Digital Commons Network^™

Adolescent Students’ Adaptability During The Covid-19 Pandemic Impacting Their Academic Preparedness In College: A Qualitative Exploration Of Resilience In Secondary School Disruptions, Nicole Tyanne Jameson

Dissertations

This study, conducted several years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, takes a unique approach to investigating the long-term effects of the pandemic-induced disruptions on adolescents during secondary schooling and their academic preparedness in college. The study combined a descriptive qualitative analysis of academic routine data with quantifiable resilience scores, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges students faced, their adaptability and resilience, and the overall impact on their education journey into college. This comprehensive descriptive qualitative study utilizes triangulation of quantitative data and qualitative approaches to understand the subject matter thoroughly. The quantitative scores meticulously analyzed resiliency and …

Demographic Characteristics And Selected Personality Traits Of Women In Competitive Bodybuilding, Chloe A. Zeeuw

Master's Theses

This study investigated demographic characteristics and measures of personality (dimensions of performance perfectionism and five-factor model characteristics) in women in competitive bodybuilding between 18-25 years old. A total of 24 women completed an online survey which included a demographic questionnaire, the Five Factor Model Rating Form (FFMRF), and the Performance Perfectionism Scale for Sport (PPSS) inventories. Descriptive results for the FFMRF were Openness (18.17±3.12), Conscientiousness (25.58±3.33), Extraversion (19.96±3.46), Agreeableness (19.88±4.58), and Neuroticism (15.67±4.94), and for the PPS-S were Self-oriented performance perfectionism (20.96±3.53), Socially prescribed performance perfectionism (13.96±4.26), and Other-oriented performance perfectionism (10.54±4.23). Pearson’s correlation coefficients and Shapiro-Wilk tests revealed that …

Objective Phone Use During Time With One’S Partner: Associations With Relationship And Individual Well-Being, Brandon T. Mcdaniel Phd, Sabrina Uva, Victor P. Cornet, Michelle Drouin

Health Services and Informatics Research

When a person chooses to interact with their phone instead of their partner (e.g., technoference, phubbing), it may diminish interactional quality, relationship satisfaction, and well-being. However, much of the research on technology use in relationships has utilized self-reports. We extend prior work by objectively measuring smartphone use in a sample of 247 adult participants (75% women; mean age = 30.87 years) to better understand the extent of use around one’s partner and the connection between this use and relational and personal well-being. Participants completed an online baseline survey and 8 days of phone tracking and nightly time diaries. On average, …

Identity Resolution In Feminists Raised Catholic: A Narrative Analysis Of Life Histories, Carlotta Reinhardt, Lauren E. Duncan

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Using narrative analysis of life histories, we explored the interplay between Catholic religious background, identity formation, and feminist activism. We used data from 13 oral histories of feminist and LGBTQ+ activists in the US and Italy who were raised Catholic. In the first stage of Downing and Roush’s model of feminist identity development, passive acceptance, religion can play a significant role. We found that whether religion is central to a person's worldview or not, and whether it is rigid or flexible, influence how individuals handle identity conflicts related to gender and sexuality during the revelation stage. Dissonances were caused by …

The Connection Between Workplace Wellness Activities And Job Satisfaction In Manufacturing, Lori Scott Dreiling

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Employers in all industries are concerned with creating and maintaining a workplace where their employees are engaged in their work. Job dissatisfaction is shown to lead to higher levels of turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism. The purpose of this quantitative study will be to examine the connection between workplace wellness activity participation and job satisfaction, specifically for manufacturers in Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas, and Northeast Oklahoma. Manufacturers have experienced increased global competition in the last three decades, not just for their products or services but for quality talent. The value of this study is to show manufacturing employers that by providing …

Adolescent Online Leisure, Media Literacy, Online Victimization, And Multifaceted Well-Being During Covid-19: The Role Of Parental Support, Yunqi Wang

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The rapid advancement of the internet and digital technology has provided opportunities for adolescents to conduct leisure activities online on a daily basis. However, research on adolescent technology use and mental health often highlights negative effects without carefully examining the specific mechanisms, which overlooks the complexity of effects of online behaviors on adolescent well-being and the importance of developing adolescents’ media literacy skills. Moreover, despite the crucial role of family dynamics in adolescent development, research on how parental support and involvement might affect adolescent technology use and well-being is still limited. The current study retrieved data from Programme for International …

Hormonal Modulation Of Sexual Approach And Avoidance Among Women With A History Of Sexual Trauma, Anneliis Susan Sartin-Tarm

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

A history of sexual trauma places women at a high risk for sexual dysfunction and other health sequelae, yet the influence of ovarian hormones in this population is poorly understood. This dissertation tested the theory that the effects of ovarian hormones are mediated by cognitive approach-avoidance systems to shape sexual well-being, and that this process is moderated by sexual trauma history. This was investigated across three studies examining the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptive use, and menopause. Across each chapter, I present complementary evidence demonstrating that hormones interact with the interpretation of ambiguous internal and external cues with respect to sexual …

Chronic Pain After Traumatic Brain Injury: Treatment Experiences And Effects On Cognition And Functioning, Rachael L. Snyder

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can contribute to changes in cognitive and emotional functioning, quality of life, and psychosocial reintegration. Chronic pain is a common consequence of TBI which can uniquely impact such outcomes. Still, the exact nature of the contribution of pain on post-TBI outcomes remains unclear, and there are few existing studies exploring the treatment journey for chronic pain and injury rehabilitation through qualitative methods, specifically individual interviews with TBI survivors. This study aimed to document these narratives and to identify precisely how the experiences of TBI survivors seeking treatments, rather than the treatments themselves, impact outcomes. It also …

Resilience Of Interdependent Transportation And Healthcare Systems: A Simulation-Driven Framework Incorporating Social Equity And Facility Optimization, S. Yasaman Ahmadi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The overarching goal of this dissertation is to develop an integrated, simulation-driven framework to assess and enhance the resilience of interdependent transportation and healthcare systems before, during, and after natural hazards. By examining how spatial disruptions, social vulnerability, operational constraints, and infrastructure interdependencies affect access to and functionality of hospitals, this research offers a multifaceted evaluation of system performance under stress. This dissertation examines the impact of natural hazards, particularly floods, on the interdependent transportation and healthcare systems. The proposed approach combines and advances GIS-based network analysis, graph-theoretical modeling, and discrete-event simulation to evaluate system performance under different scenarios. The …

“Self-Compassion Has To Be The Heartbeat Of How I Move Through Life”: A Mixed Methods Study Of Family Caregiver Emotional Well-Being, Sarah O. Rasby

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Often referred to as “hidden patients,” family caregivers endure numerous physical, emotional, psychological, and social hardships due to the demands of caregiving, which often results in their own needs going unmet. With the projected 61.3 million of the baby boomer generation entering the long-term care phase by 2029 along with a mass shortage of professional caregivers post-pandemic, more and more family members are expected to fill in for the role of care without sufficient access to support services (Pollard & Scommegna, 2014; Smith & Chang, 2016). An exploratory, mixed-methods study using a three-group intervention design was utilized to investigate the …

Experiences Of Disclosure Among Transgender And Gender Diverse Sexual Assault Survivors, Merle E. Huff Ii

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Around half of TGD people have experienced sexual assault victimization (Abern et al., 2023; Clements-Nolle et al., 2006; James et al., 2016; Martin et al., 2022; Risser et al., 2005; Stotzer, 2009), which leads to higher rates of depression and PTSD (Grant et al., 2011; Grocott et al., 2023; Fernández-Rouco et al., 2017; Hawkey et al., 2021; Matsuzaka & Koch, 2019; Parr, 2020; Ussher et al., 2020). Disclosure of victimization may be important among TGD survivors. The current study was guided by minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) and the gender minority stress and resiliency model (Testa et al., 2015) to …

Intergenerational Family Dynamics Among Caregivers And Children’S Social-Emotional Development In China, Weiman Xu

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The early years of a child’s life are pivotal for social-emotional development. While extensive research has explored the role of family settings in fostering children's social-emotional development (Bornstein, 2005), the impact of grandparental involvement, particularly the caregiving dynamics between generations, remains less well understood. This study aims to fill this gap by examining two critical aspects of intergenerational dynamics among caregivers (i.e. parent-grandparent coparenting and parent-grandparent relationship quality) and their associations with children’s social-emotional development (i.e. social skills and problem behaviors). Two specific aims were delineated: 1) examine the unique contribution of parent-grandparent coparenting, especially the power and authority domain …

The Relationship Between Total Serum Cholesterol And Hypertensive Outcomes Among Women 50-60 Years Old: Findings From The Framingham Heart Study, Sierra Smith

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective: To assess whether total serum cholesterol (TSC) among middle-aged women is associated with subsequent hypertension while accounting for potential confounders.

Methods: A sample of 853 adults who identify as women, aged 50-60, from the Framingham Heart Study 1948-1972 cohort was selected for this study. Participants' TSC was measured at baseline, and they were followed for 24 years for cardiovascular disease outcomes or death. The outcome of interest in this study was hypertension. A multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between TSC and hypertension while controlling for age, glucose, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure.

Results: Compared to …

Pediatric Occupational Therapists’ Perception On How Nature-Based Play Affects Fine Motor Development, Abbi M. Rosenow

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aimed to explore the benefits of nature-based pediatric occupational therapy and the influence of nature and nature-based play on fine motor development. It was hypothesized that nature and nature-based play would positively impact a child’s fine motor skills, and that nature-based occupational therapy would offer unique benefits to a child’s therapeutic experience. To examine these relationships, a survey was distributed to pediatric occupational therapists across the United States. The survey was designed to gather insights into how occupational therapy supports fine motor development, how nature-based play/therapy enhances these skills, and the perceived benefits of incorporating nature into therapeutic …

Readiness Of Universitas Indonesia To Be An Inclusive Campus For People With Disabilities, Dumilah Ayuningtyas, Tri Auri Putri Ayuningtyas, Anita Pebrina Lubis, Anindya Naila Sabahat, Ratih Oktarina, Afaf Jauhar

Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi

Ensuring equal education rights remains a challenge in Indonesia, despite constitutional mandates and the global commitment to “no one left behind.” The Disability Participation Rate remains low; in 2023, only 21.03% of individuals aged 19–23 were included. This reflects, among other factors, the limited preparedness of educational institutions. This study evaluates Universitas Indonesia’s readiness to develop inclusive education for persons with physical, sensory, mental, and intellectual disabilities. Using the capability approach, it assesses whether institutional resources can be translated into capability-enhancing conditions for students with disabilities. The study draws on literature review, targeted document searches, SWOT analysis, IFE-EFE matrices, and …

The Real Story Of “The Happy Mother”: A Narrative Inquiry Exploring The Construction Of Motherhood And Postpartum Depression, Elizabeth Erin Falconer

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The transition to motherhood is a complex and challenging period, during which mothers undergo a considerable number of biological, hormonal, and identity changes. The first six to eight weeks following childbirth is a time of great susceptibility to postpartum depression for mothers. Despite its prevalence, there is a lack of research beyond the biological understanding of the experience. Prior literature has examined the biological aspects of postpartum depression and its societal influences on motherhood. However, no prior study has explored how postpartum depression impacts mothers’ construction and understanding of motherhood through investigating their subjective, lived experiences. This study fills that …

Organizational Health Literacy In Pediatric Cardiovascular Programs, Eva Gomez

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Health literacy refers to a person’s ability to access, understand and use health-related information in order to effectively manage one's health and navigate healthcare experiences. This responsibility does not rest solely upon the individual; healthcare organizations also have a vital role in assisting individuals in accessing, understanding and using health information through their interactions with the healthcare system. Organizational health literacy (OHL) can serve as a strategy to ensure that all individuals have equitable access to health information and services. The Ten Attributes of a Health Literate Healthcare Organization established the foundational principles of organizational health literacy. The present study …

The Associations Of Childhood Adversities And Mental Disorders With Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors - Results From The World Mental Health International College Student Initiative, Philippe Mortier, Xue Yang, Yasmin Altwaijri, Jacob Holdcraft, Nancy Sampson, Yesica Albor, Ahmad Alhadi, Jordi Alonso, Nouf Al-Saud, Lukoye Atwoli

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Objective: To investigate the associations of demographic variables, childhood adversities (CAs), and mental disorders (MDx) with onset, transition, and persistence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among first-year university students.

Method: Poisson regression models within a discrete-time survival framework were constructed using web-based self-report survey data from 72,288 incoming university students across 18 countries (response rate=20.9%; median age=19 years, 57.9% female, 1.4% transgender, 21.0% non-heterosexual). These models examined the associations of four demographic variables, five CAs, and eight MDx with STB outcomes.

Results: Lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts was 47.0%, 26.0%, and 9.6%, respectively; 12-month estimates were …

Supporting Autistic Students' Mental Wellness: A Community Readiness Model Approach, Cady Walker

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Autism spectrum disorder or difference (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability, usually identified during childhood. However, many adults miss the opportunity for diagnosis during childhood due to previous misunderstandings about autism presentation, camouflaging behaviors, and misdiagnoses. While current diagnostic tools for assessing autism in children are more robust, similar measures are lacking for adults who were not diagnosed in childhood. This gap poses risks for poor mental health outcomes among adults who missed a timely ASD diagnosis, which can be especially challenging for autistic college students. Although some higher education institutions offer support programs for autistic students, most do not, …

Large-Scale Genome-Wide Analyses Of Stuttering, Hannah G Polikowsky, Alyssa C Scartozzi, Douglas M Shaw, Dillon G Pruett, Hung-Hsin Chen, Lauren E Petty, Alexander S Petty, Emily J Lowther, Shu-Hsien Cho, Yao Yu, Sahar Mozaffari, Christy L Avery, Kathleen Mullan Harris, Reyna L Gordon, Janet M Beilby, Kathryn Z Viljoen, Robin M Jones, Chad D Huff, Heather M Highland, Shelly Jo Kraft, Jennifer E Below

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Developmental stuttering is a highly heritable, common speech condition characterized by prolongations, blocks and repetitions of speech. Although stuttering is highly heritable and enriched within families, the genetic architecture is largely understudied. We reasoned that there are both shared and distinct genetic variants impacting stuttering risk within sex and ancestry groups. To test this idea, we performed eight primary genome-wide association analyses of self-reported stuttering that were stratified by sex and ancestry, as well as secondary meta-analyses of more than one million individuals (99,776 cases and 1,023,243 controls), identifying 57 unique loci. We validated the genetic risk of self-reported stuttering …

Seeking Existential Meaning In The “Sea Of Trees:” A Qualitative Exploration In The Depths Of Japan’S Aokigahara “Suicide” Forest, Sophia Bates

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis explores the intercultural perceptions of suicidality and the role that these perceptions have on meaning of life in Japanese culture through an exploratory, autoethnographic analysis of my journey walking through Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide” Forest. In June 2024, I traveled to Fujikawaguchiko, Japan to conduct an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences walking through Aokigahara Forest using shinrin-yoku and mindful walking (Jung, 2014) as supplemental research methodologies to make empirical observations and take notes on my journey walking through suicide forest as an embodied sensory experience. Drawing upon the research and ideas of cultural anthropologist and existential philosopher Ernest Becker, …

Rebounds Reconsidered: Exploring Perceived Causes And Consequences Of People's Beliefs About Rebound Relationships, Hunter Krampe

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Romantic breakups are common and can significantly impact emotional well-being. Many individuals enter rebound relationships despite the prevailing belief that these relationships are disingenuous or unhealthy. While limited empirical research exists, some studies suggest rebound relationships may have positive effects, contradicting common advice. This study examined perceptions of rebound relationships, assessing whether individuals who entered a new relationship shortly after a breakup (3 weeks) were perceived more negatively than those who waited longer (3 months). Using a 2x2 experimental design, participants rated targets on emotional state, personality traits, and expected relationship stability. Results indicated that rebounders were not perceived as …

'Managed Hearts’ In Helper-Education: Gender Non-Binary Helper-Educators’ Experiences Of Emotional Labor, Jordan Pearce

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The unique experiences of people who identify with a gender beyond the binary paradigm dominant in the Global West are not well understood. The literature provides little insight into the experiences and perspectives of these individuals in a variety of contexts, including in their workplaces. As various social movements collide, they bring amplified attention to the mental health of marginalized communities and to workers, as well as the dynamics of modern work environments, and the specific needs of certain individuals doing certain types of work. The current study explored the experiences of gender non-binary individuals (GNI) working as helper-educators engaged …

Analyzing High-Risk Fertility Behavior For Sustainable Maternal-Child Health: A 2017 Sociodemographic Study In Urban And Rural Indonesia, Asti Annisa Utami, Fadhaa Aditya Kautsar Murti, Popy Yuniar, Milla Herdayati

Kesmas

Indonesia's goal of achieving Indonesia Emas 2045 hinges on improving Maternal-Child Health (MCH), essential for building a healthy and competitive population. Despite some advancements, the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) remain high, particularly because of High-Risk Fertility Behavior (HRFB). The HRFB poses significant risks to MCH, affecting both urban and rural women. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with HRFB in these areas to enhance MCH outcomes and support Indonesia's sustainable health goals. This cross-sectional study used a secondary dataset from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Survey. A total of 20,530 women of reproductive …

Will There Be A Pill For That? ‘Money Dysmorphia’ And The Medicalization Of Struggles For Subsistence, Bojan Savic

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

This article questions the rationality, operation, and effects of money dysmorphia as an emerging mental health diagnosis. It critiques the medicalization of financial angst amid the capitalist “polycrisis”, showing how the individuation and somatic pathologization of class subordination, socioeconomic precarity, and struggles for subsistence obscure capitalist inequalities, depoliticize them, and shield them from critique. I identify five concurrent strategies through which struggles for subsistence are medicalized: trivialization, reversal of social import, repetition, direct depoliticization, and the substitution of inequality with poverty. Furthermore, I show how the medicalizing discourse reifies money dysmorphia by constructing its social costs. The article concludes by …

The Processes That Contribute To Readiness To Learn For An Accelerated Nursing Graduate: A Grounded Theory Study, Kaye A.L. Whyte

Theses & Dissertations

The worldwide nursing shortage has led to maintaining an adequate nursing workforce as a global challenge. Increased recruitment efforts have fostered changes to some educational programs, giving rise to the proliferation of Accelerated Nursing Programs (ACCEL). These accelerated nursing programs are a highly successful way of educating future registered nurses, leading to concerns by registered nurses, hospital administrators, and nursing faculty who question the transitional competence of graduates from Accelerated Nursing Programs. The purpose of this study was to understand the transition processes for accelerated nursing graduates. The intended impact of this research was important to nursing for two reasons: …

Inequality And Covid Risk At School: Racial Disparities In Indoor Density, Vaccination Rates, And Consequences For Absenteeism, Michael C. Quinn, Michah W. Rothbart, Amy Ellen Schwartz, Brian Elbel

Center for Policy Research

During the COVID pandemic, schools were widely believed to be a venue that facilitated disease transmission. While some worried Black and Hispanic students would disproportionately face greater risk of COVID exposure at school (school COVID risk) – given well-documented racially disparate school environments and resources – little empirical evidence exists documenting or refuting potential disparities in school COVID risk. This paper begins to fill this gap by examining racial disparities in the school environments that contribute to COVID risk at school—specifically, vaccination rates and classroom space per pupil (indoor density) - in New York City elementary schools. We then document …

Analysis Of Ringside Physician Stoppages In Professional Mixed Martial Arts., Andy Suarez, Justin Braun, Corey Peacock, Gabriel J. Sanders

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Modern Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), popularized globally by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) since 1993, initially faced significant concerns regarding fighter safety but improved considerably following the introduction of comprehensive regulatory measures. Despite these enhancements, MMA continues to carry substantial risk, particularly evident in bouts concluded by referee or medical stoppages. These stoppages are critical safety mechanisms protecting fighters and providing valuable insights into injury trends. This study specifically investigates MMA bouts stopped by ringside physicians due to medical concerns or observed injuries, emphasizing potential differences in these stoppages between male and female fighters. The methods involved the analysis of …

Barriers And Facilitators To Occupational Therapy For The Frail Older Person Within Primary Care In Belgium, Anne Ledoux, Stijn De Baets, Thérèse Van Durme, Patricia De Vriendt, Dominique Van De Velde, Sophie Thunus

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: The population is quickly aging in Belgium and there is an increasing number of older frail adults. Occupational therapy (OT) in primary care (PC) favors the stay-at-home of frail older persons through its preventive action on the person, the environment, and/or the task. However, OT is not well implemented in Belgian PC. We aimed to investigate the implementation of OT, to support the frail older person living at home, within primary care in Belgium. Methods: We performed a secondary thematic analysis, based on data collected during an implementation study of an OT guideline for this population. Data were collected …

Explore Toolkit, Kimberly Page, Janet Page Reeves, Ivan De La Rosa, Marie Alice Scott, Christina Phillips, Maria Sanchez, Andrew Gorvetzian, Joe Albright, Cynthia Killough, Randall Benalli

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine

Welcome to the Exploring Health Beliefs for Community Engagement and Diversity in Clinical Trials (EXPLORE) Toolkit, a resource designed to support researchers and frontline workers addressing substance use in the Borderlands. The EXPLORE Toolkit was designed by an interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, social workers, anthropologists, and public health professionals to enhance the engagement of underrepresented communities in substance use clinical trials. Utilizing a strength-based approach, the toolkit addresses equity, stigma, and participation barriers, promoting culturally sensitive and community-centered research practices. This toolkit is an ideal tool for clinical trials researchers and community health workers who are interested in learning more …