Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Medical Trauma In Pediatric And Adult Patients With Crohn's And Ulcerative Colitis, Catherine Raupe

Senior Theses and Projects

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a term that is used to classify Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. It is abundantly clear from past literature that hospitalizations and surgery can lead to PTSD (Taft et al., 2019). However, past research has not examined the impact that smaller procedures, such as infusions, can have on an individual’s mental health. Patients at Connecticut Children’s Infusion Center were recruited during their infusion appointments. After obtaining consent, patients completed questionnaires measuring their felt stigma and concealment, PTSD, and depression and anxiety symptoms. The research team completed medical chart reviews to identify the types of medications participants …

Performing Identity On Social Media: Ethno-Nationalism In A Digitised India, Tara Iyer

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Comparative Analysis Of State-Funded Rental Assistance Voucher Programs In Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, And New Jersey, Syann Mannings, Fernando A. Rendon-Lopez, Syann A. Mannings, Jason Mendelson

Senior Theses and Projects

The decline in support for public housing investment in the U.S. prompted the federal government to pivot towards tenant-based rental subsidies by establishing the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, a revised version of Section 8, in 1998 (Edson, 2011). Through the HCV program, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), low-income households can receive rental subsidies without being locked into a neighborhood or rental unit, allowing for increased socio-economic mobility. Despite the federal government's rental assistance through the HCV program, limited funding and strict eligibility requirements make it challenging to meet the …

Do Resilience And Treatment Satisfaction Moderate The Association Between Adhd And Quality Of Life?, Allison Macht

Senior Theses and Projects

This study examined how resilience moderated the association between ADHD symptom severity and general Quality of Life (QoL) in emerging adults. Using data from an anonymous online survey distributed at six US colleges/universities, participants (N=4396; 73% female-identifying; 72% White) reported on ADHD symptomatology and their diagnostic status; resilience; perceived QoL; and satisfaction with pharmacological and behavioral treatment for ADHD (if diagnosed). As hypothesized, overall ADHD severity was inversely associated with the different facets of QoL (rs = -.18 to -.29). However, contrary to our hypothesis, inattentive symptoms showed larger inverse associations with QoL compared to hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. There was a …

“Everyone Is Welcome Here”: Exploring Inclusion And Belonging In Little Five Points, Atlanta, Georgia, Through Murals As A Form Of Placemaking, Cora Rydingsword

Senior Theses and Projects

This senior thesis explores the potential of murals to promote community inclusion and a sense of belonging. It proposes a typology for understanding murals as a form of placemaking used to examine murals in Little Five Points, Atlanta, Georgia. This case study examines the relationship between murals and their effects on inclusion and belonging in the urban environment. By looking closely at three categories of murals (unsanctioned murals, commissioned murals, and advertisements disguised as murals), this study determines that effective placemaking through murals requires prioritizing community involvement.

The Relationship Between Social Media And Conspiracist Thinking On Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake, Gillianne Nugent

Senior Theses and Projects

Previous research has found a relationship between COVID-19 vaccine conspiracist beliefs, social media use, and COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The current study aimed to expand on previous findings to investigate the potential moderating effect of social media on the relationships between conspiracist beliefs, trust in experts, and political conservatism on vaccine uptake. Additionally, the current study examined two age groups (20-30 year olds and 50-60 year olds). Trust was measured using a Trust Scale (developed by researchers); Vaccine conspiracy beliefs were measured using an expanded version of the Vaccine Conspiracy Belief Questions (Shapiro et al., 2016); Frequency of social media use …

Unraveling Tensions: A Study Of Montenegro's Interethnic Dynamics And Sociopolitical Shifts In The Wake Of The 2019 Law On Religious Freedom, Teodora Brnovic

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Politics Of Urban Design: Racist Agendas Built Into The Environment, Chassidy Titley

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Trauma & Conspiracist Thinking On Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake, Lauren Bessette

Senior Theses and Projects

Previous research has found a relationship between childhood trauma & COVID-19 vaccine uptake and conspiracy beliefs & COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The current study intended to expand upon previous research findings to examine the potential mediating effects of trust and worldview on the relationship of childhood trauma, conspiracy theories, and vaccine uptake, as well as examining the potential differences between different age groups (20–30-year old’s and 50–60-year old’s) and gender (male and female). Trauma was measured using the Adverse Childhood Experience Scale (Fellitti et al., 1998); Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form (Bernstein et al., 2003); vaccine conspiracy beliefs was measured …

The Influence Of Preventive Dental Care And Its Role On The Patient-Provider Relationship, Maria Figueroa

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Surface: Understanding The “Blurred Lines” Of Sexual Dynamics And Consent In Trinity College's Hookup Scene, Zoe Kon

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis explores the complex interplay of sexual behaviors, consent, and campus culture at Trinity College through qualitative ethnographic research. Delving into the nuances of hookup culture, a prevalent social phenomenon, the research examines how it often blurs the boundaries between consensual and non-consensual sexual interactions. Thirty in-depth interviews with Trinity College students reveal the intricate dynamics of consent communication and understanding within this context. The findings highlight significant gaps in students' communication about boundaries and consent, driven by the pressures of social capital and the normalization of alcohol-fueled encounters. The theme of blurred lines emerges as a central issue, …

Spending Money In The Neighborhood? Trinity College, The Hartford Economy, And The Spending Habits Of College Students, Jack Godin

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

妻(Tsuma) Is Not 奥さん (Okusan) Hidden Figures In Japan: Japanese Housewives, Xingyuan Zhang

Senior Theses and Projects

In spoken Japanese, a husband will use妻 (tsuma) to refer to his own wife and use奥さん (okusan) to refer to the wife of another. The kanji for奥 (oku) means “deep inside” with 奥さん (okusan) carrying the literal meaning of “someone who is deeply hiding inside of the house”. Thus, this term illustrates the expectations for the wife to remain hidden deeply inside of the house, revealing how Japanese housewives are hidden figures in Japan.

The thesis shows the social situations of Japanese women and analyzes the pressures that lead Japanese women to become to housewives. The popular Japanese TV show …

What Is The Deal With Federal Student Loans?, Marissa Lopez-Ona

Senior Theses and Projects

Student loan debt is in the trillions. So why aren't Americans more mad about that? This thesis explores the how the submerged nature of student loan policy shapes the politics around it. Suzanne Mettler suggest that federal student loan policy is part of the submerged state where Americans do not "see" the role of government within the student loan program. However, I argue that this is not that reason. I argue and show through an original survey that the role of federal student loan servicers is actually what is hidden about federal student loan policy. And that revealing the role …

Windows Of The World: Postmodern Urbanism In Los Angeles And Shenzhen, Calvin Horning

Senior Theses and Projects

This work draws upon the ideas of Edward Soja and other spatial theorists to compare the postmodern urban development of Los Angeles and Shenzhen, China. Both cities have undergone rapid growth and become major urban metropolises, offering potential paradigmatic forms for contemporary urban studies. The thesis is based on the ideas of the LA School of Urbanism, of which Soja was a part, and reviews the school’s collective case for Los Angeles as a paradigmatic city for the postmodern age. This work then compares this account of Los Angeles with Shenzhen, a city that has risen from nothing to one …

Limitations Of Law Enforcement Involvement In Harm Reduction: A Multivariate Analysis Of State-Level Policies And Overdose Deaths, Marilyn L. Brach

Senior Theses and Projects

Research Question: How do state-level policies authorizing law enforcement to carry and administer Narcan while on duty shape overdose mortality?

Methods: State-level policies Narcan administration policies were examined and categorized. A cross-sectional regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors influencing state variation in drug overdose deaths. Following bivariate analysis, a panel regression analysis was then executed to precisely estimate the relationship between state-level law enforcement Narcan administration policies and drug overdose deaths.

Results: The cross-sectional analysis provided findings that were largely consistent with the current literature. A higher proportion of non-Hispanic white individuals and a higher proportion of individuals …

Exploring Possibility Under Constraint: A Human Rights Approach To Higher Education In Connecticut’S Prisons And Jails, Emma Hersom

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis investigates the landscape of higher education in prison (HEP) programs in Connecticut, aiming to evaluate their efficacy in ensuring a genuine right to education for incarcerated individuals. Through a comprehensive exploration grounded in human rights principles and informed by abolitionist perspectives, the research scrutinizes the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and adaptability of these programs. Drawing on insights from incarcerated students, program leaders, and existing scholarship, it delves into the intersection of education and incarceration, challenging prevailing neoliberal narratives. Furthermore, the thesis proposes actionable strategies for everyday abolition, emphasizing the need to dismantle carceral cultures and foster transformative approaches to …

Building Trust To Extinguish Burnout: A Qualitative Study Of Hospital, State, And Federal Policies That Impact Pediatric Nurse Burnout In Connecticut, Cecelia Angelica Morello

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis explores how federal and state governments, as well as individual hospitals, respond or fail to respond to pediatric nurse burnout. The problem of nurse burnout is not new, and can cause nurses to make mistakes on shift, experience increased anxiety and depression, and increase risk of patient death or injury. Solutions to burnout in healthcare workers have been organized at the hospital, state, and federal government level. However, this thesis examines a lack of research on pediatric nurse burnout more specifically. After reviewing the national landscape of hospital-based solutions, short-term policy solutions, and long-term policy solutions, I examine …

A Case For Abolition: Analyzing The Death Penalty In The United States, Abigail E. Nick

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis delves into the multifaceted debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States, exploring its constitutionality, morality, and implications for the justice system. Drawing from legal, philosophical, and empirical analyses, it argues against the continued practice of capital punishment, contending that it violates fundamental human rights, inhibits rehabilitation efforts, and fails to align with evolving societal norms. The discussion navigates through historical contexts, international perspectives, and philosophical theories of punishment, examining the right to life, methods of punishment, and evolving standards of decency. It underscores the tension between retributive justice and the protection of human rights, highlighting the …

Zamrock: Negotiating Masculine Urban Identity In Zambia And Music Success In A Postcolonial World, Emeline Avignon

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis analyzes, through predominately an ethnomusicologist approach and methodology, the lyricism, instrumentation, performance, and album art of the movement of Zamrock in Zambia from 1970 to the mid-1980s. I explore the agency and construction of urban youth masculinity by Zamrock artists in the context of Zambia’s colonial history of the Copperbelt, into its decades after independence. First, I look at the socio-political and economic context of colonized and independent Zambia, and how out of these conditions Zambian rock music was fused and forged. I break down the negotiations and desires of Zamrock artists in their identity construction via their …