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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mindfulness Increases Help-Seeking By Buffering Against Self-Stigma, Sami Boomgarden Jan 2021

Mindfulness Increases Help-Seeking By Buffering Against Self-Stigma, Sami Boomgarden

Masters Theses

Mindfulness has many psychological benefits, including less stress, improved sleep, increased resiliency, and reduced psychological distress, making it a focus of mental health research (Dvorakova et al., 2017; Mzarek, Franklin, Phillips, Baird, & Schooler, 2013; Vidico & Cherup, 2019). Mindfulness may also limit the formation of self-stigma, which comes from internalized stereotypes about oneself (Barr, Davis, Diguiseppi, Keeling, & Castro, 2019). When people experience self-stigma, they are less likely to seek help when they might need it, exacerbating current problems (Wilson, Bushnell, & Caputi, 2011). The present study explored the relationship between these three constructs of mindfulness, self-stigma, and help-seeking. …


Examining The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Religion/Spirituality Among International Students, Ly'jerrick Ward Jan 2021

Examining The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Religion/Spirituality Among International Students, Ly'jerrick Ward

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturative stress and religion/spirituality of international students. This study utilized Sandhu and Asrabadi’s (1994) Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS) as well as the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF) created by Plante and Boccaccini (1997). Much research exists on how international students adapt and acculturate to a host country. This research will add to the body of literature that exists regarding how international students use their religion/spirituality to deal with acculturative stress. Students in this study were asked a number of questions from the ASSIS …


Trade Integration And Economic Growth In Africa: Lessons From Sadc And Ecowas Regional Trading Blocs, Kofi Ampoma Asuako Jan 2021

Trade Integration And Economic Growth In Africa: Lessons From Sadc And Ecowas Regional Trading Blocs, Kofi Ampoma Asuako

Masters Theses

The literature on the effects of free trade agreements (FTA) or trade liberalization on economies is vast and tends to focus on the post-liberalization performance of countries, particularly in Europe and North America. However, an analysis of how varying levels of integration within free trade blocs in Sub-Saharan Africa affect economic growth does not appear to be in the international economics literature. This analysis is vital as 54 out of 55 African union member States have begun trading under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) which intends to gradually decrease and ultimately do away with customs duties and non-tariff …


Student Athletes’ Perception Of Hazing, Faith Bradbury Jan 2021

Student Athletes’ Perception Of Hazing, Faith Bradbury

Masters Theses

Over the years hazing has been seen as a rite of passage or a tradition among college athletes and almost an expectation for the athletes (Stuart, 2013). There is a lack of information surrounding athlete’s perceptions on hazing and how this affects their confidence in addressing hazing situations. Most studies focus on what hazing is and the effects it has on students on a college campus. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore the athlete’s perceptions surrounding hazing at a rural mid-sized university in the Midwest. The research showed that the athletes had a disconnect with the information they …


Feels Like Home: On Campus Housing And Its Effect On Sense Of Belonging, Makenzie Joseph Jan 2021

Feels Like Home: On Campus Housing And Its Effect On Sense Of Belonging, Makenzie Joseph

Masters Theses

There has been substantial research done on sense of belonging for college students. This study explored the on-campus experience of upperclassman on-campus residents at a mid-sized Midwestern university. This research was a qualitative study that examined the impact on-campus housing had on a student’s sense of belonging and their intentions to reenroll in their institution. The findings of this study supported many of the previous findings in relation to on-campus housing and a sense of belonging, as well it presented new findings. Many different themes emerged such as the importance of faculty and staff relationships, institutional size, and personal and …


Listening To Their Voices: A Narrative On Campus Climate For Trans* Students, Cloe Bourdages Jan 2021

Listening To Their Voices: A Narrative On Campus Climate For Trans* Students, Cloe Bourdages

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that campus climate has on trans* student academic and personal success. This qualitative study was explored through individual interviews by four participants. Participants discussed practices which enabled and inhibited their success; which lead to the finding of four themes: identity and validation, academic climate, climate outside of the classroom, and resources and services. Overall, a positive correlation in trans* student success was found when institutions use inclusive practices within their work. Lastly, the study provided implications for higher education recommended by both the participants and the researcher.


Five In 20: An Exploratory Study To Develop And Pilot An Observation Tool Used To Assess The Five Features Critical To Effective Classroom Management, Alexandria Cardot Jan 2021

Five In 20: An Exploratory Study To Develop And Pilot An Observation Tool Used To Assess The Five Features Critical To Effective Classroom Management, Alexandria Cardot

Masters Theses

The present study aimed to develop and pilot a standardized classroom observation tool intended to assess teachers’ current use of the five features critical to effective classroom management. Thirty-nine observers who regularly conducted classroom observations (e.g., school psychologists) were recruited to complete 39, 20-min observations in kindergarten through twelfth grade classrooms. Due to COVID-19, observers could either complete a live observation or think of a previously completed observation. Of the 39 observations, 13 were live and 26 were recalled. To complete the observation, observers indicated whether the teacher was observed to use each of the 21 evidence-based strategies and if …


Debt, Death, And Deregulation: Neoliberalism, Human Rights, And American-Argentine Relations, 1976-1983, Billy Davis Jan 2021

Debt, Death, And Deregulation: Neoliberalism, Human Rights, And American-Argentine Relations, 1976-1983, Billy Davis

Masters Theses

Between 1976 and 1983, Argentina was governed by a military government that oversaw both a brutal campaign against communism and a process of neoliberalization. During this period, the United States provided substantial economic support to Argentina through its approval of loans that enabled Argentina’s economic transformation. Early on, the United States was largely apathetic and complacent in regard to Argentina’s Dirty War. During the administration of Jimmy Carter, the United States attempted to confront the Argentine military government about its human rights abuses. However, a substantial contingent within the Carter administration pushed back against this initiative and worked to protect …


The Digital Generation: Exploring The Effects And Creation Of Collegiate E-Sports Programs, Joshua Gostlin Jan 2021

The Digital Generation: Exploring The Effects And Creation Of Collegiate E-Sports Programs, Joshua Gostlin

Masters Theses

This phenomenological study looked at five collegiate e-sports programs that are members of the National Association of Collegiate E-sports (NACE) to better understand why and how those programs were made, how e-sport athletes are recruited and retain, and operational differences between e-sports programs and traditional sports programs. The participants for this study were five higher education institutions from across the United States that were being represented by the leading administrator of their e-sports team. These institutions ranged from small private schools to large public schools in the hopes of getting a more holistic understanding of collegiate e-sports. Each participant participated …


Self-Reported Multicultural Teaching Knowledge And Skills Of School Professionals, Julia Kedzior Jan 2021

Self-Reported Multicultural Teaching Knowledge And Skills Of School Professionals, Julia Kedzior

Masters Theses

Diverse learners face a variety of challenges, such as achievement gaps, behavior problems, and absenteeism. Therefore, it is important for their educators to have both multicultural teaching knowledge and skills to address these challenges and work towards a successful school experience for all students. Although research has sought to measure the cultural competence of teachers, not many studies have examined cultural competence in other school professionals (administrators, school psychologists, social workers, interventionists, instructional assistants, and other individuals who directly work with students in the school environment). In the current study, 185 teachers and other school professionals completed an adapted version …


“Yes, My Career Would End”: How The Existence Of Illicit Digital Media May Inhibit Women From Participating In Politics, Esther Afrakoma Appiah Dwaah Jan 2021

“Yes, My Career Would End”: How The Existence Of Illicit Digital Media May Inhibit Women From Participating In Politics, Esther Afrakoma Appiah Dwaah

Masters Theses

The challenges faced by women in their quest to be equal participants with men in politics is not hidden. This study set out to examine how women may be restrained from rising to the highest offices in politics amidst fear of their existing nude contents that exist digitally. The body and sexuality of women have countlessly been employed as a tool to keep them out of political participation. Relying on data gathered through interviews with twenty four respondents, the study confirmed that women who have their illicit digital media in existence are less likely to take lead roles in politics …


The Effect Of Mortality Salience On Compromising Mate Selection Standards In Homosexual And Heterosexual Individuals, Sydney Rohmann Jan 2021

The Effect Of Mortality Salience On Compromising Mate Selection Standards In Homosexual And Heterosexual Individuals, Sydney Rohmann

Masters Theses

Terror management theory (TMT), proposed by Greenberg, Pyszcynski, and Solomon (1986), suggests that humans cope with terror resulting from the knowledge of their own mortality. The need for coping mechanisms arises when individuals are reminded of their own inevitable death; that is, when they experience mortality salience (MS). Hirschberger, Florian, and Mikulincer (2002) found that when primed with death reminders, heterosexual individuals tend to compromise their ideal mate selection to form close relationships. There has also been extensive research on the differences between homosexual and heterosexual mating preferences. This study examined the effect mortality salience has on an individuals’ mate …


An Empirical Analysis Of Poverty And Income Inequality In U.S. Southeastern States, Maria Del Carmen Tellez Jan 2021

An Empirical Analysis Of Poverty And Income Inequality In U.S. Southeastern States, Maria Del Carmen Tellez

Masters Theses

This paper analyzes the impacts of education achievement, percentage of households led by a single parent, the percentage of minority population, per capita personal income, percentage of population over 65 years old, and minimum wage on income inequality in 9 southeastern states of the United States, as well as the effects of these variables on poverty, measured as the percentage of the population below poverty level. These southeastern states are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The period of time used for this analysis is from 2000 to 2019. Panel data was used for this …


Exploring Actual Social Support Using The Social Convoy Model To Assess The Impact On Depression In Adolescents, Chris Hansen Jan 2021

Exploring Actual Social Support Using The Social Convoy Model To Assess The Impact On Depression In Adolescents, Chris Hansen

Masters Theses

The current study set out to better understand the differences between availability of support and received support and explore the relation between social support and depression in late adolescents. One hundred and forty participants were recruited from a northwest suburb high school and a college from the eastern central part of Illinois. A social network was formed for each participant using a mapping technique from the Social Convoy Model. The received support measure, the UCLA Social Support Inventory, was used to assess the amount of received support participants identified from their social network. Participants completed the Late Adolescent Social Support …


Examining The Relationship Between Social Anxiety And Social Media Engagement, Emilee A. Kruchten Jan 2021

Examining The Relationship Between Social Anxiety And Social Media Engagement, Emilee A. Kruchten

Masters Theses

The relationship between social anxiety and social media has been studied looking at social networking sites as a whole, or looking at problematic use of social networking sites. However, to the authors knowledge, no research study has been conducted comparing different social media sites. This study intended to look specifically at the relationship between social anxiety and Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat in college students. Furthermore, this study assessed fear of negative evaluation, fear of positive evaluation, fear of missing out, and social comparison as potential meditators of this relationship. It was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between social …


Convergent And Discriminant Validity Of The Conners 3 Teacher Rating Scale: Comparisons With The Adjustment Scales For Children And Adolescents, Stephanie G. Buhrow Jan 2021

Convergent And Discriminant Validity Of The Conners 3 Teacher Rating Scale: Comparisons With The Adjustment Scales For Children And Adolescents, Stephanie G. Buhrow

Masters Theses

The Conners 3-Teacher Rating Scale (Conners 3-T) and the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA) are both teacher report rating scales used for school system evaluations to assess youth and adolescent psychopathology. The Conners 3-T has limited research available independent from the Conners 3 Manual assessing its validity and diagnostic utility. The purpose of the present study was to compare correlations between the Conners 3-T and the ASCA to determine convergent and discriminant validity in support of the Conners 3-T. The present study included 118 students either randomly selected by teachers (n = 111) or referred for a special …


Relationships Between Parent-Child Interactions And Sexual Attitudes, Behaviors And Online Activity In Young Adulthood, Emily Donar Jan 2021

Relationships Between Parent-Child Interactions And Sexual Attitudes, Behaviors And Online Activity In Young Adulthood, Emily Donar

Masters Theses

The current study examined correlations between parent-child relationships and its relationship with the sexual attitudes and behaviors of young adults. Participants were asked to report on their perception of communication and quality relations with their parents. The findings indicate there was a relationship between the perception of high-quality parent-child relationships, likelihood of having extensive sexual experience, tendency to hold specific sexual attitudes and the frequency of online sexual behaviors. Explanations regarding the discrepancy between previous findings and the current study were discussed, including the sexual fluency of those with conservative attitudes. The consideration of gaps in literature incorporating online sexual …


The Effects Of Imf's Lending And Conditionalities On Economic Growth: Case Of Sadc Countries, Lutete Celina Carlos Jan 2021

The Effects Of Imf's Lending And Conditionalities On Economic Growth: Case Of Sadc Countries, Lutete Celina Carlos

Masters Theses

I examine the impact of IMF credit use and its conditions on economic growth performance in 12 South African countries over a period of 1999-2019. The work adopts an empirical and quantitative approach to analyzing the relationship between the GDP per Capita, the use of IMF Credit, Government Final Consumption Expenditure, Net Domestic Credit and Current Account balance. These variables are the most recommended in the IMF conditionalities during the lending arrangements with SADC members. The study uses Fixed-effect approach to evaluate how the use of IMF program and the conditions imposed directly affects economic growth. A dummy variable is …


The Impact Of The Therapeutic Relationship On Transgender Clients’ Perceptions Of Their Therapist, Aaron Brockie Jan 2021

The Impact Of The Therapeutic Relationship On Transgender Clients’ Perceptions Of Their Therapist, Aaron Brockie

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between therapist practices, the therapeutic relationship and their impact on how transgender clients feel about their therapist. Previous research on therapist practices and the therapeutic relationship has looked into how these variables influence lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients’ feelings about their therapist, but as of yet, the dynamic has not been analyzed for transgender clients. Given the disproportionate prevalence for severe mental health issues in the transgender community, it is urgent that barriers to adequate and meaningful therapy outcomes be identified and addressed. Seventy eight participants were recruited from social …


Teacher Perceptions And Use Of Evidence-Based Discipline Practices, Taylor Robinson Jan 2021

Teacher Perceptions And Use Of Evidence-Based Discipline Practices, Taylor Robinson

Masters Theses

School discipline has been linked to significant positive and negative outcomes for both students and teachers. The current study examined the predictive power of Illinois, public school teacher variables on the use of specific discipline strategies in the classroom. One hundred eleven teachers completed a survey with vignette developed by the primary researcher which was used to assess teachers’ confidence in implementing discipline strategies, perceived effectiveness of discipline strategies, and perceptions of peer use and peer beliefs about discipline strategies. The study used descriptive statistics to identify patterns of reporting and multiple linear regressions to determine the predictive power of …


Emotions And Opinions: The Causes And Effects Of Contemporary Populism, Hunter Driggers Jan 2021

Emotions And Opinions: The Causes And Effects Of Contemporary Populism, Hunter Driggers

Masters Theses

Populism has experienced a global resurgence. Yet at the individual level, little empirical research has been conducted to validate theories surrounding this phenomenon, including claims that anger is necessary to trigger populist sentiment and that contemporary populists have a strongly negative perception of society. I conduct a novel survey experiment on US adults (n = 488) that induces anger among various groups and measures populist sentiment as well as opinions on domestic society and the global commons. I perform this examination by first comparing control and treatment groups, ascertaining anger’s impact on populist sentiment while accounting for preexisting anger and …


Branding Small Businesses In Small Communities, Lacey Jenkins Jan 2021

Branding Small Businesses In Small Communities, Lacey Jenkins

Masters Theses

Branding has grown into a vital part of communicating a brand to its audience members. Unfortunately, large portions of branding tactics are geared towards large corporations in large communities. Small and mid-sized businesses require different tactics in order to create a brand that effectively communicates its purpose and values to its consumers. Because of this, this thesis is looking at the branding tactics of a small business in Charleston, Illinois. This business, Phoenix Elite, showed weaknesses in multiple areas of its branding package. Using a literature review, the goal is to create a better understanding of what branding is, as …


Faith Down The Rabbit Hole: A Critical Rhetorical Interrogation Of Q-Anon And Parasitic Christianity, Nate Carlson Jan 2021

Faith Down The Rabbit Hole: A Critical Rhetorical Interrogation Of Q-Anon And Parasitic Christianity, Nate Carlson

Masters Theses

Over the course of the last six years, the conspiracy theory community known as Q-Anon has risen to prominence across the internet, coming to encapsulate a significant portion of the United States’ conservative and protestant populations. This study applies the act of Critical Rhetoric as proposed by McKerrow (1989) to the Q-Anon “drops”; message board posts wherein Q, the enigmatic leader of Q-Anon, preached conspiratorial ideology and misinformation to his followers. A pattern of Christian theology being usurped and retooled by Q as a method of faith-based political radicalization emerged throughout the texts, and this phenomenon was named “Parasitic Christianity.” …