Digital Commons Network^™

The Moderating Effects Of Community Involvement On The Association Between Witnessed Community Violence And Mental Health Outcomes Among Black Adolescents, Curtisha Tamara Shacklewood

Theses and Dissertations

Black youth and adolescents are at a disproportionately high risk for experiencing community violence exposure (CVE) and the potential influence it may have on psychological functioning. Research posits that Black youth who experience community violence are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing elevated internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression) and externalizing symptoms (e.g., delinquency). Previous research has utilized the ecological model to investigate interpersonal protective factors that potentially buffer the effects of CVE, including parental support and family characteristics. However, there is little research that explores community-level factors, such as community activities (e.g., youth activities and parental perception of collective efficacy) …

Influence Of School Climate On Comprehensive School Behavioral Health Effectiveness, Halle Rose Singer

Theses and Dissertations

Youth are experiencing a sharp rise in mental health concerns, which have reached critical levels. Schools have emerged as a key setting for delivering mental health services due to their accessibility, familiarity, and capacity to reach diverse populations. Comprehensive School Behavioral Health (CSBH) systems offer a multi-tiered, evidence-based framework for supporting the mental health of all students. However, the success of CSBH interventions varies across schools presumably indicating that systemic or school level factors, like school climate, may influence youth mental health outcomes. In this study, I investigate how school-level factors, specifically student-perceived school climate, influence the mental health outcomes …

Assessing The Impact Of Therapeutic Alliance On Client Satisfaction And Unilateral Termination Reasons, Eric Washington

Dissertations

Unilateral termination is a pervasive issue that has persisted since the inception of mental health services. The act of terminating needed services impacts not only on the client but also the provider, community, family, and stakeholders. The therapeutic alliance established during the counseling process is a well-established predictor of outcome in mental health services. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between unilateral termination reasons, satisfaction, and working alliance. A total of 390 participants responded to the online survey resulting in the descriptive results of Working Alliance Inventory-12 (M = 3.93, SD = .83), Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-4 …

Everyday Norms Have Become More Permissive Over Time And Vary Across Cultures, K. Eriksson, P. Strimling, I. Vartanova, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Every social situation that people encounter in their daily lives comes with a set of unwritten rules about what behavior is considered appropriate or inappropriate. These everyday norms can vary across societies: some societies may have more permissive norms in general or for certain behaviors, or for certain behaviors in specific situations. In a preregistered survey of 25,422 participants across 90 societies, we map societal differences in 150 everyday norms and show that they can be explained by how societies prioritize individualizing moral foundations such as care and liberty versus binding moral foundations such as purity. Specifically, societies with more …

Cephalopod Consciousness: Asking The Right Questions, Gordon Burghardt

Animal Sentience

Jennifer Mather has provided a comprehensive and fascinating overview of the various cognitive accomplishments of cephalopods and their sensory, behavioral, and neurophysiological attributes. The advances in our understanding of a clade that has been separated from vertebrate evolution by well over half a billion years is a testament to advances in both methodology and the questions we now feel free to address. Mather embeds her review in the issue of consciousness, which is certainly a perennial issue in mental evolution, going back to Romanes and earlier. I argue that the term “consciousness” has such a checkered history and is used …

Exploring The Relationships Between Childhood Emotional Neglect, Attachment, Perfectionism, And Adult Mental Health Struggles Across The Socioeconomic Spectrum, Jordan Biedrzycki

Dissertations

This mixed-methods, cross-sectional study investigated the associations between childhood emotional neglect, perfectionism, attachment insecurity, and internalizing symptoms (depression and anxiety) among adults from varying socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds. Participants (N = 210) aged 18 years or older completed five validated self-report instruments for the quantitative analyses and answered two optional open-ended questions that yielded qualitative data. Data from the self-report measures were analyzed using independent samples t-tests, linear regressions, and moderation analyses conducted with the PROCESS macro. Three hypotheses were tested in this study. First, participants from high-SES backgrounds reported experiencing emotional neglect more frequently than other maltreatment subtypes (t = …

Investigating Driver Perceptions Of Semi-Autonomous Vehicle Sensing And Response Characteristics, Molly Mersinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

As semi-autonomous vehicle (SAV) technologies become increasingly integrated into modern transportation, understanding how the public perceives their capabilities is essential for ensuring safe and effective human-automation interaction. This study examined drivers’ perceptions of SAV detection and discernment abilities across 28 driving conditions and how those perceptions related to expected vehicle behaviors in 17 corresponding scenarios. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified three perceptual dimensions: Traffic Infrastructure and Vehicle Recognition, Dynamic Roadway Hazards and Vulnerable Road Users, and Human Interaction and Contextual Cues. Moderate overlap between the first two dimensions suggested that participants viewed certain structured and dynamic roadway features as …

Exploring Impacts Of Diversity Ideologies On Allyship (Intergroup Responsiveness), Fiona Nguyen

Dissertations and Theses

Colorblindness and multiculturalism are widely studied diversity ideologies that reflect prominent attitudes about how diversity should be understood and managed, as they can help predict individual behavior. Colorblindness proposes that distinct group identities should be ignored, and can be used to exclude minoritized groups and downplay racial minorities' experiences, whereas multiculturalism embraces and values group differences, can foster inclusive environments for minority groups, and leads to positive intergroup outcomes such as reduced prejudice. Despite much research dedicated to exploring the intergroup outcomes of diversity ideologies, few studies have examined their impacts on specific interpersonal interactions, particularly allyship. Research has defined …

Emotion Recognition Accuracy With Fully Occluded Faces: Do Eye Gaze Patterns And Fixation Durations Shift When We're Wrong?​, Dominique Martinez-Driscoll, Michael Cicero, Malcolm Jasmin, Mary Radeke, Anthony Stahelski

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Mary Radeke, PhD; Anthony Stahelski, PhD

Prior research on facial expression recognition (FER) has shown that the use of face masks significantly impairs the ability to correctly identify facial expressions, especially those that engage the lower regions of the face such as disgust and anger (Carbon, 2020; McCrackin et al. 2022). Not only does FER accuracy decrease with a masked or occluded face, but gaze patterns also shift and dwell time increases from those areas that are covered (mouth) to areas uncovered (eyes) (Rabadan, et al. 2022). In situations where both eyes and mouth are covered, the gaze …

Exploring Workplace Mental Health And Counseling Needs In Open University Staff: A Mixed-Methods Study, Pathanin Sangaroon, Oranuch Kanjanaprakorn, Araya Prasertchai, Worrawit Nakpan

Journal of Health Research

Background: Workplace mental health is a growing concern in higher education, especially in open and distance learning (ODL) settings, where staff face unique stressors. This study examines the mental health and counseling needs of academic and support staff at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Thailand, using a biopsychosocial lens.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used. In the quantitative phase, 332 staff completed a questionnaire on mental health and biopsychosocial factors. Twelve participants then took part in interviews to explore their experiences and counseling preferences. Quantitative data were analyzed using stepwise regression, and qualitative data through thematic analysis. …

Self-Management And Support Needs Of Patients Experiencing Persistent Symptoms Consistent With Hypothyroidism: A Qualitative Study, Marike De Reuver-Schuurman, Esther C. Bakker, Lilian Lechner, Liset Van Dijk

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: To gain insight into the self-management and support needs of patients experiencing persistent symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism, despite thyroid laboratory values within the normal range.

Methods: A qualitative study using the phenomenological approach was conducted. Semi-structured interviews including 19 patients diagnosed with persistent symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism, despite receiving adequate replacement therapy, were performed. Respondents were recruited using purposive sampling via Schildklier Organisatie Nederland (Dutch Thyroid Organization) (www.schildklier.nl). After transcription and coding, a thematic analysis was performed.

Results: All respondents reported that the persistent symptoms reduced their quality of life. The patients’ main focus was on finding the cause …

The Lived Experiences Of Mothers Facing Phubbing From Their Adolescent Children, Mye Alexis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Widespread use of technology, particularly smartphones, introduced new challenges involving parent–adolescent attachment. Although existing literature primarily examines parental phubbing of adolescents, there is a significant gap in research exploring the experiences of mothers who are phubbed by their adolescent children. To address this gap, the central research question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of mothers who have been phubbed by their adolescent (ages 14-18) children? Grounded in Bowlby’s attachment theory, this phenomenological qualitative study aimed to deepen understanding of the emotional impacts of phubbing on mothers’ emotional wellbeing, emotional bonding, and mother–adolescent attachment. A homogeneous convenience …

Development Of A Career Awareness Board Game Based On Augmented Reality For Generation Z Students, Caraka Putra Bhakti, Difa Ardiyanti, Agus Ria Kumara, Muhammad Alfarizqi Nizamuddin Ghiffari

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The purpose of this research is to develop an augmented reality-based career awareness board game for Generation Z students. The current development of the era demands that Generation Z have a good career. In reality, currently, there are still many Generation Z students in schools who do not have the skills, competencies, and awareness to have an optimal career. One important thing that Generation Z students need to have is career awareness. Having career awareness will help someone recognise their career needs based on their competencies, talents, and interests. Developing career awareness can be achieved through guidance and counselling services. …

Plastic Makes Perfect: An Analysis Of Plastic Surgery As Rehabilitation In Early To Late 20th Century Prison Populations, Jack West

The Ozark Historical Review

As early as 1910, journalists from around the United States reported on the cause-and- effect relationship between a criminal’s physical appearance, their offenses, and the plastic surgeons willing to help them. These surgeons were interested in changing the physical “causes” of criminality to sever the mental roots of crime, inferiority, and anti-social attitude. This paper examines the use of plastic surgery programs as reform in prison through the lens of popular newspaper and journal articles and argues that public perception and reaction revealed in these articles shaped the prison program’s journey from its underground beginning to its eventual demise.

Exploring The Relationship Between Perceived E-Working Experience And Autonomy In It Professionals, Sherry Hunt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As remote work reshapes the professional landscape, understanding how e-working conditions influence the need for autonomy, a core component of motivation and well-being, is increasingly important. This quantitative, correlational study explored the relationship between perceived e-working experience and the psychological need for autonomy among 120 U.S.-based information technology (IT) professionals. Participants completed an online survey comprised of the E-Work Life (EWL) Scale (Charalampous et al., 2023; Grant et al., 2019) and two autonomy subscales from the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Work Scale (BPNSFWS) (Olafsen et al., 2021). Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT) (Ryan & Deci, 2000, 2017, 2020) …

Exploring The Difference In Perceived Organizational Justice Between Remote And Traditional Workers And Relationships Between Perceived Organizational Justice And Job Satisfaction, Ryan Mabry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Organizations struggle to achieve holistic job satisfaction, as remote workers often feel excluded and traditional workers frequently feel overworked. This quantitative study explored the perceived differences in organizational justice between remote and traditional workers. It also investigated the relationship between organizational justice and job satisfaction within both working environments. A sample size of 176 participants completed a 35-item Likert inventory covering demographics, working environment, job satisfaction, and organizational justice. An independent samples t-test was used to measure the differences in organizational justice between remote and traditional workers. A Pearson correlation examined the relationship between organizational justice and job satisfaction in …

Stigma And Attitudes Of Hearing Parents Regarding Sign Language On The Perceived Resilience Of Their Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Emerging Adults: A Correlational Study, David Eric Barr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research studies investigating DHH emerging adults’ resilience are scarce. Current resilience investigations suggest that success in overcoming life challenges depends on the personal resourcing of learned social skills. For the DHH emerging adult, adversity (i.e., stigma and attitudes regarding sign language) fosters hindrance against resilience, which is imperative for one’s successful adaptation to challenging life experiences. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine stigma and the attitudes of hearing parents, the target population, regarding sign language and its perceived impact on the resilience of their Deaf and hard-of-hearing emerging adults. Data were collected using an online anonymous …

Working With Different Generations In The Post-Covid Remote Workplace: The Millennial Perspective, Rhys Morgan Alexander

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Generational theory proposes that generations are inherently different from one another based on the events that occur within their lifetimes at various developmental stages. These differences have been studied in many contexts, including within the work environment. As older generations continue to remain employed, and with the shift to remote work post-COVID 19, this topic remains an important concentration for developmental and organizational researchers. The differences between generations have been found to impact on job satisfaction and general work value priorities to varying degrees. Based on this, a literature review was conducted followed by a phenomenological, interview-based study to explore …

The Relationships Between Grief, Depressive Symptoms, Family Resiliency, And Spiritual Struggles And The Moderating Effect Of Hope Among Bereaved Fathers Following Miscarriage, Taylor Marie Sparks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Miscarriages are primarily treated as tragedies that impact women; however, the existing literature highlights that men experience similar impacts as women following the loss of their baby to miscarriage. Despite this, men widely report feeling forgotten and alone during their time of bereavement, with a lack of understanding and support in place for men who have lost a baby to miscarriage. This current study sought to fill the gap in the existing literature by investigating the relationship between spiritual struggles, family resiliency, depression, and grief levels in bereaved fathers following their wife’s miscarriage, using the moderating influence of hope on …

A Study Of The Relationship Between The Stress Responses From Rehearsal Preparations For Music Ensemble Performance Evaluations And Performing Arts Adolescents’ Working Memory, Gregory Thomas Minter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The organization of memory retrieval is vital to the association between stress responses and negative educational achievements. These stress responses offer an opportunity to study the harmful consequences of prolonged strain on the developing brain, which may impair emotional restraint, self-control, and cognitive development. However, little research considers the fundamental notions of how stress responses from rehearsals for music ensemble performance assessments impact adolescent working memory. This mixed-methods study explored how rehearsal-related stress in music ensemble settings may affect adolescents' working memory. Participants included high school students in grades nine through 12 who participated in performing arts band ensembles. The …

Exploring The Deficiencies Of Business Improvement Programs: A Qualitative Look Into Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, Eos, And Developing Hybrid Opportunities, Michelle Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative case study researched the deficiencies of three established business improvement programs: Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, and Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), to discern the possibility of a tailored hybrid improvement program. Utilizing data collected through semi-structured interviews from the experiences of twelve business leaders representing different industries. All of the leaders had five or more years of direct experience with one or more of the business improvement programs. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, applying Constructivist Grounded Theory. The analysis found that Continuous Improvement empowered employees and nurtured incremental changes, but it …

Qualitative Evaluation Of Eeg Neurofeedback For Anxiety In Adults, Leah M. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders globally, yet many treatment options are inaccessible, ineffective for some, or lack long-term efficacy. One treatment for with substantial research support is neurofeedback, though it remains categorized as an experimental treatment and is underutilized in clinical practice. The qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of adults who received neurofeedback treatment for anxiety. The purpose was to understand participants’ perceptions of neurofeedback’s efficacy and the interactive effects of neurofeedback and psychotherapy. Data were collected from two Oregon clinics that offer Neurofeedback and from students at Liberty University. An open-ended survey …

Psychological Safety And Its Impact On Teacher And Staff Morale, Yvonne R. Crace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Psychological safety is a concept that has been around since 1965. Psychological safety exists when employees feel safe to share their ideas and opinions without fear of retaliation, retribution, or belittlement. Studies on psychological safety have mainly focused on businesses and corporations and work team learning behaviors. In recent years, it has become evident that psychological safety is needed in additional types of industries, including all stages of education, from primary to graduate school. In education, teachers and staff often feel isolated and have concerns about voicing their opinions which creates relational stress and conflict, thus lowering staff morale. This …

Tv Versus Video Games: Their Distinctive Effects On Adolescent Behavior And Academic Achievement, Faiaz Rahman, Kathy L. Schuh

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

The current paper uses data collected from a publicly available, nationally representative data set to examine the effects of TV viewing and video gaming on adolescent behavioral problems and cognitive achievement. Results revealed that extended hours of TV viewing were associated with greater anxiety/depression and antisocial problems. On the other hand, extended hours of video gaming were associated with higher reading comprehension scores. Differing effects of TV viewing and gameplay by an individual’s sex was also found during the analysis. It is also important to note that the opposite effects that the two media has on outcomes, indicate that, although …

Exploring Underrepresented Stem Undergraduates' Stem Identity Development: The Role Of Social Partners, Sandy Cerda-Lezama

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation employs a three-study qualitative design to investigate the role of mentorship and social interaction in the identity development of racial minority undergraduate students in STEM disciplines. Grounded in Communities of Practice theory, this research amplifies student narratives to elucidate the relational and contextual factors that inform science identity, belonging, competence, and persistence in higher education. Study One draws upon interview data from fifteen participants in the BUILD program to analyze the role of recognition, particularly from expert scientists--in students' science identity development. This study aims to understand how racial and ethnic identity intersections influence the processes and impact …

Patient Care And Certified Nursing Assistants’ Motivation And Job Satisfaction In Nursing Facilities, Roswell Royce Lawrie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on certified nursing assistants’ (CNAs) views of the association between their motivation, job satisfaction, and the quality of care they offer to patients in one chosen nursing home center in New Jersey. Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation and a generic qualitative design were used to explore CNAs’ experiences and perspectives relating to their motivation, job fulfillment, and the level of care. The study included semi structured interviews with the 12 CNAs, who were directly and consistently in contact with their respective patients at the selected nursing home center. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed …

Prevalence Of Work Stress On Marital Stability Of Married Lecturers In University Of Ilorin, Modupe Gbemisola Fatoye, Foluke Nike Bolu-Steve

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study investigated the prevalence of work stress and its impact on marital stability among married lecturers at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. A descriptive correlational survey design was employed, and 100 married lecturers were selected through a multistage sampling technique across five faculties. Data were gathered using a researcher-designed instrument titled “Work Stress and Marital Stability Questionnaire (WSMSQ),” which demonstrated strong reliability with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.81. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, independent samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA, were used to analyze the data at a 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed a significant …

Gnome Logic: Evidence-Based Strategies For High-Impact Medical Education Pathways, Barbra A. Roller, Sasha R. Sioni

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Socioeconomic inequities divert underrepresented talent from the physician pipeline. Integrating Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), leaky-pipeline diagnostics, and 14 years of mixed-methods research on Florida International University’s pathway program, we present a logic model aligning Goals, Needs, Objectives, Methods, and Evaluation (GNOME). GNOME links diagnosed barriers to SCCT-aligned supports and pre-specified metrics, yielding gains in self-efficacy, application intent, and matriculation. The model offers a practical, cost-effective roadmap for institutions seeking a more equitable medical workforce.

Promoting Educative Antiracism Dialogue And Activism Through Community Engagement, Greg Bartley, Danielle Ligocki, Robert A. Martin, Chaunda L. Scott

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article highlights lessons learned from bringing together antiracist/activist faculty representing the Initiative to Eradicate Racism at Oakland University and community members from the Pontiac Collective Impact Partnership. We use Byrd and Scott’s (2010) Critical Racism Pedagogy Model as a lens to understand how university/community partners can discuss social issues in productive and engaging ways. Specifically, this partnership demonstrates how faculty and communities can work collaboratively to create communities of practice with parallel antiracism/activist goals.

Structurally Framing Service Learning As Teaching Excellence: An Examination Of Collaborative Efforts Between Community Engagement And Faculty Development Centers, James Morgan Lewing, Lisa Bunkowski

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study explores collaborations between faculty development centers and service learning and community engagement structures at public institutions awarded the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with five chief academic officers, none of the respondents stated intentional collaborations were present at their respective institutions. The study underscores the need for strategic alignment to institutionalize community engagement, avoiding siloing and enhancing sustainability through faculty development initiatives that promote teaching excellence.