Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Slot Machine Addiction: The Untold Story Of Contradictions Between Self And America's Neoliberal Risk Society, Melanie C. Falconer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The ability to take risks is nothing short of heroism in the modern United States which thrives on a diet of hyper mobility, technological progress, and globalized, deregulated “free” markets. Such relentless instability affirms scholarly contentions that the U.S. is now a “risk society.” Indeed, in Gambling with the Myth of the American Dream: The Pokerization of America, rhetoric scholar Aaron Duncan suggests that media stories of modern poker tournaments signify a collective desire to grapple with this heightened modern “chanciness” within our established gambling lore and make it cohere with our deeply cherished notions of American individualism. While Duncan …

Rate Of Latine Caregiver Involvement In The Well-Being Promotion Program Using Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Communication Practices, Nicole G. Pacateque Rodriguez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Latine and Hispanic youth tend to have higher rates of mental health disturbances in school compared to non-Latine youth, yet they are less likely to receive support (Alegría et al., 2008). Additionally, Latine families are more likely to terminate treatment for youth early due to negative stigma, lack of culturally appropriate mental health care, racial and ethnic discrimination, and linguistic and cultural barriers involving care (Kapke & Gerdes, 2016). Best practices in school-based mental health services often involve including caregivers in care (Hoover et al., 2019) as it can benefit outcomes of treatment for the child (Richards et al., 2007). …

Spatial Patterns Of Building Damages And Associated Socio-Economic Factors By Hurricane Ian, Md Zakaria Salim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literature shows that communities with different socio-economic conditions suffer from different levels of damage in disasters. In addition to the physical intensity of hazards, such disparities are also related to varying abilities to prepare for and respond to natural hazards. The study analyzes the spatial patterns of building damage in Hurricane Ian in 2022 and investigates the socio-economic disparities related to building damage. Specifically, this study employs NASA’s Damage Proxy Map (DPM2) to analyze Ian's spatial patterns of building damage. Then, it uses statistical analysis to assess the relationship between building damage and various physical and socio-economic variables at building …

Density In The Coastal High Hazard Area: How Florida Local Governments Regulate New Residential Development In Flood Zones, Abdul Samad Agha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research examines Florida local government policies that address residential development in the places where people, property, and infrastructure are most at risk from both coastal as well as inland storm surges with a purpose of identifying policy norms and variations. In Florida, these at-risk areas are categorized as Coastal High Hazard Areas (CHHA). Under Florida Statutes, the CHHA is defined as the area below the elevation of a Category 1 storm surge line and are those places most likely to be significantly damaged or submerged by sea water. Florida requires that local governments designate CHHA areas within the local …

Sociocultural Factors, Definitions, And Experiences Of Intimate Partner Violence Among Latina And Hispanic Women, Vanessa Centelles

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pressing public health concern in the United States (US), particularly for women. Some studies have shown that Hispanic and Latina women are at an elevated risk of experiencing IPV due to a notable passiveness of violence among traditional Hispanic and Latina women. Thus, it is crucial for research to examine the effects of sociocultural variables—such as cultural orientation, gender norm beliefs, and ethnic identity—on IPV within this demographic, particularly for women in the US. Furthermore, while the experiences of IPV victimization among Hispanic and Latina women have begun to be recognized in the broader …

Effectiveness Of Contact-Based Strategies On Improving Mental Illness Stigma And Help-Seeking Behaviors Within Families, B. Michelle Wilks

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is a developmental period that often involves extreme physical, psychological, and emotional changes and sometimes the experience of significant personal and social challenges. In addition to these challenges, youth are trying to find their place in the world and developing their identities, which depend heavily on their relationships with others. Adolescents who struggle with their mental health and also fail to develop meaningful connections with others, tend to have poor self-esteem, self-isolate, are ostracized by others, and have a poor social self-concept, all of which are associated with poor mental health and increased risk for suicidal ideation. The impact …

Osteoarthritis, Social Role Participation, And Satisfaction With Life: A Quantitative Study Informed By The Social Identity Model Of Identity Change (Simic), Stephanie E. Rosado

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This cross-sectional survey study utilized an adapted version of the Social Identity Model of Identity Change (SIMIC) to investigate associations between post-diagnostic factors, role salience identity changes, and satisfaction with life for U.S. adults with osteoarthritis (OA). Data were collected from 193 adults with OA using ResearchMatch. Results suggest that role limitations significantly contributed to explaining variations in role salience identity. Furthermore, a positive relationship was observed between change in role salience identity and satisfaction with life. A moderated moderation analysis assessing the interaction effects of satisfaction with role performance and social support on the relationship between role salience identity …

Cross-System Strategic Planning: An Exploratory Analysis Of Sequential Intercept Mapping, Timothy Freeman Gerhardt Ii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adults with behavioral health issues (BHIs) are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system (CJS). Local-level system fragmentation perpetuates this disparity. The following studies advance an understanding of the Sequential Intercept Mapping Workshop (SIM-W). The SIM-W is a local-level strategic planning workshop used to address gaps in services, improve local-level partnerships, and co-develop a strategic plan with marginalized groups, county leaders, and cross-system service providers to guide the implementation and delivery of evidence-based jail diversion strategies. Over 300 SIM-Ws have been conducted across the United States, incentivized through state/federal legislation. However, the SIM-W process components and outcomes remain under-explored. Specific …

Disability, Blackness, And Online Community: Black Twitter As Self-Narrative, Morgan S. Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Black disabled people, especially those with invisible disabilities, are often not included or welcomed by all in the disabled community. In addition, Black disabled individuals also face discrimination and exclusion within the Black community due to ableism. This project will be an investigation of Black disabled community and health culture in online spaces, specifically using Twitter hashtags as a starting point. This research project is about helping to write the whole story, an opportunity that my Black ancestors did not have but still demand, for our generation and those who will come after us. For this project, I conducted an …

Unveiling Estrangement: The Ambivalence Of Iranian Cultural Identity In Documentary Films, Vahid Valikhani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines estrangement within Iranian society as depicted in Iranian documentaries, which, I argue, regularly suppress the complexities of Iranian cultural identity. While Iranian narrative cinema has been studied in this context, documentaries have received less scholarly attention, despite their potential to illuminate the shortcomings of conceiving Iranian cultural identity. I examine three documentaries: Tehran Today (Ahmad Faroughi Ghajar, 1962), Newcomers (Kianoush Ayari, 1979) and Tehran Without Permission (Sepideh Farsi, 2009). Through this analysis, I uncover various forms of estrangement, including those induced by westernization, gender oppression, and the political control of what Hamid Naficy calls “mediawork.” Drawing on …

Mental Health-Seeking Behaviors For Hispanic Individuals In The United States, Ana Aluisy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This dissertation examines the complexities of mental health service (MHS) utilization among Hispanic individuals in the United States, elucidating myriad factors influencing help-seeking behaviors within this community.

Methods: This dissertation unpacks the barriers to and facilitators of MHS utilization through an integrative review and two cross-sectional studies among Hispanic college students and residents of El Paso. Additionally, the latter two studies assessed attitudes towards mental health services (ATMHS) within these subgroups.

Results: Barriers to MHS utilization included a preference for the Spanish language and the varied role of gender (male or female). The facilitators of MHS utilization included higher …

Examining Childhood Trauma And Substance Use Problems Among Justice-Involved Adolescents In Florida, Skye C. Bristol

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to assess the relationship between childhood trauma and substance use problems as latent constructs among justice-involved adolescents (JIA). Additionally, racial differences and spatial analyses were examined. Previous research underscores the limitations of conceptualizing childhood trauma solely through Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This justified integrating child welfare involvement, or out-of-home placement, as an additional indicator to develop a comprehensive scope of childhood trauma among JIA. Furthermore, current literature established that childhood trauma is a key predictor of substance misuse among JIA. However, the lack of a standardized measure of substance misuse across juvenile justice systems …

Curricula As Ideology: A Study Of Cultural Representations In Arabic As A Foreign Language (Afl) Textbooks, Zakaria Fahmi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study examines cultural representations in two widely used AFL textbook series, namely Al-Kitaab and Arabiyyat al-Naas. Fundamentally, three main issues motivate this study: (1) the cultural politics of language textbooks underlying the construction and dissemination of cultural knowledge and its prioritization of the latter on grounds of subjectivity, ideology, and power, (2) the politicization of Arabic as a foreign language (AFL) in light of the post 9/11 language advocacy, and (3) the prevailing standard language ideology of al-Arabiya al-fuṣħaa (العربية الفصحى) and the pedagogical challenges posed by Arabic diglossia. The data comprise five textbooks from the aforementioned series, …

A Longitudinal Investigation Of The Relationships Between Experiences With Sexual Harassment, Self-Objectification, And Self-Concept Clarity Among Women, Roxanne N. Felig

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This longitudinal research investigates the nuanced relationship between sexual harassment and self-concept development among both men and women over a six-week period, presenting a unified model that integrates theories of self-objectification and self-concept clarity. Across three waves of data collection (N= 370, N=315, N=279, respectively), I find evidence that women experience higher rates of sexual harassment, greater self-objectification, and lower self-concept clarity than men. Across time, I find that experiencing sexual harassment predicts heightened self-objectification, which further predicts a disrupted sense of self among both men and women. Critically, this work investigates the reciprocal nature of self-objectification and self-concept clarity, …

African Spirituality In Literature Written By Women Of African Descent, Brigét V. Harley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

African spiritual memory is the thread that connects members of the African diaspora, irrespective where we are or what we are doing. However, because of white supremacy, the longevity of African spiritual memory and its duration as a living, thriving, breathing force often becomes distorted under the weight of anti-black prejudice. This dissertation debunks the myth that people of African descent required outside input from non-Africans and Arabs to establish the world’s oldest and most studied civilizations, Ta-Seti and then the Egyptian Empire. Women writers of African descent capture the ever-present thread of African spiritual memory, providing a glimpse of …

Good Times, Politics, And Collapse: The Archaeology Of Old St. Joseph, Florida, Christopher N. Hunt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The town of St. Joseph, established in 1835, served as a deep-water port for receiving and shipping dry goods up the Apalachicola River north along the vast network of navigable inland waterways in the southeastern U.S. during the early nineteenth century. Unfortunately, this town was hit with a yellow fever epidemic, a fire, and a series of hurricanes that, combined with the infancy of its cotton trade activities, eventually devastated its economy and population. The town disappeared by 1842, only much later to be replaced by modern Port St. Joe (est. 1909), located north of the original settlement. However, St. …

The Prevalence And Perceptions Of Self-Relevant Research (“Me-Search”) In Psychological Science, Andrew R. Devendorf

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-relevant research (i.e., me-search; SRR) is research that is informed by lived experience or having close connections to a topic. The disclosure of SRR may impact how a researcher is viewed in professional contexts, like an application to graduate school, and thus can impact who is recruited and retained in psychology. Although SRR appears to be common in psychology, little systematic research exists on its prevalence by subfield of psychology or how SRR is perceived. This study examined SRR across psychology disciplines. An online survey was administered to faculty and graduate students (N = 1313) affiliated with accredited doctoral programs …

Moderating Role Of Momentary Social Anxiety In The Relationships Between Authenticity, Situational Appraisals, Expressivity, And Approach-Avoidance Motivation, Jessica A. Birg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Authenticity, the sense of being true to oneself, may be less sought out or rewarding whenconcerns with social approval and/or rejection take priority. The present study extends prior work by investigating the moderating role of momentary social anxiety in concurrent relationships between (1) perceptions of social interaction partner (i.e., feeling close to or judged by an interaction partner) and authenticity and (2) expressivity while socializing and authenticity. This study also aimed to identify (3) how momentary social anxiety moderates the prospective relationship between authenticity and social approach/avoidance motivation. Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), data was collected from 55 participants over …

Tangled Threads: The Emerging Ideology Of Far-Right Islamic Conservatism In The Muslim Diaspora, Veli John Muhammed Aydoner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary political science literature has done well to cover the recent resurgence of the far-right within Western political discourse. However, one notable blind spot within this literature comes from an even more recent development: Far-Right Islamic Conservatism (FRIC). FRIC represents an ideology constructed through an attempted synthesis of far-right conservative political thought with a particular interpretation of the Western Muslim and Islamic identities. This paper seeks to help alleviate this gap in the literature by contextualizing the foundations of FRIC’s attempted theoretical synthesis and by exploring its engagements within Western political discourse. Following a formative assessment of FRIC’s ideological development, …

Corporate Social Responsibility And Social Media Influencers: Effectiveness Of Csr Brand-Endorsed Messaging On Consumers, Hannah Sarmiento

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Corporate social responsibility and social media influencers have both become key components in corporations’ strategic communication. Social media influencers who are knowledgeable on the subject they are communicating have been found to be influential on consumers attitudes and behaviors. Fit between brand-endorsed messages and the spokesperson have also been found to have similar effects. Grounded in the Source Credibility Model and Congruence Theory, the study aimed to identify and analyze the main and interaction effects of perceived expertise of social media influencers and perceived fit between a brand and its social media influencer on consumer attitudes and behaviors. The research …

Comparative Analysis Of Abortion Coverage In Cnn And Fox News From The Perspective Of Agenda Setting Theory, Xinyu Chang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of media framing on public perception and discourse concerning the contentious issue of abortion legislation, as delineated by two major U.S. news outlets, CNN and Fox News. Incorporating the principles of Agenda-Setting and Framing theories, this research utilizes a textual analysis approach to dissect the narrative structures, framing strategies, and the role of key actors within the media outlets' coverage. The investigation focuses on news articles published between 2010 and 2022, applying both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to scrutinize linguistic constructs, framing techniques, and potential biases.

A comprehensive analysis reveals marked ideological disparities, viewpoints, and …

Exploring Educational Equity: An Ethnographic Case Study Of Non-Profit Initiatives In Early Childhood Education, Jovana Jovanovic

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Quality early childhood education is acknowledged as a crucial factor in paving the way for academic success and societal contribution. Childhood experiences greatly influence individual life trajectories, significantly shaping future endeavors. This research delves into the intricate dynamics between socioeconomic status (SES), educational outcomes, and non-profit organizations, emphasizing the challenges faced by students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. While factors such as limited resources, financial constraints, and substandard living conditions have been linked to negative consequences on educational attainment, this research seeks to understand the specific role of non-profits in enhancing educational opportunities. By shedding light on collaborative efforts between local …

Influence Of Merck Gardasil 9 Advertisements On Male Vaccination Behavior Through A Health Belief Model Framework, Lauren Kierpa

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Merck’s Gardasil advertisements for human papillomavirus (HPV) traditionally targeted women, thus feminizing the vaccine (Daley et al., 2017). With the release of newer gender-neutral Gardasil vaccine advertisements, this study seeks to understand the influence this campaign has on college-aged males’ intent to vaccinate. This study, grounded in the health belief model, analyzes the “Numbers Move You” advertisement through in-depth interviews. Then, for increased validity, a textual analysis of Merck Gardasil broadcast advertisements was conducted with the health belief model as a framework. The health belief model seeks to understand the reasoning behind health behavior change. The health belief model includes …

The Theoretical Epigenetic Relationship Between Complex-Ptsd And Adhd In Holocaust Survivors’ Descendants, Y. Sahara Brodsky

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When comparing ADHD and Complex-PTSD, these two disorders share many overlapping features in both areas of the brain that are affected and the behavioral aspects due to deficits in certain brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex. It is due to this similarity that I predict that c-PTSD is the precursor to the development of ADHD in later generations. Through epigenetic changes that are consistent with c-PTSD diagnosis, these changes to the brain are then passed down the generational line. When this is combined with trauma transference and generational trauma, it creates a situation where both the behaviors inform how …

No Change No Gain: A Comparative Framing Analysis Of The Nfl’S Inspire Change Campaign, Kia K. Cannon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research provides a basis for understanding how public relations practitioners should present CSR initiatives in their organizations and how the media may interpret its initiatives. The researcher analyzed how the NFL framed its Inspire Change campaign and how it was translated in the media. First, a qualitative textual analysis determined how the NFL strategically framed its newly founded social justice initiative. Then, another textual analysis examined how the media framed the Inspire Change initiative and if the NFL’s preferred frames were reflected in the media. The results reveal that while two out of three of the NFL’s frames of …

Parents As Reporters Of Middle School Students’ Subjective Well-Being, Daijah N. Hines

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Historically, self-report has been the predominant method for assessing the subjective well-being of adolescents (SWB). Regarding the use of secondary reporters, especially parental/caregiver reports, in assessing adolescent SWB, there is a gap in the literature. Gaining a better understanding of how to best evaluate adolescent SWB can assist in the identification of adolescents who may be at risk for mental health concerns or who could benefit from increased well-being. It may also assist in the development of future interventions in positive psychology for adolescents. This validity study explored (1) What is the reliability of a newly developed parent report measure …

Empowering Populist Politics: Social Media Use In The Us And Uk, James M. Howley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modern advancements in technology, in particular the rise in influence and popularity of social media platforms, have had a profound effect on the political landscape. The way in which political actors conduct their campaigns therefore requires significant analysis. Populist campaigns have particularly benefitted from the political influence of social media platforms. This research therefore looks at two significant political events from 2016, the Presidential Election campaign of Donald J. Trump in the United States and the 'Vote Leave' Brexit referendum campaign from the United Kingdom. Utilizing Manuel Castells' 'Network Society' (1990) as the theoretical framework for the research, this analysis …

Lights, Camera, Recruitment: Analyzing Dod-Hollywood Synergy And Its Effects On Attitudes And Behaviors Towards The Military, Jose-Andres Leon-Gil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to research priming effects on DoD influenced films and uncover if there are significant effects affecting attitudes, beliefs, military support, and behaviors. This study is important because there is a lack of literature on the effects of DoD-influenced films. A portion of top grossing films are influenced by the DoD while there is little research on the effects consumers have. This study conducted an experiment testing the effects of behaviors and attitudes when a priming stimulus is presented. The priming stimulus was a military-influenced film clip and a military advertisement. Three groups were made, …

Examining Localized Communication, Political Action, And Polarization In The 108th Senate, Mitchell Popovic

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis answers the call by Neal (2020) to provide the first study of positive and negative direct relations between senators, and by doing so, converges normative communicative praxis with the contemporary study of legislative networks under the auspices of communicatively constituted organizationality (CCO). The broad range of academic research on legislative networks, like the U.S. Senate, have long studied the political behaviors of senators via indirect social ties of mutual participation. The work presented here crosses that gap with a sentiment analysis of interpersonal statements of senators to/about a second—or possibly more—senator(s) during the 108th Congress (2003-2005) to construct …

“Urban Renewal” Surrounding Florida Solar Plants: A Study On Low-Carbon Gentrification, Megan Amber Grove

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Renewable energy and sustainable living are growing trends in Florida as the state “develops” rural landscapes and “redevelops” urban ones, resulting in neighborhood changes, including displacement of low-income and minority populations (LIMP). Solar energy has not historically been a root cause of such changes, but in recent years it has increasingly accompanied neighborhood development which prioritizes the interests of the elite and middle class. As such, it has become a contributor to “urban renewal,” which must be addressed to avoid future LIMP displacement. This study used geospatial and data science technologies and techniques to empirically explore and analyze urbanization and …