous research has shown gap years to be beneficial (Heath, 2007; King, 2010; O’Shea, 2014). However, research has not addressed the personal perspective of gap year alumni on their own identity formation through structured gap year programs. This qualitative, phenomenological study sought to explore the impact of structured gap years on emerging adults’ identity development as well as identify the types of experiences that were effective for personal growth. The study examined the experiences of 15 participants, both …

Engaging With A Prevention Approach: System Supports Needed In Child Abuse And Neglect Prevention, Silvia L. Vilches, Beth S. Mcdaniel, Haley Sherman, Brianna Burks, Allie Merritt, Terra Jackson, Synithia W. Flowers

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Public policy has been shifting from child abuse and neglect (CAN) intervention toward prevention, using public health style frameworks, which emphasize shared community and legislative responsibilities to support families (Browne, 2014; CDC, 2014). Analysis of qualitative data from statewide focus groups held in 2019 in Alabama with 99 community-based CAN prevention workers shows strengths in community collaboration, but also, struggles to help families meet basic needs because of lack of community resources, such as transportation and quality child care, and other barriers, including stigma. The results demonstrate confusion between prevention, which is intended to build family resilience to avert crisis, …

Nonresident Fathers’ Care-Provision Trajectory: Growth Mixture Modeling Approach, Kwangman Ko

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

The current study identified subgroups of individuals regarding nonresident fathers’ childcare provision by taking the growth mixture modeling approach (GMM) and Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS; wave 1 to wave 5). The three-profile model was the most fitted model, where Profile 1 (n = 548, 68.7%) showed the lowest childcare across waves, and Profile 3 (n = 106, 13.3%) was the most involved group, and the Profile 2 (n = 144, 18.0%) showed moderate levels of care provision (see Figure 1). Follow-up analysis revealed that the profiles significantly differed on child gender and …

Open Adoption: An Expansion Of Family, Madeline Huisjen

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

95% of adoption in the United States are open adoptions (Siegel & Smith, 2012). Past research has focused on the satisfaction of the adoptive parents, birth mother and adoptee in open adoption (Colaner & Scharp, 2016). However, there is a gap in research considering communication within the open adoption relationship (Grotevant, 2009). This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the experiences of birth mothers and adoptive parents in open adoption relationships as well as determine what is helpful and/or harmful within this relationship. The researchers conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with birth mothers and adoptive parents. Through open coding, key findings …

Variations In Coparenting And Parenting Functioning Among At-Risk Couples Following Participation In Couples Relationship Education, Rachael Nagy, Ted Futris, Evin Richardson

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Couple relationships directly affect parenting practices, which in turn affect outcomes for children. More so, at-risk couples are more prone to exhibit conflictual relationships, elevated parenting stress, and behaviors that increase their children’s vulnerability to negative physical, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. Couples relationship education (CRE) programs have been found to positively influence couple functioning, which in turn has been linked to improved parenting behaviors. Supported by a federal grant, Project F.R.E.E.(www.ugaprojectfree.com) provides CRE to at-risk parents engaged in child welfare services in order to improve couple and co-parenting functioning. This presentation will share results from a study examining changes among …

Development And Validation Of A Short Form For The Mcs-Dr, Anthony Ferraro, Hilary D. Pippert, James M. Duncan

Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference

Using two independent samples of parents with a shared minor child but not currently in a relationship, this study explores the development and validation of a new 12-item short form for the Multidimensional Co-Parenting Scale for Dissolved Relationships (MCS-DR12). Confirmatory factor analysis will be used to assess the four-factor structure of the MCS-DR12 and then internal reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity will be assessed. The development of this short form provides a 12-item assessment of four impactful areas of co-parenting which is invaluable, especially for those working with court-mandated parenting programs who are in need of brief instruments to …

Distance Learning Campus Outreach: Bringing Scholarly Commons To Residential And Online Campuses Across The Globe, Debra Rodensky

Digital Commons Southeastern User Group 2018

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is an institution with 2 residential campuses: 1 in Daytona Beach, Florida and one in Prescott, Arizona. ERAU also has a Worldwide presence through 125 campuses located on military bases and within the private business sector. The ERAU Worldwide Campus doesn’t stop with physical locations, however. It encompasses an online campus with virtual learning opportunities. The degrees offered through all of our campuses range from certificate programs through doctoral studies.

The Scholarly Communication Team is located on the Daytona Beach campus. One of our challenges is to bring the intellectual output of all of our talented …

We've Got A Guide For That: Building A Comprehensive Marketing And Support Framework For Ir Services, Jeffrey M. Mortimore

Digital Commons Southeastern User Group 2018

Institutional Repository services require continuous, multi-channel promotion and support to attract and retain conferences, journals, and other campus collections. However, given the relative complexity of the services offered, balancing promotional messaging with a clear representation of repository offerings, policies, and procedures can be a challenge. Providing a flexible but robust marketing and support framework is especially important for institutions that rely on non-repository public services personnel to provide front-line promotion of repository services to faculty and administrators.

During this session, we will look at Georgia Southern University's recently-developed Institutional Repository Services LibGuide as a model for providing such a framework …

Associations Between Family And Parental Factors And Childhood Obesity, Kido Uyamasi, Shimin Zheng, Sheryl M. Strasser

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Background: Obesity is a complex health issue, which results from the interaction between many determinants: genetics, physical environments, society, economy, and culture. Data indicate that about 19% of American children (2 to 19 years) have obesity, a condition that considerably affects physical and mental health and that usually continues into adulthood. Aside from its direct physical and mental effects, there is strong evidence that childhood obesity is strongly associated with early onset and adult cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Family and parental factors, which have both genetics and environmental components, have long been implicated in previous research as major forces in …

Association Between Alzheimer's Disease And Rural Northeast Tennessee Region Between 2013 And 2015, Sylvester Olubolu Orimaye, Jodi Southerland

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a type of Dementia and a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the gradual degrading of both memory and cognitive functions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of AD is increasing globally. Currently, AD is the sixth leading cause of mortality in the United States. As the ageing population increases in the United States, it is possible that AD will move up the ladder in the top cause of mortality. Although the prevalence of AD in most urban parts of developed nations such as the United States is widely known, little is …