Digital Commons Network^™

Towards A Trauma-Informed, Culturally Competent Approach To Intimate Partner Violence, Debra Beilke

Master of Arts in Human Services

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pervasive, worldwide problem with devastating physical, psychological, and economic consequences. IPV can happen to anyone—male or female, straight or LGBTQ, wealthy or poor. However, most reported cases of IPV involve women as victims. Furthermore, women are more likely to experience chronic violence, severe IPV, criminal harassment, or be killed (Stewart et al., 2021). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2021), 26% of women around the world have experienced violence (physical and/or sexual) from a current or former intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.

Given the pervasiveness of IPV and its serious …

Challenges Of Maintaining Sobriety For Adults In Recovery Returning To College, Rosalina Johns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alcohol abuse is a prevalent problem among college students, with negative consequences on academic performance, social interactions, and well-being. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences and challenges of sobriety for recovering adults returning to college. Sociocultural theory was used to gain insights into participants’ experiences including resilience, risk and protective factors, and stress. Data were collected from semi structured interviews with three college students who were recovering adults. The data included participants’ responses regarding intervention or mediation techniques that eased their barriers and challenges during their academic journey. The findings revealed core themes …

Differences In Race And Gender Of Retired Servicemembers In The Decision To Reenlist, Samantha R. Loeza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of the study was to examine the race and gender differences among retired enlisted service members in work self-determination regarding the decision to reenlist. Existing research indicated little to no information regarding these factors. The independent variables are race and gender, and the dependent variable is work self-determination in the decision-making to re-enlist. This research utilized an adapted version of the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale, an 18-item assessment of work motivation theoretically grounded in self-determination theory. Only retired active-duty enlisted service members between the ranks of E-5 through E-9 were surveyed. Regarding race, this study only …

College Students Learn How To “Take Action!” To Disrupt Racial Microaggressions, Justine N. Egan-Kunicki, Renee N. Saris-Baglama

Feminist Pedagogy

The topic of prejudice and discrimination may be addressed in a variety of disciplines. When these topics are discussed in the classroom, students may not recognize microaggressions as acts of explicit or implicit prejudice. We designed and evaluated an Apply and Take Action! assignment to help students recognize microaggressions and learn techniques to disrupt them. Students were asked to identify definitions, key terms, and examples of microaggressions and microinterventions, and apply this knowledge to address a hypothetical scenario. Students favorably evaluated and recommended the assignment’s use. This assignment may benefit students who are targets of microaggressions, as well as those …

How Can Dei Training Change The Culture Of An Organization To Achieve Belonging And Retain Diverse Employees?, Kaisa S. Holt

University Honors Theses

Studies show the need for innovation and higher productivity yields can be best achieved through workforce heterogeneity. Creating effective DEI training frameworks is crucial for belonging, sustainable social well-being and enacting real change. This is key to proactively shifting our current system from one that responds to the need for DEI on a surface level to something that is regenerative. The aim of this review is to evaluate characteristics and enhancements added to evidence-based DEI training between 2020 and 2024. Studies were identified using the Portland State advanced database of academic journals on the DEI training and impacts of the …

Evaluation Of A Statewide Suicide Awareness And Prevention Program, Darien Collins

Theses and Dissertations

Mental health challenges are prevalent among young people in South Carolina, with suicide being a leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 24. Ending the Silence (ETS) serves as a gatekeeper training to engage students, school staff, families, and community members in conversations surrounding mental health challenges and suicide awareness. The University of South Carolina School Behavioral Health Team (SBHT), led by Dr. Mark Weist, with funding from the South Carolina (SC) Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation (BCBS), worked with the South Carolina National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on a three-year evaluation of their ETS program. Results …

Promotion And Personality In Military Officers As Moderated By Race, Margaret Raia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Career progression of U.S. military officers into the senior officer corps remains a difficult objective. Current research focuses on the lack of diversity in the senior officer corps and systematic factors inhibiting officers from promotions. This study was grounded in McCrae and Costa’s five-factor model of personality, to examine U.S. military officers’ personality characteristics and their relation to promotion while moderating for race. This quantitative study used binary logistical regression of survey data to establish whether the personality characteristics of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism predict promotion. U.S. Army and Naval officers in ranks O4–O10 were sampled from social …

Judicial Perspectives On Sentencing Mentally Ill Violent Offenders In New York, Vinita Puri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass incarceration is a public health crisis in the United States. Scholarly research has shown that incarceration may lead to exacerbated psychiatric conditions and increased recidivism risk. Lawmakers and policymakers have turned toward therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) to develop and implement trauma-informed crime prevention and intervention strategies that focus on diverting individuals from prisons and into community-based treatment. New York legislators have expanded problem-solving courts (e.g., mental health courts), psychiatric treatment facilities, public housing supports, and law enforcement training. In this generic qualitative study, five criminal court judges in New York shared their perspectives on TJ and trauma-informed approaches to sentencing …

Navigating Eating Disorders Through Counseling, Alyssa Pelella

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to PSYC365-001: Psychological Foundations of Learning.

Social Learning In Individuals With Autism, Benjamin Ellis

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to PSYC 365-001: Psychological Foundations of Learning.

Long-Range White Matter Fibres And Post-Stroke Verbal And Non-Verbal Cognition, Rebecca W. Roth, Deena Schwen Blackett, Ezequiel Gleichgerrcht, Janina Wilmskoetter, Chris Rorden, Roger Newman-Norlund, Souvik Sen, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D., Natalie Busby, Leonardo Bonilha

Faculty Publications

Among stroke survivors, linguistic and non-linguistic impairments exhibit substantial inter-individual variability. Stroke lesion volume and location do not sufficiently explain outcomes, and the neural mechanisms underlying the severity of aphasia or non-verbal cognitive deficits remain inadequately understood. Converging evidence supports the idea that white matter is particularly susceptible to ischaemic injury, and long-range fibres are commonly associated with verbal and non-verbal function. Here, we investigated the relationship among post-stroke aphasia severity, cognition, and white matter integrity. Eighty-seven individuals in the chronic stage of stroke underwent diffusion MRI and behavioural testing, including language and cognitive measures. We used whole-brain structural connectomes …

Maternal-Child Cortisol Attunement Differs In Preschoolers With Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, And Neurotypical Development, Rachel Hantman

Theses and Dissertations

Early maternal-child attunement sets a critical foundation for later social development. While maternal and child cortisol attunement in neurotypical (NT) development has been clearly established, little research has examined these relations in neurodevelopmental populations, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). Given their elevated-risk for disrupted maternal-child attunement and given elevated stress and dysregulated cortisol patterns in both children with ASD and FXS and their parents independently, this is a critical gap. This study addressed this gap in the literature by examining early maternal-child cortisol attunement in 97 mother-child dyads (_nNT = …

Evaluating Gender Bias In An Early Reading Screener Of Word Identification Abilities, Donna Perazzo

Theses and Dissertations

Children who have difficulty learning to read, particularly those with a specific learning disorder in reading (SLD-R) are at risk for an array of adverse outcomes. However, children who are identified and receive reading interventions early perform better on social, emotional, academic, and behavioral outcomes relative to those who do not receive early identification and intervention. In response to the growing body of research that has developed on the importance of the early identification of children have difficulty reading, many states have mandated the screening of all children for reading difficulties, specifically dyslexia. However, with the development of new reading …

Healing A Broken Spirit: A Look Into Institutional Trauma And Spiritual Resilience, Christian Cederstrom

Master of Arts in Human Services

This paper focused on the relationship between spirituality, therapy, and those who are affected and traumatized by religious institutions. It sought to cover the hypothesis that exposure to positive spirituality can help those who have been affected by religious institutional trauma to recover. Studies have shown a positive correlation between religiosity and recovery from traumatic experiences and that therapy can also increase one spirituality and relationship with God or other higher powers. This article sought to highlight that this strength of a spiritual coping mechanism may be increased by a person’s education in the field of theology and spirituality meaning …

The Deep Darkness And Impact On Domestic Violence Victims, Lauren Bludworth

Master of Arts in Human Services

Domestic violence is a prevalent challenge worldwide, and the domestic violence statistics are overwhelmingly high. Domestic violence creates many high-risk challenges for victims, which leads to lifelong consequences and negative impacts on victims. Negative consequences for domestic violence include women's physical, mental, and psychological health. These impacts on victims lead to adverse health effects, such as social and economic challenges for the victims.

This paper aims to take a closer look at the current literature that has proven negative impacts on victims, both children and women. It will move to cover the gaps in literature and then how to apply …

Supportive-Leadership Training To Improve Social Connection: A Cluster-Randomized Trial Demonstrating Efficacy In A High-Risk Occupational Context, Cynthia Mohr, Leslie Hammer, Jennifer Dimoff, Shalene Allen, James Lee, Sarah Arpin, Sheila Mccabe, Krista Brockwood, Todd Bodner, Luke Mahoney, Multiple Additional Authors

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The high, and rate of loneliness is a threat to public health (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023), with negative mental and physical health consequences (e.g., Holt-Lunstad, 2021). Given that loneliness is a risk factor for poor mental health, efforts to address loneliness are urgently needed. Workplaces can facilitate an employee's social connection through supervisor support training, which can help mitigate loneliness. Among occupational groups, the military is at higher risk for mental health disorders, suicide, and loneliness (Fikretoglu et al., 2022; Naifeh et al., 2019). This study evaluated the efficacy of an evidence-based supportive-leadership training intervention targeting active-duty U.S. …

Self-Generated Narratives Enhance Associative Inference At The Cost Of Memory Specificity, Shuran Tang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Associative inference allows us to make novel associations based on prior experiences, guiding future behavior. While previous studies have used narratives or mental imagery to aid memory, the specific role of narratives in this process remains unclear. This study investigates the role of narratives in enhancing associative inference and their potential trade-offs with item-level memory specificity. Across two experiments, participants learned object pairs using narrative or perceptual descriptions, with or without active linking. Experiment 1 found that narratives combined with active linking improved associative inference. Experiment 2, incorporating a mnemonic similarity task, revealed that while narratives enhanced memory integration, they …

Age-Related Differences In The Discounting Of Combination Outcomes In Which Immediate Gains Are Followed By Delayed Losses, Ke Ning

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Past research on age differences in delay discounting overwhelmingly has focused on simple delayed rewards. Many everyday choices faced by the aging population, however, involve delayed losses and also are more complicated, involving combination outcomes of both gains and losses. Additionally, income might moderate the effect of age on discounting but has not been evaluated. Here, we examined the discounting not only of simple delayed losses but also of combination outcomes in which immediate gains are followed by delayed losses in a sample of middle-aged and older adults of varying income level. We found that when controlling for income, older …

Beyond Mindset : Investigating Neural And Psychological Mechanisms Of Strategic Mindset, Growth Mindset And Feedback Learning, Yaqi Yang

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Extensive research has explored the benefits of the growth mindset over the past decades. Recently, researchers have turned their attention to the strategic mindset, a new concept with the potential to positively impact cognitive and behavioural change. While some literature suggests that both mindsets are associated with feedback learning, robust evidence is lacking, and the relationship between the three factors remains unknown. This thesis aims to investigate the neural and psychological mechanisms underlying the strategic mindset, growth mindset, and feedback learning through three distinct studies.

In Study 1, utilising a self- and other-rating paradigm, we examined neural and behavioural evidence …

Adaptation And Evaluation Of Guideline-Based Family-Based Behavioral Treatment For Overweight And Obesity In Childhood Survivors Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia And Lymphoma, Jessica Jakubiak

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Children who survive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma are at considerable risk for chronic, treatment-related medical complications known as “late effects.” Not only are these late effects significant in and of themselves, but many are exacerbated by excess weight, a particularly concerning combination given the elevated rates of overweight and obesity within this population. Although the therapeutic regimens (e.g., steroid “pulses”) endured by children who survive ALL and lymphoma may contribute to excess weight, accumulating evidence also demonstrates the development of poor dietary habits and inadequate levels of physical activity during cancer treatment. Such weight-related health behaviors appear to …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Depression And Anxiety Among Idaho Adults, Melissa Marie Henbest

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic had negative repercussions on the mental health of U.S. citizens. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on depression and anxiety on a population aged 18 years and older. Using a quantitative correlational repeated design, archival data were analyzed to evaluate the change in depression (as measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety (as measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]) indices from a non-pandemic year (2019) to the 1st pandemic year (2020) among patients of an outpatient community health care center. The study took into …

Adhd And Chronic Anhedonia: Antecedents Of Treatment-Resistant Depression And Suicidality In Adults, Tia Sternat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a chronic and debilitating disorder. Approximately 280 million people live with depression, and more than 700,000 lives are lost due to suicide each year. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a severe form of depression which is highly correlated with comorbid psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and associated with increased suicidality. Anhedonia, the reduced ability to experience pleasure, is associated with various psychiatric conditions, including ADHD. The theoretical framework for this study was the biopsychosocial model. Depression may be diagnosed in accordance with a defined cluster of symptoms, and/or how symptoms are experienced vary by individuals …

Relationship Between Student Physical Therapist Pain Knowledge, Beliefs, And Self-Efficacy Assessing And Treating Pain, Ryan Morgan Reed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects a large percentage of the population. According to recent studies, chronic pain management is best treated using a biopsychosocial (BPS) non-pharmacological approach rather than a biomedical (BM) approach. Student Physical Therapists (SPTs) trained in a BPS approach have different beliefs about pain than those trained in the BM approach. Beliefs about pain are related to pain knowledge and self-efficacy for treating pain patients. To date, no study has examined these three variables together or explored differences in BM versus BPS beliefs in relationship to the other two variables. Guided by social cognitive …

Strategies For Addressing Substance Abuse And Gambling Among Youth, Kevin T. Wolff

Publications and Research

This keynote address opens with a description of recent trends in substance use and gambling among youth, sharing insights from relevant research. I highlight that while some global trends indicate a decline in adolescent substance use, other areas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, have seen increases. I emphasize the importance of comprehensive prevention strategies, such as school-based, community-based, and family-based programs, and effective treatment approaches like behavioral interventions and integrated mental health services.

On the topic of youth gambling, I highlight the rising normalization and accessibility of gambling, particularly through the internet. I describe specific challenges in regions like South …

Virtual Reality And Higher Education Sporting Events: Social Anxiety Perception As An Outcome Of Vr Simulation, Kyu-Soo Chung, Chad Goebert, John David Johnson

Faculty Articles

Background: This study investigates the relationship between Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) and social anxiety in sport environments. Social anxiety is a mental health condition that manifests people’s intense fear of being watched and judged by others and worrying about humiliation It is important to research potential tools like VRET that could help to mitigate the impact of social anxiety as people with social anxiety often avoid attending live events due to the venue’s sensory stimuli and the social encounters they anticipate. VR simulation could allow socially anxious individuals to fully experience a sporting event simulation minus the anxiety induced …

The Impact Of Kangaroo Care (Kc) On Parent Stress, Infant Neurobehavioral Regulation, And Parent-Infant Attachment In Very And Extremely Preterm Infants, Justine Vecchiarelli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the high-risk population of infants born atinfants, developmental delays in infants, and parent-infant relationship disruption. Kangaroo care (KC) has shown promise as an intervention to buffer these adverse effects, however, KC engagement in NICUs is obstructed by lack of clear guidelines. Furthermore, limited research exists on KC including infants born atoutcomes, infant behavioral/developmental outcomes, and parent-infant relationship outcomes conjointly. The aim of this study was, therefore, to examine the impact of kangaroo care engagement on precursors of adverse outcomes including parent stress, infant neurobehavioral organization, and parent-infant bonding with the intent of informing clinical practice. Data was …

Parental Stress And Perceived School-Based Support Amongst Parents Of Children With Autism, Julia Unger

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience stress due to the wide range of social, emotional, and behavioral challenges their child may exhibit (Ali Nathwani et al., 2021; Goldrich Eskow et al., 2018). Children with ASD receive school services that can be impactful on their performance (Goldrich Eskow et al., 2018; Rosen et al., 2019); however, parent perspectives are also impacted by services (Zagona et al., 2019). Overall, current literature contains gaps in the exploration of patterns between school services, ASD child presentation and severity, and parental stress and perceptions. This study intends to explore the relationship between …

School Psychological Practices Within Personality Assessment Of Non-Binary Youth, Christian Fary

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

The following analysis provides the school psychology community with a discussion pertaining to the assessment of personality, particularly with Gender Non-Conforming and Non-Binary students. This student population faces greater mental health concerns and faces a higher amount of discrimination. Emerging research has shown that this population faces a higher risk for developing both mood disorders and harmful behaviors to themselves. The use of personality assessments provides practitioners with a vast look into many facets of mood, personality, and behavior. These measures can look deeper into behavior, especially internalizing behaviors, which can be useful for students with depression and other mood …

Teacher Wellness: Cognitive-Behavioral, And Mindfulness Techniques (Cbm), Jacob Nadler

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of participating in a teacher wellness program on teachers’ self-reported stress, well-being, mindfulness, and burnout. Participants included a small group of teachers from a primary school and elementary school in a small school district in rural Virginia. Self-reported stress as it relates to inadequate school-based support and teaching-related demands decreased from pre- to post-test completion, however none of these changes were significant. Teacher subjective well-being as it relates to school connectedness and teaching efficacy increased slightly yet was not significant. Teacher mindfulness defined by aspects of calmness, clarity, and kindness …

Emotional Response In Working Memory Of Individuals With Latent Toxoplasmosis, Antonella Quimbayo

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent parasite that infects about 30% of the world population. House cats and other felids serve as definitive hosts and acquire Toxoplasma by consuming infected prey, which are intermediate hosts. This includes rats and avians, but also large mammals such as wolves and deer. Toxoplasma gondii is known to manipulate prey behavior to enhance its transmission. For example, infected rodents demonstrates attraction to and curiosity around cat urine. Wolves infected with Toxoplasma were 11 times more likely to disperse from their pack and start a new pack. The manipulation of intermediate host behavior observed in rodents …