Digital Commons Network^™

Maternal Age And Income Moderate The Effects Of Infant Sleep Interventions On Maternal Sleep And Mood, Rachel Kerr, Afton Craig, Kara Mcrae Duraccio

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Introduction: Demographic and social factors, including maternal age, number of children, and income, may influence the success of sleep training approaches for infants based on differences in supports available and varying levels of maternal self-efficacy/confidence. This study investigated whether maternal income, age, and number of children moderated the effect of three infant behavioral sleep interventions on maternal sleep and mental health.

Methods: Mothers of infants (ages 5-10 months) were randomly assigned to basic sleep hygiene control, graduated extinction, or responsive parenting interventions to help improve the sleep of their infant. Mothers completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PROMIS Sleep Disturbance …

Carrying The Call: A Literature Review On Pastoral Burnout, Nisaa Robinson

College of Arts and Cultural Studies

This literature review examines theory and practice related to the leadership challenge of burnout among Black full-time pastors serving mid—sized urban churches in the Midwestern United States. Utilizing 21 sources across peer—reviewed, professional, popular, and action—network literature, the review applies pragmatic and interpretive research philosophies to evaluate contributing and mitigating factors, conceptual frameworks, validated assessments, and leadership practice implications. The review synthesizes foundational literature, clergy—specific extensions, and culturally responsive scholarship to identify evidence—based insights. Significant gaps in culturally specific, regionally disaggregated research are identified, with implications for future inquiry and organizational leadership practice.

Anxiety Within Romantic Relationships, Brooklyn Hintze

ScholarsArchive Data

I studied the affects of social anxiety, dating anxiety, and appearance anxiety on individuals, specifically pertaining to romantic and dating relationships. I also studied literature on treatments and interventions for these anxieties.

Clustering Of Internet Behaviors And Associated Mental Health Outcomes Among U.S. Adolescents, Aakansha Singh, Timothy Grigsby, Miguel Fudolig, Ying Guo, Clariana Ramos De Oliveira

School of Medicine Research Poster Showcase

Poster: Clustering of Internet behaviors and associated mental health outcomes among U.S. adolescents

Update Mechanisms In Event Models: Boundary Effects And Dimensional Influences, Xing Su

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

People construct working event models to comprehend dynamic, multimodal information such as movies and narratives, but how these models update remains debated. Two mechanisms have been proposed: incremental updating, which selectively modifies specific dimensions while preserving others, and global updating, which discards the existing model entirely to construct a new one. This dissertation investigated how event boundaries influence which updating mechanism people employ. Across two experiments, participants read narratives about everyday activities while we measured recognition memory response times and self-paced reading times. Participants also completed event segmentation tasks to identify perceived boundaries. Results revealed a consistent dissociation opposite to …

Teaching Under Pressure: A Study Of Factors Influencing Stress Among Educators, Daniel K. Ashlock, Shaun D. Bell, Victoria K. Hutcherson

Ex Sapientia Loqui

There were three purposes of this non-experimental study. The first purpose was to determine whether there was a difference in stress levels between teachers of different grade levels. The second purpose was to determine whether there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of the educational setting (either public or private school). The third purpose was to determine if there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of class size. The participants (n=81) included a convenience sample of PreK through twelfth-grade teachers in or around Searcy, Arkansas. Their …

Does Reappraisal Of Test Anxiety Improve Performance?, Lydia Baker, Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Test anxiety, anxious thoughts and worries surrounding testing, is a relevant issue for around 20-30% of students today. Different methods have been researched to treat test anxiety, including emotion regulation strategies, one of which is cognitive reappraisal. Personality traits such as neuroticism may make it hard for a person to emotionally regulate, which is why cognitive reappraisal is helpful. A Qualtrics survey was distributed that placed people into 3 experimental groups: positive reappraisal, negative reappraisal, and a control group, and participants were asked to complete a memory test after reappraisal. A One-way ANOVA revealed no significant effect of reappraisal on …

A Proposal To Examine Naturally Occurring Mindfulness And Correctional Officer Stress And Burnout, Anthony M. Nasrallah

Undergraduate Theses

Correctional officers (COs) work in institutions characterized by high interpersonal demand, safety risk, and organizational complexity; as a result, they experience elevated rates of occupational stress, burnout, and mental-health disorders relative to the general workforce. At the same time, research in allied helping professions demonstrates that mindfulness and related contemplative practices can reduce stress and improve emotion regulation and well-being. However, little is known about whether COs’ own, pre-existing informal mindfulness practices are associated with lower on-the-job stress or burnout rather than formal training courses. This review integrates findings from qualitative studies, quantitative analyses, and systematic reviews to show what …

The Role Of Avoidance In The Relationship Between The Impact Of Childhood Trauma And Physiological Responsivity To Fear And Reward In Adulthood, Tristan Alana Benjamin

Dissertations (1934 -)

Childhood trauma is prevalent and has been associated with deleterious physical and psychological outcomes that persist into adulthood. Extensive research on the neurobiological consequences of experiencing trauma has demonstrated an association between experiencing a traumatic event and elevated physiological arousal in response to fearful stimuli compared to healthy controls. By contrast, emerging research has found that adults who experienced a traumatic event during childhood demonstrate blunted physiological arousal responses. The physiological profile associated with childhood trauma may be related to coping strategies utilized; notably, children may be more likely to engage in avoidance to cope with the impact of trauma …

Emotional Awareness And Resilience In Adolescents, Emilie Zimmerman

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Adolescent trauma exposure is prevalent and associated with a range of negative developmental outcomes. However, some youth demonstrate resilience. Emotional awareness, a foundational component of emotion regulation, may play a role in promoting adaptive functioning following adversity, though its contribution to resilience in trauma-exposed adolescents remains unclear. The present study examined whether emotional awareness is associated with multiple domains of resilience including prosocial behavior, self-efficacy to handle conflict, perceived resilience, and emotional and conduct problems, after accounting for trauma exposure. Participants were 36 adolescents enrolled in a support program for at-risk youth. Data were obtained from youth-report measures of trauma …

Language And Emotional Experience: A Worldwide Study, Natalie Lorange, Chelsea Romney

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This qualitative study explored how native language influences emotional experience. Fourteen participants from diverse countries were recruited to capture a range of linguistic perspectives and experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in four key themes: (1) shared experience as central in creating emotional meaning, (2) the power of words in shaping emotional experience, (3) stronger emotional resonance in native or frequently used languages, and (4) the importance of regional differences in emotional experience. Findings suggest that while emotions may be largely universal, linguistic and cultural differences play a significant role in an individual's emotional identity. The study highlights …

Mental Models Of Autonomy And Sentience Shape Reactions To Ai, Janet V.T. Pauketat, Daniel Burton Shank, Aikaterina Manoli, Jacy Reese Anthis

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Narratives about artificial intelligence (AI) entangle autonomy, the capacity to self-govern, with sentience, the capacity to sense and feel. AI agents that perform tasks autonomously and companions that recognize and express emotions may activate mental models of autonomy and sentience, respectively, provoking distinct reactions. To examine this possibility, we conducted three pilot studies (N = 374) and four preregistered vignette experiments describing an AI as autonomous, sentient, both, or neither (N = 2,702). Activating a mental model of sentience increased general mind perception (cognition and emotion) and moral consideration more than autonomy, but autonomy increased perceived threat more than sentience. …

Growing Up Muslim In America: Discrimination And Religious Identity In Emerging Adulthood, Samira Saleh

Dissertations

This study examined the impact of depression and discrimination on religious identity development among emerging adult Muslims (ages 18–29) in the United States, with attention to religious visibility and gender. Using a cross-sectional survey design, participants completed validated measures including the Perceived Islamophobia Scale, Everyday Discrimination Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Centrality of Religiosity Scale. Grounded in Arnett’s Theory of Emerging Adulthood and Social Identity Theory, the study addresses gaps in research on Muslim mental health and identity within Western sociopolitical contexts. Participants were recruited via university listservs, Muslim Student Associations, social media, and community organizations, and completed a brief …

Creative Engagement For Community Through The Life-Span, D. Nicole English, Pelgy Vaz

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Creative Engagement for Community Through the Life-Span

Creative Engagement includes crafts, cultural practices, expressive arts, and activities that bring people together. Having access to such activities enables people to develop healthy habits, social interactions, and build community that can sustain one throughout the lifespan. On-going research indicates that Creative Engagement Activities, and the Communities of Practice that build around them, benefit people throughout the life-span, but become particularly important to older adults, by building resilience and social connections, in the face of inevitable life losses.

https://youtu.be/r3JS5YP-MnM

Defining The Meta-Story Of Heroism Science: Initiation, Formation, And Governance In An Emerging Discipline, Peter Bray

Heroism Science

This article traces the meta-story of the journal Heroism Science across Volumes 1–10 by treating the publication record as a living narrative of field formation. Using an eight-dimension decoding framework (D1–D8), it argues that the journal’s development is best understood as a braided trajectory in which methodological maturation and theoretical maturation co-evolve. Special issues function as turning points: downside dynamics, whistleblowing, and heroic screens formalize consequence sensitivity and contestation, while later conference and legacy issues consolidate pluralism and reflexive ethics. The article contributes (a) an explicit coding and audit method for reading a journal as a field-forming narrative and (b) …

What Is Love? Baby Don't Hurt Me, Don't Hurt Me, No More, Sydney H. Crockett

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Is love a choice? A literature review demonstrated that love and behavior are inextricably linked, and one’s choices influence the development of love, suggesting it could be a choice. Interviews demonstrated that the assumption that love is a choice was baked into almost every respondent’s behavior, providing merit to the conclusion.

Navigating Help In Stem: How Seeking And Receiving Help Shapes Women’S Self Perceptions And Memory, Samantha A. Mckinney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Prior research suggests that help-seeking is a social process shaped by interpersonal context, yet less is known about how help type and partner characteristics influence self-related outcomes in STEM settings. The present research examined how autonomy-oriented and dependency-oriented help, partner gender, and the alignment between requested and received help relate to women’s state self-esteem, STEM self-concept, affect, and recognition sensitivity. Across two studies, participants completed a STEM task and interacted with a simulated partner who provided help.

In Study 1 (N = 215), participants received the type of help they requested, allowing for an examination of how help type and …

Advancing The Study Of Politics And The Brain: Targets For Research On Neurology And Political Behavior, Glenn W. Rainey Jr.

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

In this paper I argue that advancing research on neurology is creating important opportunities for political scientists to integrate its findings into their research, particularly with regard to the effects of emotional processes on political behavior.  I provide a general background on neural anatomy, genetics, and neurobiological chemicals, and I briefly review techniques of neurological research, the findings that have been developing, and the limitations on the research. I provide an overview of selected key neural anatomy, and neurotransmitters and hormones, that play a role in neurological functions, and particularly in the development and expression of emotions.  I then suggest …

Psychologists’ Preparedness And Self-Efficacy In Serving Grieving Hispanics During Covid-19, Janet Salinas Sanchez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health professionals working with Hispanic populations often face challenges in addressing grief, a culturally multifaceted experience influenced by traditions and familial and community practices. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine psychologists’ self-efficacy and preparedness in managing grief among Hispanic individuals who have been affected by COVID-19, address cultural factors in grief management, and identify demographic or professional factors that predict higher self-efficacy in working with Hispanic clients. Data were collected at a single point in time from eight psychologists who were actively working or had worked with Hispanic populations during COVID-19 to explore psychologists’ self-efficacy, preparedness, …

Submission Guidelines

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Introversion And Extraversion And Their Relationship To Perceived Micromanagement And Job Satisfaction, Jacqueline Corkin-Sheffield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if and to what extent job satisfaction outcomes of perceived micromanagement were related to the subscales of the extraversion domain (introversion, ambiversion, extraversion). Extraversion, one of the five personality domains of the Five Factor Model (FFM) is the broad trait category characterized by traits such as outgoingness, gregariousness, and ambition. The domain scale of extraversion indicates the degree to which an individual possesses traits consistent with these descriptors. The trait extraversion scale consists of low, moderate, and high designations, also called introversion, ambiversion, and extraversion, respectively. Participants completed the International …

The Moderating Role Of Peer And Leader Support Of Breastfeeding On Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intention Of Nursing Mothers In The Workplace, Dajah J. Thrash

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nursing mothers who return to work after maternity leave face significant challenges in balancing breastfeeding with workplace demands, particularly when returning before the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended 6-month timeline. Previous research has identified peer and leader support of breastfeeding as key factors in supporting work–family balance, influencing job satisfaction, and promoting positive work behaviors, including motivation and productivity. However, little research has explored how peer and leader support of breastfeeding influence the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention among nursing mothers. To extend previous research, data were collected from 88 nursing mothers recruited through Private Facebook groups, using …

Schema Therapy For The Treatment Of Chronic Depression: A Critical Review Of Evidence-Based Treatment Methods, Trevor Ink

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This review explores current evidence-based interventions for the treatment of depression. Many of the current interventions display moderate to high levels of efficacy in decreasing depression severity and are praised for their effectiveness. However, many current front-line interventions fail to address the root cause of depressive symptomology. Schema therapy is an integrative treatment that targets core emotional needs that failed to be met during crucial developmental stages. Originally developed for personality disorders, schema therapy is effective for a myriad of disorders, including chronic depression. By targeting early maladaptive schemas (EMS), schema therapy can be effective for treating chronic depression when …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Ptsd Symptom Severity, Alcohol Use, And Resilience In American Military Veterans Using Standardised Assessment Instruments, Oladimeji Owolabi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) continues to be a significant mental health concern among U.S. military veterans. This quantitative study examines the interrelationships among PTSD symptom severity, alcohol use, and psychological resilience using three standardised instruments: the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). A cross-sectional correlational design was implemented with a convenience sample of 150 American military veterans, recruited through online platforms and veteran-focused organisations from all branches. Participants completed an anonymous online survey that assessed trauma-related symptoms, alcohol consumption behaviours, and resilience levels. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, …

Intergenerational Apologetics: A Strategy For Careful Confidence, Thomas C. Farley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a subtle confusion between the objectives of evangelism and apologetics, leaving Open Door Baptist Church (ODBC) seniors unknowingly ill-equipped and intimidated to defend their Christian values. The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry research was to address that intimidation by training seniors in a dedicated faith-values curriculum to become confident apologetic communicators. The intervention leveraged the process of intergenerational values-sharing while training stakeholders to develop their own faith narratives by seamlessly integrating biblical values with relevant apologetic particulars into personal stories to be shared with their grandchildren. In this environment, participants could develop a personal faith narrative that …

Sexual Scripts In Conflict: Does Religiosity Moderate The Relationship Between Pornography Use And Permissive Sexuality?, Alex D. Castaneda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The sexual script acquisition, activation, and application model (3AM) posits that viewing pornography leads to the internalization of the scripts implicitly and explicitly depicted. Recent research indicates that pornography viewing is associated with more permissive sexuality. Religious individuals, especially conservative Christians, report greater distress from their pornography use, and research has investigated the role of religiosity in pornography-related outcomes. Religiosity has been shown to protect against pornography exposure and buffer against the internalization of the pornographic script. Sexual script theory posits that individuals with existing scripts that are more deeply held will be less susceptible to new, contradictory scripts. This …

Reinvesting In A Lived Experience Workforce: An Exploration Of Why Peer Support Specialists Leave The Field, Morgan Rae Pelot

Dissertations and Theses

Peer support specialists (PSSs) are individuals who use their lived experience of mental health challenges along with formal training to provide peer support to other individuals experiencing similar challenges. PSSs have only become integrated into the mental health care system within the last several decades. Recently, a study reported a trend of PSSs leaving the field of peer support, but there is a gap in the literature exploring factors that may influence this decision. This study examined if self-efficacy, motivations to join the workforce, and negative work experiences were related to workforce retention. A secondary cross-sectional analysis was conducted on …

Measuring The Influence Of Ai Decision Support On Organ Procurement Coordinators’ Workflow, Amaneh Babaee

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Approximately 30% of deceased-donor kidneys remain unused, representing missed opportunities for transplantation. One potential solution is identifying hard-to-place kidneys earlier in the allocation process to reduce late-stage reassessment and allocation inefficiencies. Over a four-year project, our team developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that provides Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) coordinators with an AI score indicating the likelihood that a kidney will be transplanted. This study evaluates the impact of this AI score on kidney placement decisions. Using a pre–post experimental design, participants will first evaluate four donor kidneys without AI support. After watching a training video explaining the AI score, …

Influence Of Moral Development, Religiosity, Achieved Belongingness, And Collective Narcissism On Conspiracy Theory Beliefs, Barbara Mahoney Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Belief in conspiracy theories has been linked to prejudice and societal instability, underscoring the importance of understanding the psychological factors that shape such beliefs. This quantitative correlational survey research examined the extent to which moral development, religiosity, achieved belongingness, collective narcissism, and political party affiliation predict conspiracy theory beliefs. Wood’s three-tier model of conspiracy theory beliefs provided the conceptual framework for the study. Using validated quantitative measures in an anonymous, demographically stratified sample (N = 279), a stepwise regression analysis assessed how individual and group-level factors contribute to conspiratorial thinking. Although political party affiliation was not an initial focus, preliminary …

Advancing Equitable Faculty Evaluations: Refining Behavior-Based Rubrics For Systemic Change, Celia Freed

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Bias in faculty evaluations continues to influence decisions about promotion, tenure, and resource allocation, disproportionately affecting women and underrepresented faculty. To address these inequities, this study develops and implements behavior- and-outcome based evaluation rubrics designed to improve fairness, clarity, and consistency. Using a case study approach, calibration data, participant feedback, and refinement are used to guide rubric development and standardization. Over one academic year, this project progressed through data analysis, rubric revision, faculty feedback, and pilot implementation, followed by evaluation of its effectiveness. The study advances research on structured evaluation systems and examines how behavior-based criteria can potentially enhance inclusivity …