Digital Commons Network^™

Effective Techniques In Equine Assisted Therapies From The Facilitators Perspective, Emily Dolezal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Equine assisted therapies have been shown to be an effective treatment approach for individuals experiencing mental health issues. However, there have been rising challenges in standardization and nomenclature throughout the field. Current research supporting the benefits of equine assisted therapies is often from the client perspective. There is a gap in understanding what occurred in session that made it beneficial to their mental health. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of equine assisted therapy facilitators in terms of mechanisms that produce positive changes in their clients. The theories and concepts that ground this study …

What Does Sentience Mean At The Neural Level?, Björn Brembs

Animal Sentience

Jonathan Birch's (2025) LSE criteria for sentience include motivational trade-offs, exemplified by C. elegansweighing hunger against desiccation risk. Yet once the neural circuit is known, this "trade-off" reduces to a single inhibitory synapse—an ‘elemental’ account discrediting the ‘molar’ one. My commentary illustrates the same discrepancy in Drosophila: dopaminergic ramping during courtship as it progressively suppresses threat-detecting neurons; so persistence past danger reflects recalibrated valuation rather than a weighed decision. As neurobiology increasingly discovers such discrepancies, all criteria resting on behavioral classifications risk being defined away without altering the behavior's validity.

Cbd's Impact On Learning, Memory, And Anxiety: A Dose Response, Audrey Camacho

Psychology ETDs

Cannabidiol (CBD) is widely utilized for its therapeutic properties, yet its impact on an unmanipulated model at baseline behavior remains poorly understood. This study investigates CBD’s dose-dependent behavioral profile on spatial learning, memory, and anxiety using Long-Evans rats. Subjects received a vehicle, 20 mg/kg, or 40 mg/kg CBD dose prior to assessment in the Morris Water Task (MWT) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). MWT results indicated consistent Day 1 learning, but the 40 mg/kg dose induced a temporary disruption 24 hours post-treatment. Performance returned to baseline by day 6. On the EPM, traditional anxiety markers remained unchanged. While CBD did …

Assessment And Classification Of Idiosyncratic Behavioral Sequences In Rodent Navigation, Max G. Segal

Psychology ETDs

The Morris Water Task (MWT) has been the gold standard assessment of place learning and memory for over four decades, yet the processes that contribute to successful navigation are not completely understood. It is generally posited that rats learn to navigate directly to a place; however, navigation is not perfectly direct but contains variation in swim speed and trajectory resulting in efficient, yet suboptimal paths. Gonçalves-Garcia et al. (2024) demonstrated that path topography is quantitatively similar across trials within individual rats for a given start location, and dissimilar between rats and different start locations within rat. This suggests rats may …

“I’Ll Cry Tomorrow”: The Heroism Of Anti-Alcoholism Advocate Lillian Roth, Elizabeth Gritter

Heroism Science

Lillian Roth (1910–1980) is remembered primarily for her bestselling autobiography I’ll Cry Tomorrow and its successful film adaptation, yet her broader significance as a social hero has received little scholarly attention. This article examines Roth’s transformation from celebrated entertainer and alcoholic to influential public advocate whose confessional storytelling helped reshape public attitudes toward alcoholism during the mid-twentieth century. Drawing on Roth’s autobiographies, contemporary media coverage, and historical sources, the article argues that her willingness to publicly disclose trauma, addiction, and recovery represented an act of social courage that challenged prevailing stigma. By leveraging celebrity to promote compassion, recovery, and public …

Dynamical Pathways Of Fear And Anger: Testing The Predictive Validity Of The Basic Evaluation Process Framework, Maryana Borri Madeira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study tested the predictive validity of the Basic Evaluation Process framework by examining whether Fear and Anger emerge as competing emotional attractors during threat appraisal. Using a mouse-tracking paradigm with audio recording, fifty participants reasoned aloud about a self-selected threatening situation while continuously rating their Fear and Anger. Cross-correlation analysis confirmed dynamic dependence between Fear and Anger, although the coupling was positive rather than negative, indicating co-activation rather than mutual suppression. Vector field analysis identified stable attractor structures for all participants, but the distribution of primary attractors across the Fear by Anger state space did not reveal a …

The Protective Factors Of Alcohol Use And Problem Drinking By Emerging Adults During The 2020s And The Era Of Covid-19, Aubrey A. Coplon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research investigated the protective factors that shape alcohol use and problem drinking among emerging adults during the 2020s, with a spotlight on the COVID-19 pandemic. As this age group grapples with the complexities of self-discovery and independence, the pandemic introduced a new set of challenges and shifts. Through qualitative interviews, this study worked to uncover the resilience strategies and support systems that have emerged as crucial in mitigating alcohol misuse. It examined the role of social connections, mental health resources, coping mechanisms, and evolving social norms in buffering against problem drinking. While the pandemic intensified some risks, it also …

The Role Of Rhyme In Children’S Word Learning, Tengwen Fan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Rhyme increases the phonological similarity of phrases individuals hear and enhances recall from working memory. The present study explores whether rhyme aids word learning in children and examines the underlying neural mechanisms through which rhyme facilitates word learning. Thirty-four children between 6 and 8 years old completed a word learning task where they were exposed to 15 nonwords (NWs), four times each, in the sentence-final position as their EEG was recorded. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Rhyme or No-Rhyme group, where the NWs rhymed or did not rhyme with a prime real word in the sentence, respectively, during …

Distributed Impressions: How Multiple Minds Come Together To Shape Person Perception, Lindsey J. Tepfer

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Moments after perceiving another person, we immediately infer a wealth of information about them. Despite the complexities within our social environments, we distill an incredible magnitude of details available to us into compressed representations of other people’s minds and mannerisms. Yet research has focused largely on mapping isolated stimuli—divorced from its messy context—to the spontaneous impressions they provoke. As a result, there are many unanswered questions about how our judgments are influenced by the rich and noisy social world we inhabit. Here, I’ve leveraged two paradigms to investigate how impression formation and updating may operate when the constraints of the …

The Double Attraction Paradox, Rem Jaen D. Krafft

Publications and Research

The Double Attraction Paradox is a podcast series that teaches adolescents how to navigate attraction through body language, limerence, and mirroring while understanding the psychology behind emotional connection. It is a manuscript that combines personal experience, observations, and research, inspired by Rem Jaen D. Krafft's high school crush. Not only does it provide a guide for teenagers and young adults, but it also encourages readers to better understand attraction, communication, and emotional development. The final chapter examines how peer pressure, traditional high school cliques, fear of rejection, and fear of intimacy may influence societal norms, emotional contagion, and relationship formation …

Exploring Primary Care Providers’ Compassionate Care And Their Evidence-Based Practice With Death, Grief, And Loss: Patient Experience And Perspective, Kathryn Krzykala

Dissertations

Research on primary care providers’ (PCPs) education regarding Death, Grief, and Loss (DGL) remains limited. Specifically, data is lacking regarding patients' perceptions and opinions on what they need and expect from their PCPs regarding grief and loss. This exploratory mixed-method study comprised 146 participants who had experienced death and non-death loss. It examined participants' perceptions of 1) PCP compassion, 2) PCP utilization of evidence-based grief and loss practices, 3) their own level of comfort discussing DGL with their PCPs during medical visits, and 4) their personal grief and loss experiences. The findings revealed that PCPs' grief-informed evidence-based treatment, as reflected …

Global Prevalence Of Internet Gaming Disorder: An Umbrella Review Of Meta-Analytic Evidence And Implications For Child And Adolescent Psychiatry, Elisabeth C. S. Poon, Xun Ci Soh, Trina J. H. Poh, Andre C. S. Tan, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Background/Objectives: Internet gaming has become a widespread global activity, raising concerns about the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). However, existing meta-analyses report highly variable prevalence estimates. This umbrella review aims to clarify the prevalence and variability of IGD by synthesizing evidence from meta-analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of IGD prevalence across populations, age groups, and regions. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were carried out across five published literature databases and two supplementary search sources. Title and abstract screening, followed by full-text eligibility assessment, were conducted independently by three authors. The same three authors then performed data extraction …

Neural Correlates Of Anger Rumination To A Personal Event And Subsequent Changes In Working Memory, Mairin Claire Madison Cotter

Dissertations

Rumination is a maladaptive coping strategy that is associated with the emergence and maintenance of several psychological disorders and related symptomatology and thus has been proposed as a transdiagnostic risk factor. Recent work has focused on patterns of brain activation during rumination to sadness; however, less is known about brain activation patterns in response to anger-inducing events and how anger rumination may influence working memory. This study sought to identify potential neurophysiological correlates (through electroencephalography; EEG) of anger rumination, examine how anger rumination subsequently impacts working memory performance, and determine whether neurophysiological correlates of anger rumination are associated with working …

Animal Assisted Interventions For Older Adults Experiencing Cognitive Impairment, Preeti Bachu

Psychology

As individuals age, they often experience gradual declines in cognitive abilities that ultimately affect their quality of life and independence. Severe cognitive decline is not necessarily a natural or universal part of the aging process and tends to be exacerbated by various neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease (Colita et al., 2024). There have been promising outcomes of animal assisted interventions in improving the conditions of several populations and spaces, including educational, rehabilitative, and therapeutic settings. Animal assisted therapy specifically is delivered by a qualified or licensed health professional. Previous research has shown a large benefit in long-term memory, verbal …

Improving Urban Search And Rescue Team Coordination Through Adaptive Context Awareness, Daniel Reyes Duran

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Modern multi-agent Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations heavily rely on mobile geospatial Common Operating Pictures (COPs) to maintain team coordination and Situational Awareness (SA). However, the proliferation of high-frequency sensor telemetry at the tactical edge has introduced a data saturation paradox challenge: while information theoretically drives informed decision-making, unmanaged data surges induce increased operator cognitive overload and alert fatigue on mobile End-User Devices (EUDs), while downstream data-broadcasting models inherently strain edge processing and viewport environments.

To resolve these constraints, this dissertation presents a context-aware Value of Information (VoI) data-management framework integrated directly with a custom, event-driven Android Team Awareness …

The Effects Of Functional Coaching On Increasing Functional Play Behaviors In Adults, Abby L. Pattengale

Theses and Dissertations

Play is a critical developmental context for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), supporting cognitive, social, communication, and adaptive skill development. However, many adults, specifically registered behavior technicians (RBTs), demonstrate limited engagement in developmentally appropriate play behaviors, which can restrict the quality of play-based interventions, which are essential for effective treatment. However, little research has examined interventions designed to improve adult play behaviors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of functional coaching on increasing adult functional play behaviors during therapy sessions with children diagnosed with ASD. Two RBTs participated in the study, and two children receiving …

Examining The Effects Of Interdependent Group Contingencies As A Classwide Intervention To Reduce Unsafe Behavior On The Playground, Elizabeth K. Linton

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different class wide interdependent group contingencies on unsafe playground behavior and student preferences for each intervention. In Experiment 1, we assessed the effects of the Good Behavior Game (GBG) on unsafe behavior across three third-grade classes. The GBG effectively reduced unsafe playground behavior relative to baseline, though student-choice data indicated that students did not prefer the intervention. This finding prompted Experiment 2, in which we evaluated synchronous schedule of reinforcement (SSR) as a classwide interdependent group contingency and compared its effectiveness and preference to the GBG. Participants in Experiment …

Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward Transgender Army National Guard Personnel And Policy, Michelle Lyn Branch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Natural Behavior Vs. Subjective Experience In Fish Welfare Assessments, Ronald G. Oldfield

Animal Sentience

Several commentaries on the Oldfield & Bonano (2024) target article proposed that natural behavior should play a larger role in assessing the welfare of fishes in zoos and aquariums. However, the natural-behavior concept of animal welfare has been widely criticized because natural behaviors do not necessarily improve welfare, and unnatural behaviors do not necessarily reduce it. I review the three major concepts of animal welfare — physical health, natural behavior, and affect/feelings — and argue that behavior patterns, whether natural or otherwise, should be evaluated according to their effects on health and subjective experience. Using the affect/feelings concept and the …

An Untapped Resource: Exploring The Role Of Spirituality In The Psychological Healing Of African Asylum-Seekers From A Counselor’S Perspective, Brittany A. Duncan

Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how counselors perceive and integrate spirituality into the psychological healing of African asylum-seekers, a population facing compounded cultural, legal, and existential challenges. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study examined the lived experiences of eight counselors working with this population. Findings revealed that counselors’ personal sense of religion influenced their comfort and approach in broaching spiritual topics, with both positive (e.g., spirituality as a source of support and community) and negative (e.g., religion as a source of suffering) associations shaping clinical engagement. Many participants reported limited access to trainings geared towards increasing their cultural competence related to …

To What Extent Do Different Types And Dosages Of Cannabinoids Have In Treating Anxiety Disorder, Lourdes Cristina Garcia Carrillo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study investigated the efficacy of various cannabinoid types and dosages in treating anxiety disorders among young adults (19–23), examining cannabis's role in regulating a deregulated endocannabinoid system. Fourteen participants tracked real-time anxiety symptoms, strain type, dosage, and affective states using the Releaf App. Quantitative analyses included repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation, complemented by quantitative content analysis of affect descriptors. Key findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in self-reported anxiety symptoms following cannabis use (p < .001, partial 2 = .97), supporting the hypothesis that cannabis can regulate a deregulated endocannabinoid system. No significant differences in anxiolytic effects were observed among Indica, Hybrid Indica/Sativa, and Hybrid Sativa/Indica strains. The optimal dosage for perceived anxiety relief appeared to be higher than initially hypothesized, with a moderate-to-strong association between dosage and anxiety relief (r = .662, p = .0099). Participants overwhelmingly reported positive affective states, such as "calm," "peaceful," and "relaxed," post-cannabis use, with no negative descriptors observed in the analyzed data. These results suggest that cannabis can serve as a short-term coping strategy for anxiety in young adults, leading to perceived emotional regulation.

Infertility In The Military: A Lived Experience, Princess Gibbs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Infertility can have negative effects on women; military women deal with so much from the military that dealing with infertility is an area that is underdeveloped. This qualitative phenomenological study explored infertility among women serving on active duty, using Lazarus' transactional theory of stress and coping to understand how it affects them. This study was guided by three research questions: (a) What are the lived experiences of women living with infertility who served on active duty in the United States military, (b) How do women living with infertility describe their experience of stress and coping while serving in active duty …

Lived Experiences Of Polysubstance Use And Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Candee Dione Rillon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders (MHD), with particular attention to the transition into polysubstance use. The purpose of the study was to understand how individuals experience and make meaning of these co-occurring conditions and the factors influencing substance use patterns. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants who reported both mental health challenges and substance use histories. Thematic analysis revealed that participants experienced SUD and MHD as deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing, often functioning within a cyclical pattern of distress and temporary relief. Substance use …

The Relationship Between Estimated Vo2max And Poor Mental Health: A Study Of Brfss Data, Angelina Somadina Oputa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health conditions are one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease. Despite advancements in mental health therapies and psychiatric medications, significant numbers of patients continue to struggle with mental illness. Despite these challenges, exercise can serve as a powerful tool to address mental health concerns. Current literature has referenced the value of physical fitness to support mental health, however there is limited large-scale research assessing the estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2Max) as a predictor of poor mental health days. In response, this quantitative secondary analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between estimated VO2Max and poor …

“Being An Arab Is Like Fighting For Your Joy”: Exploring Bicultural Identity, Racialization, And Psychological Well-Being Among Us-Born Arab Americans, Hisham Nsier

Master's Theses

Bicultural identity development in Arab Americans, who must manage sometimes conflicting cultural expectations, is understudied. Even less is known about Arab Americans born in the United States (US-born AA), who are American by birth yet are alienated from society due to differences between their ‘white’ racialization and their cultural identities. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between bicultural identity, racialization, and psychological well-being at the intersection of US-born AA’s co-existing identities. Eight adult US-born AAs (Mage = 28 years, SD = 4) were recruited from professional Listservs and WhatsApp affinity groups. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed …

Counting Your Chickens Before They Hatch: Understanding Anticipatory Savoring And How And Why People Approach Or Avoid The Anticipation Of Future Positive Events, Asura Louise Osborne

Master's Theses

In this study, discretion between the styles used to anticipate positive events is the focus of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) conducted on the Index of Anticipatory Styles (IAS). The IAS is a 45-item survey used to measure types of savoring in response to future positive events. This work expands the savoring literature to examine approach- and avoidant-type anticipatory savoring. Approach-type anticipatory savoring discriminates between Enjoyment, Coping, Control, Recalled Anticipation, and Downplaying. Avoidant-type savoring parses between Avoidance of anticipation because events may not occur, Avoidance of anticipation because events may fail to live up to expectations, Jinxing, and Counterproductivity. CFA …

Attached To The Algorithm: Investigating The Relationship Between Adult Attachment Styles And Instrumental And Relational Dependency On Large Language Models, Jim Zapf, Ala Yankouskaya, Timothy J. Evans, Andrew J. Graham, Abigail Hill, Troy Backhuus

Journal of Counseling and Psychology

The rapid growth of large language models (LLMs) raises questions for counselors regarding when such tools are used adaptively versus when they foster dependency. Guided by attachment theory and a dual-dimension view of AI reliance, this study examined whether adult attachment styles predict instrumental (task/decision support) and relational (companion-like) dependency on LLMs, whether spiritual engagement relates to these dependencies, and whether levels differ by age. Faculty, staff, and students who had used an LLM completed the LLM-D12 and the ECR-R (N = 515). Analyses showed that instrumental dependency on LLMs was highest among individuals high in avoidance, with modest additional …

If Pets Are Family: Pet Loss And The Need For Grief Equity In One Health, Michele L. Whitney

Journal of One Health Systems

One Health frameworks increasingly recognize pets as integral to human health and well-being. However, these models often overlook the health and equity implications of pet loss. Culturally mediated grief experiences following pet bereavement represent a critical grief equity gap in One Health systems. Drawing on findings from a qualitative study of African American adults who experienced pet loss, along with existing literature, this Viewpoint highlights how pet loss is not only an emotional experience but also a socially structured one shaped by cultural norms, social recognition, and access to support. These dynamics contribute to inequities in how grief is experienced …

Open Materials For Ant-Psy 210, Sex And Culture, Melissa Zavala

Open Educational Resources

Sex and Culture explores the cultural construction of human sexuality from the framework of the individual in society. Students will examine the social learning of sexual behaviors, beliefs and practices. Analytic focus will include how culturally prescribed gender roles for men and women inform notions of right and wrong. Specific topics may include institutionalized gender inequality, marriage and the family, homophobia and other issues involved in the relationship between sex and culture. All topics will be considered from a historical and cross-cultural perspectives.

Equine-Assisted Therapy For Dementia: A Pilot Rct On Standardizing Sessions To Improve Cognition, Mood, And Quality Of Life, Madeline Alford, Maria Dos Prazeres Da Silva Gonçalves Dr., Maria Manuela Da Silva Leite Dr.

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating equine-assisted therapy (EAT) into memory workshops for older adults with mild to moderate dementia. EAT is hypothesized to enhance cognitive function, promote physical activity, and improve mood through multisensory experiences. To ensure consistency and replicability, a standardized 8-session cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) protocol was developed, structuring interventions across cognitive, emotional, and motor domains.

Methods: A 3-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials .gov: NCT06662578) was conducted with 36 older adults diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: equine-assisted therapy workshop (EATW), traditional …