Digital Commons Network^™

Intimate Partner Violence's Impact On Subsequent Relationships, Aurora Sloan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively impacts relationships and the partners who engage in them. There has been research done into many facets of IPV relationships, such as risk factors and conflict. However, this thesis aims to answer the question, “How does IPV victimization affect subsequent partner selection, conflict management, experience of safety, and overall perception of the relationship?” In order to answer this question, I surveyed and interviewed previous victims of domestic violence and analyzed the content of their responses to identify common themes.

Parenting Among Mothers With High Psychosocial Stress In South-Central Appalachia: Aspirations, Actions, And Intervention, Kelly Daniel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conceptualizations of adaptive parenting within Appalachia have been historically limited by the scarcity of research with the region as well as stereotyped depictions of Appalachian parents. As such, this project aimed to examine Appalachian parenting through a culturally sensitive lens by centering lived experiences through the ecological systems theory. The sample included mothers (n = 41) who attended Mom Power, an attachment-based, trauma-informed parenting skills intervention in the Appalachian Highlands. Reflective Thematic Analysis was used to analyze qualitative interview data by exploring and conceptualizing current parenting challenges and associated maternal feelings and reactions. Results include the development of a metaphor …

Adolescent Externalizing Symptoms And Parent Emotion Socialization: An Examination Of Longitudinal Effects And Differences By Adolescent Sex, Cheston West

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is an important developmental context with several changes in social and emotional functioning. Though adolescents are gaining independence from their caregivers, they still engage in dynamic interactions with their caregivers who remain key figures in their lives. When adolescents express emotions, caregivers engage in various behaviors in response to these expressions, a process known as emotion socialization. This process has mostly been examined as a parent-driven construct in which parent emotion socialization impacts child-level outcomes, namely internalizing symptoms, with limited research on externalizing symptoms. However, available literature demonstrates that child-level characteristics (e.g., externalizing symptoms) are linked to differences in …

Exploring Predictors Of Treatment Dropout In Primary Care Behavioral Health Using Andersen’S Behavioral Model Of Health Services, Mara W. Sindoni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A recent meta-analysis indicated a 19.7% dropout rate from outpatient mental health care. Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services identifies predisposing, enabling, and need factors as potential predictors of treatment dropout. The Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model aims to improve accessibility of mental health care but research on dropout in this setting is lacking. This study examined bivariate relationships between Andersen's factors and dropout in PCBH, and interviewed participants about their intentions to attend subsequent PCBH visits. No statistically significant bivariate relationships were found, likely due to small sample size (n = 15). Reflexive Thematic Analysis identified two themes …

Contrasting Patients' And Healthcare Professionals' Experience In Hematological Cancer Care Pathway: A Narrative Study, Karine Bilodeau, Cynthia Henriksen, Camilia Aloisio Alves, Charlotte Gélinas-Gagné, Lynda Piché, Jacinthe Pepin, Virginia Lee, Marie-France Vachon, Nathalie Folch, Marie-Pascale Pomey, Nicolas Fernandez

Patient Experience Journal

Hematological cancers represent 10% of cancers diagnosed in Canada. Treatments involve complex care pathways and various modalities as well as the management and monitoring of multiple side effects. There is limited understanding of these pathways from the perspectives of the people living with cancer (PLC) and the healthcare professional (HCP). The aim of this article is to contrast the experiences of PLCs and HCPs in the context of hematological cancer care pathway. Narrative study approach was chosen for this exploratory study. Twenty-one narratives were co-created with PLCs (n = 12) and HCPs (n = 9). A structural and comparative analysis …

Breaking The Pipeline: Exploring Exclusionary Discipline, Restorative Justice, And The Attitudes And Beliefs Of Educators, Ericka J. Varnedoe

Honors College Theses

This study explores the connection between exclusionary disciplinary practices and the school-to-prison pipeline. It highlights how exclusionary discipline, including suspensions and expulsions, disproportionately affects marginalized groups such as students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ youth, further contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline. In contrast, restorative justice, a non-punitive approach, offers a promising alternative. Initially adopted from the criminal justice system, restorative justice has been integrated into school environments to foster positive school climates, improve experiences, and mitigate challenging behaviors. This research examines educators' attitudes toward both exclusionary and restorative practices, as well as their awareness and implementation of restorative …

Employee Perception Of Organizational Commitment And Culture During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mireille A. M. Doumbia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decline in human capital during the COVID-19 pandemic reflected local agencies’ and organizational policy responses to the pandemic. These policies could factor into why Americans, in recent years, have quit their jobs in record numbers. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how employees perceived organizational culture and commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study involved Meyer and Allen’s organizational commitment model, which identifies affective, normative, and continuous commitment as key dimensions of employee loyalty, and Ramdhani et al.’s organizational culture framework, which emphasizes communication, teamwork, and reward systems as core elements shaping workplace dynamics. Data …

Statement From The Indiana Academy Of The Social Sciences And Board Of Directors

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Location Tracking Applications And Emerging Adult Relationship Quality: Moderated By Rejection Sensitivity, Michelle Lee Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Location-tracking applications promise increased connection, safety, and closeness among romantic partners. However, persistent monitoring in romantic relationships has been associated with heightened feelings of intrusion and mistrust, particularly among individuals with insecure attachment. Such surveillance can exacerbate rejection sensitivity, leading to jealousy, conflict, and deteriorating relationship quality, or monitoring may alleviate fears of rejection and enhance relationship satisfaction. From the lens of attachment theory, this quantitative research study examined whether rejection sensitivity moderates the relationship between the use of location-tracking applications and relationship quality among emerging adults. I collected information from an online survey using four instruments to collect data …

Exploring Potential Correlation Of Resiliency And Multifamily Support With Psychological Distress Among Hispanic Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eliz Marie Centeno Ortiz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were found to have lower psychological distress in comparison with other ethnicities or races despite having additional challenges such as immigration issues, language barriers, or others. However, research on why Hispanic parents of children with ASD tend to have less psychological distress is lacking. This study addressed the extent to which multifamily support and resiliency affect psychological distress among parents of children with ASD, as explained by the family system theory. For this study, 75 Hispanic parents of children with ASD were recruited via Facebook posts. The participants were directed to …

When My Intersecting Identities Of Being Racially Oppressed And Privileged Become Blurred: An Autoethnographic Dive Into Unlocking The Polarities Of Who I Am, Susan Acosta

Dissertations and Theses

Freire argued that each person is, at times, both the oppressor and the oppressed. He posited that the path to liberation is increased critical consciousness, problematizing our circumstances, and finding ways to take action. As a person from the global majority (PGM), this autoethnography incorporates my personal narratives, communication with colleagues, photo observations, and professional writings that problematizes and examines ways I have been both complicit in, or have been victimized by, racialized oppression, particularly in educational settings. I've had an increasingly keen sense of awareness toward my own racialized tensions when interacting with individuals, in groups, or with an …

Navigating Work-Life Balance: The Role Of Personality, Burnout, And Technology In Indonesian Educators, Badaruddin Badaruddin, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Fatmasari Fatmasari

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This study investigates the impact of personality traits, job demands, and emotional intelligence on work-life balance (WLB) among Indonesian educators, with burnout and boundary management styles serving as mediating factors.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employed a quantitative research approach, gathering survey data from 295 Indonesian educators. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS 4 was conducted to examine direct, indirect, and moderating effects.

Research Findings: Conscientiousness positively influences boundary management, while neuroticism has a detrimental effect. Increased job demands contribute to higher burnout levels, which, in turn, negatively impact both work-life balance (WLB) and boundary management. Burnout serves as …

Empowering Mental Support Health Through Ai Chatbot, Anish Ilapaka

ATU Scholars Symposium

The growing prevalence of mental health concerns worldwide underscores the urgent need for accessible, scalable, and supportive solutions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool in this domain, capable of delivering immediate and empathetic interactions to complement traditional methods of mental health care. This project introduces a conversational AI system to assist individuals experiencing mental health challenges. The proposed system is built on a LLaMA model fine-tuned with a dataset of 10,000 mental health-related dialogues; the system leverages advanced natural language processing and machine learning techniques for meaningful engagement. The core functionality of this tool lies in its …

Academic And Cerebrovascular Outcomes After Neurodevelopmental Screening In Sickle Cell Disease: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, Sarah E. Bills, Jeffrey Schatz, Elizabeth Gillooly, Julia D. Johnston, A. Lauren Waters, Alyssa M. Schlenz

Faculty Publications

Aim

To assess the predictive validity of neurodevelopmental screening in toddlers and preschool children with sickle cell disease (SCD) using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). We expected screening in preschool children to predict academic problems in elementary school and future stroke risk.

Method

Using a longitudinal cohort design, academic problems (e.g. grade retention, failing a subject) and increases in stroke risk (e.g. abnormal transcranial Doppler exam) were assessed for a 6-year period after neurodevelopmental screening in 2-year-olds (‘toddlers’) and 4-year-olds (‘preschool children’) using medical record review, which included annual information from parents about school functioning. Biopsychosocial variables were examined …

Redefining Strength: Male Sexual Assault Survivors & The Challenges They Face, Sophia Wolla

Psychology Student Publications

This paper discusses the challenges faced by male survivors of sexual assault. Other topics explored are what makes the experiences of male survivors unique, how these challenges affect male survivors reporting their assault, self-blame, and recovery after being assaulted.

How Does Music Therapy Affect Pain Management And Emotional Health In Pediatric Cancer Patients?, Isabella Arceneau

Psychology Student Publications

This paper explores the effectiveness of music therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for pediatric cancer patients. It highlights how music therapy can reduce pain, anxiety, and depression, while also improving emotional well-being and coping skills during treatment.

Expediting Tool-Use Learning: Effects Of Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Of The Left Anterior Supramarginal Gyrus, Kamila Haliru

Honors Thesis

The left anterior supramarginal gyrus (aSMG) has been implicated as an important brain region in tool use. While anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (atDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) has been shown to facilitate skilled tool use, the effects of aSMG stimulation remain largely unexplored. Using a chopstick-marble paradigm, this thesis examined whether atDCS to the left aSMG would enhance tool-use learning. Electroencephalography (EEG) was concurrently recorded to assess atDCS-dependent changes to the beta and gamma frequency bands. Our results demonstrated that atDCS over the left aSMG significantly expedited tool-use learning and was associated with increased gamma band activity …

Peer Victimization And Nonsuicidal Self Injury: Social Support As A Potential Protective Factor For Adolescents, Nursita Afifah, Sali Rahadi Asih, Ike Anggraika Kuntoro

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a high-risk behavior that increases the desire and likelihood of attempting to commit suicide. Peer victimization has been found to precede NSSI. Both phenomena are prevalent among adolescents living in urban areas. This cross-sectional study investigated the role of social support in the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI. A total of 449 adolescents who lived in urban areas completed the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI), Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale (MVPS), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to assess NSSI frequency, peer victimization, and perceived social support. The results found that NSSI is higher in …

Addressing Violent Extremism And Implicit Bias: Mindbridge’S Neuroscientific And Psychological Approach, Adriana Lovric, Sarah Lockridge

Thinking Matters Student Research Symposium

Violence has long been embedded in American culture and history, often linked to ideological struggles, racial oppression, and religious conflicts (Mayer et al.,2024). In recent years, violent extremism—characterized by the use or threat of violence to advance ideological, political, or social agendas—has surged, particularly in attacks on government institutions, infrastructure, and marginalized communities (Mayer et al.,2024). At the same time, implicit biases—unconscious prejudices—continue to reinforce societal inequalities across race, gender, and class, often manifesting as micro-inequities that have a cumulative impact (Brennan,2014). According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program (2020), 138 law enforcement agencies reported 8,263 hate crime …

Understanding The Needs Of The Intellectually And Developmentally Disabled And Autistic Population In The Criminal Justice System, Emily Sateary

Master of Arts in Human Services

This paper explores the inequitable treatment of the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled and Autistic (IDD/A) population in the criminal justice system. Although progress has been made over the past century with understanding the unique needs of this population, they still face challenges at all stages of the criminal justice system. Behavioral, social skills, and sensory challenges make it difficult for the IDD/A population to avoid criminal justice contact and to understand the criminal justice process. Insufficient training for police and attorneys harms both persons with IDD/A and criminal justice professionals. This paper examines current practices in place that are barriers …

How Biophilic Design Impacts Office Spaces, Addison Carter

Honors Projects

Many working individuals experience burnout and dissatisfaction in their jobs. Although is this a result of individual mental strain, or are there other environmental factors contributing to the problem? This study investigates the impact of design on well-being and examines how biophilic design can serve as a solution to the negative effects certain architectural features may have on occupants. A literature review was conducted; it analyzed existing research on topics such as office design, biophilic design, and the influence of architecture on comfort and wellness. To explore how biophilic design can be applied in all settings, not just new construction, …

Design Solutions For Common Problems In Senior Living Facilities, Mary Schmidt

Senior Honors Theses

With the aging population of the United States, the prevalence of dementia rises along with its challenges for individuals in long-term care facilities. As cognitive function deteriorates, dementia patients face growing difficulties in performing daily activities. Common issues such as wayfinding, wandering, exit attempts, agitation, and a generally low quality of life plague most dementia patients at long-term care facilities. Design features can improve quality of life, safety, and coherence for residents with dementia at assisted living facilities. This paper examines existing research to present various design strategies that can enhance daily life for dementia patients in long-term care facilities. …

Living And Dying With Rats (Essay), Trent Mcfury

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

It is unlikely that a dystopian work would begin with, “Rats have not been seen for centuries, even in Venice.” [...]

Although many species disturb our peace, destroy our crops, and/or are outright dangerous, the eco-existential scaling of a rat (and mice), broonie or pixie-like, makes it a convenient analogical and projective emblem of invasion and subsequent extermination. That which abundantly reproduces, keenly clusters, transforms our bodies, challenges our wits, follows and then remains, travels and then stays, is also a psyche-mirror.

Dissolving Sand Into Fog - Portraying Long Term Temporal Illusions Through Music, Kyle Bergler

Honors Projects

Long-term temporal illusions permeate our day-to-day lives, but due to their highly subjective nature, few are familiar with them. To help introduce these topics in a way that lets a wider audience connect individually with them, I composed three works for percussion ensembles, each in a different style, and each portraying one or multiple long-term temporal illusions. All of these pieces were composed and rehearsed throughout the spring 2025 semester and premiered at my senior recital on April 19, 2025.

Attachment Theory In Adult Romantic Relationships: The Influence Of Childhood Trauma On Adult Attachment Styles And Romantic Relationship Satisfaction, Shelby Bock

Senior Honors Theses

Attachment theory provides a key framework for understanding adult romantic relationships, especially for individuals with a history of childhood trauma. Early adverse experiences, such as emotional abuse and neglect, as well as broader categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), can disrupt attachment development, contributing to insecure attachment styles—anxious or avoidant—that influence relationship dynamics in adulthood. This review synthesizes current literature on how childhood trauma contributes to attachment patterns and emotional intimacy, trust, and relationship satisfaction in adult romantic relationships. It also highlights the role of attachment in mediating the effects of childhood trauma on romantic relationships. Finally, the review proposes …

The Mmpi-Arc And Mmpi-Af Scales: Psychometric Properties Of The Mmpi-2-Rf’S Restructured Clinical (Rc) And Higher Order Factor Scales When Adapted For Use With Archival Adolescent Mmpi Data., Susan L. Trumbetta, P. Kevin Bolinskey, Irving I. Gottesman

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Objective: To explore the psychometric properties of MMPI-adapted versions of the MMPI-2-RF’s RC and factor scales when applied to archival adolescent MMPI data. Method: We explored the internal consistency, temporal stability, and convergent and criterion validity of newly derived MMPI-adapted RC scales and MMPI-adapted higher-order factors (MMPI-ARC and MMPI-AF) using data from the first normative adolescent MMPI samples: 3,971 ninth graders assessed in Minneapolis public schools in 1947-1948 and 11,329 ninth graders assessed statewide in 1954. Results: Most MMPI-ARC and MMPI-AF scales showed good internal reliability, which did not vary uniformly with the proportion of available items. The MMPI-ARC scales …

Learning, Brianna Mcgee, Rachel Wu

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Learning is broadly defined as the acquisition or modification of behavior or knowledge through experience. While learning is perhaps most apparent within the context of students in school, learning begins from birth (perhaps even in the womb) and continues throughout the lifespan. Without the ability to learn from our experiences, we would not be able to function in society. Although there are many types of learning, this entry focuses on three common types.  First, associative learning, or the ability to learn about the relationship between two objects or behaviors, is exhibited by human beings every day. Second, formal learning (learning …

Building Blocks Of Language: Speech Perception In Infants (Eimas Et Al., 1971), Sanjula Mahathantila, Jonathan B. Santo

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Language is a very important component of what makes humans, humans.  Without language, we would not be able to communicate thoughts, feelings, or ideas.  Learning a native language starts at infancy and continues well into our adult lives.  However, the beginning of learning a language at infancy might not be as simple as it seems.  In adulthood, when hearing a foreign language it might be hard to figure out where one word stops and where another begins.  Infants are doing the same thing, except on a much different scale.

Adolescence: Bio-Physiological Development, Theresa C. Allen

Essays in Developmental Psychology

The Wonder Years was a television comedy-drama that aired for six seasons from 1988 to 1993.  It was a series on the coming of age…life through the eyes of an adolescent boy, Kevin Arnold, living in the late 1960’s - early 70’s.  From surviving the indignities of the junior high gym locker room, to discovering the joys of the opposite sex, to struggling to cut parental apron strings, a nation watched Kevin Arnold try to navigate the ever-changing waters of puberty, friendships, love and lust, and the uncertainty of tumultuous social times while trying to forge a sense of self …

Heinz Werner, Ethan Fleuchaus, Katie Cunningham, Heidi Kloos

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Heinz Werner (February 11, 1890 – May 14, 1964) was an Austrian psychologist who played an active role in defining the field of developmental psychology at the start of the 20th century. While initially seeking to become a composer and music historian, he changed his mind after listening to a lecture on Immanuel Kant at the University of Vienna. Werner became engrossed in topics of philosophy and psychology (which were combined at the time), and he wrote his dissertation on the psychology of aesthetic experiences. Subsequently he worked at the University of Hamburg, where he published the first edition of …