Digital Commons Network^™

Phishing Restraint: University Simulated Phishing Campaigns, Alexander M. Abou Khir

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Universities face heightened vulnerability to phishing attacks due to their open information-sharing culture and diverse user populations. This study examines how phishing exploits human factors within campus environments and evaluates three major training strategies: embedded phishing, microlearning, and role-based instruction to understand their individual and combined effectiveness. I explored studies that implement these strategies in pairs and use the strategies alone, identified trends in susceptibility reduction, behavioral reinforcement, and contextual relevance. I suggest that, while each method independently improves user awareness, multiple approaches offer stronger, more adaptable protection by addressing both psychological triggers and role-specific risks. The paper contributes a …

Poor Peer Relations During Early Adolescence Amplify Bidirectional Pathways Between Body Dissatisfaction And Alcohol Misuse, Molly Selover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The current study focuses on the growth of body dissatisfaction and alcohol misuse, and factors that amplify their interplay. Participants were 221 sixth- and seventh-grade students (118 girls, 103 boys; ages 10–13) attending a public school in Florida. Self-reports and peer nominations were collected at three time points across the course of a school year. Results from parallel process growth models indicated that higher self-reported body dissatisfaction at the beginning of the school year predicted increases in self-reported alcohol misuse across the academic year. Conversely, higher initial alcohol misuse predicted increases in body dissatisfaction. Follow-up analyses revealed that loneliness, low …

Are You Deaf-Smart? : Deaf School-Based Mental-Health And Assessment Resource Toolkit, Rachel Shaffer, Moss Maclean

Annual Student Research Day

This project aims to increase awareness, promote best practices, and encourage partnership and information sharing in relation to working with Deaf people as psychologists. This project leads to a resource library for psychologists.

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

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 …

Health And Motivation, Lydia E. Erickson, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Mental and physical health are two fundamental components in a person's life that directly affect well-being. Across continents, cultures, and all human backgrounds, mind and body are something every individual has in common. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mental and physical activity when accounting for motivation.

Understanding this relationship is critical for developing more effective health interventions and motivational strategies, especially among adolescent and young adult populations. The researchers hypothesized that intrinsic motivation and physical activity would positively predict well-being.

Participants in this study were students attending Northwestern College. Participants included both male and …

The Effect Of Sports On Personality: An Examination Of Athletes Vs. Non-Athletes, Noah C. Parmelee, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study aims to further investigate these relationships by comparing personality traits between athletes and non-athletes, as well as differences between participants in team and individual sports. It is hypothesized that athletes will score higher in conscientiousness, extraversion, and emotional stability, while showing no significant differences in agreeableness or openness. Additionally, individuals in individual sports are expected to exhibit higher levels of neuroticism than those in team sports. By clarifying how sports participation relates to personality development, this research contributes to a better understanding of how athletic experiences shape psychological outcomes and can inform coaching, education, and athlete support strategies.

Effects Of Social Media Comparisons On State Self-Esteem, Fomo, And Depression In Young Adult Women, Amanda J. Trapp

Student Scholar Showcase

Social media has quickly become a main source of entertainment that may have more damaging effects than one may expect. For specifically women, it is important to understand how the use and comparison of exposing oneself to the life of other influencers, family members, and friends affect self-esteem, depression, and FOMO. Previous research has shown the damaging effects of other social media sites such as Facebook, and the way comparing oneself to others has an impact on these variables. It is important to focus on women in this topic as they are more susceptible to damaging effects through comparison. Along …

Utilizing Dungeons And Dragons With Expressive Arts Therapy To Analyze Sense Of Connection Socially And To The Self: A Literature Review And Autoethnography, Neve N. Johnson

Expressive Therapies Theses

This expressive arts-based autoethnography explores the use of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) as a tool in expressive arts therapy to foster self-expression and connection to oneself and others. Research on the use of TTRPGs as a viable therapeutic medium is in its early stages, particularly for the widely-renowned fantasy TTRPG Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Geek Therapy, a therapy surrounding “geek culture” and affinities, emerged in 2011 and began research questioning if such affinities as costume play, anime, video games, or TTRPGs could be tools for self-expression in therapy. This has led to a range of current literature on the therapeutic …

Setbacks And Stigmas: The Career Consequences Of Mental Health Treatment For Soldiers In Combat Roles, Micah Mark Marchand

LSU Master's Theses

This study examines how potential career consequences, perceived stigma, and confidentiality concerns influence mental health help-seeking among United States Army Soldiers, with particular attention to differences across Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) categories. Despite the availability of behavioral health services, many service members delay or avoid treatment due to fears that seeking care may negatively impact their careers, including risks to promotion, deployment eligibility, and retention. Guided by Systems Theory, this research explores how interconnected military structures, policies, and cultural norms shape these perceptions and behaviors.

Using a confidential survey design, data were collected from current service members and recently separated …

“An App That Truly Works For Us”: Co-Designing A Mobile Health Intervention To Support The Transition To Adulthood For The Latino Autism Community, Antonio F. Pagán, Miriam Ortiz, Breana Mccormack-Sadler, Ana Esparza, Grace Gogola, Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Katherine A. Loveland

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Background: Autistic Latino young adults face significant disparities and a service cliff during their transition to adulthood. While mobile health (mHealth) applications offer a scalable solution, few evidence-based, culturally adapted programs have been successfully transitioned to mHealth platforms for this population. This study aimed to conduct a multi-stakeholder needs assessment to guide the development of a culturally adapted mHealth app designed to accompany the ¡Iniciando!/Launching! treatment program to support young adults transitioning to adulthood. Methods: This study used a multi-phase, mixed-methods design. An initial needs assessment survey was administered to three key stakeholder groups: autistic young adults ( …

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 …

The Effects Of Dietary Protein Manipulation On Operant Demand, Brianna R. Lilly

LSU Master's Theses

Previous work with dietary protein restriction in rodents has demonstrated that rodents fed a low protein diet exhibit physiological effects such as lower rates of weight gain and increased levels of circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Dietary protein restriction also produces behavioral effects. Compared to rodents that are not protein-restricted, rodents that are protein-restricted exhibit increased food intake and higher preference for a protein vs. carbohydrate solution. Additionally, protein-restricted rodents will respond at higher levels for a protein reinforcer than non-restricted rodents. The current study assessed the effect of dietary protein restriction on operant protein demand during and after …

Understanding The Underutilization Of The Campus Recreation Facility: A Mixed-Methods Examination Of Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction, Social Physique Anxiety, Sense Of Community, And Physical Environment Barriers, Caden M. Pfingsten

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

General Abstract

Understanding the Underutilization of the Campus Recreation Facility:

A Mixed-Methods Examination of Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction,

Social Physique Anxiety, Sense of Community, and Physical Environment Barriers

Caden Miles Pfingsten

Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

May 2026

General Abstract

This study investigated why students at a mid-sized Midwestern public university elect to pay for off-campus commercial gym memberships rather than use the on-campus Campus Recreation Facility (CRF), which is available at no additional direct cost. A cross-sectional quantitative survey (N = 169) was administered to students across six fitness facility groups. Validated and researcher-adapted …

Cross-Cultural Differences In Academic Pressure, Anxiety, And Sleep Quality Among High-Achieving Students In The United States And South Korea, Yumi Choi, Brett Zollinger, Jisook Park

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study examines cross-cultural differences in academic pressure, anxiety, and sleep quality among high-achieving students in the United States and South Korea. As academic success becomes increasingly competitive in both countries, students often face significant psychological and physiological challenges. This research investigates how differing educational systems and cultural expectations influence levels of academic pressure and their subsequent impact on anxiety and sleep quality.

Data were collected from high-achieving high school students in both countries using standardized measures, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Comparative analyses were conducted to identify differences in perceived …

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 …

Experiences Of Friendships And Artificial Intelligence, Victoria L. Hober, Chloe Nelson

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between friendship and the use of AI companions. Participants (N=136) completed an online survey that included questions from four questionnaires: Perceptions of Companion AI Impacts (PCI), which was developed for the purpose of this study, Lubben Social Network Scale -Revised (Lubben, 1988), Self Disclosure Scale (Augustine & Essel, 2024), and Openness to Use AI Companion, which was also created for the use of this study. Through these tests, the researchers aimed to measure the perceived risks and benefits associated with AI companion use, as well as social belongingness, willingness to …

The Efficacy Of Informal Mindfulness Practices Towards Enhancing Psychological Well-Being And Life Satisfaction Among College Students, Carol Patrick, Tianhui Xie

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

US college students face psychological challenges from academic pressure and social demands. Informal mindfulness practices may help reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Previous studies have looked at informal contemplative practices in daily life. However, none have studied skincare as a mindfulness practice. This study investigates whether incorporating informal mindfulness into skincare routines can enhance well-being, life satisfaction, and mindfulness in US college students.

Over a 14-day experimental period, approximately 150 participants were assigned to one of the three groups: a mindful skincare group, a descriptive skincare group, or a no-intervention group. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the PERMA …

Physical Therapy Patient Exercise Adherence Intervention, Carter D. Booe, Dean Clark, Ernesto Duenez, Aiden Haworth, Nathan Jaeger, Gabe Tross, Emery Wolfe

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Non-adherence to prescribed home exercise programs significantly undermines the efficacy of physical therapy (PT), with research indicating only approximately 35% of patients fully adhere to regimens. This issue contributes to suboptimal recovery and places a staggering financial burden on the healthcare system, estimated at $100 billion to $300 billion annually. The Physical Therapy Home Exercise Adherence Trial (PT-HEAT) evaluates the effectiveness of a 14-week behavioral education intervention designed to improve patient adherence outside the clinical setting.

Utilizing the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, this protocol involves PT staff administering a motivational-volitional screener, followed by trained student aides delivering targeted …

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

Sense Of Social Belonging, Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help, And Psychological Distress Among Sexual And Gender Minority Students At Christian Colleges And Universities, Alethia Winley, Elizabeth Mancuso, Steve Rouse

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Sexual and gender minority individuals (SGMs) often report more mental health struggles than their cisgender and heterosexual (cis-het) counterparts, as described by minority stress theory. At the same time, research shows that religiosity is associated with fewer mental health struggles. This study examined one intersection of these topics among SGM students at Christian institutions of higher learning by testing if religiosity moderated the relationship between SGM status and psychological distress, social belonging, and attitudes toward seeking help. The sample consisted of 203 students, including 70 SGMs, from 38 American Christian institutions of higher learning. Consistent with past research, SGMs reported …

The Role Of Religiosity In Moderating The Relationship Between Social Media-Induced Upward Social Comparison And State Self-Esteem, Cade Matthias Swearingen, Cindy Miller-Perrin, Elizabeth Mancuso

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The purpose of this study was to examine whether religiosity was a moderator in the relationship between social media induced upward social comparison and state self-esteem. Festinger’s social comparison theory suggests that upward social comparison negatively impacts self-esteem due to comparing oneself to someone perceived as better. It was hypothesized that individuals experiencing an upward social comparison social media condition would experience greater decreases in state self-esteem than individuals experiencing a lateral social comparison social media condition, and this effect would be moderated by strength of religious faith, such that stronger religious faith would be associated with less decreases in …

Addressing Sensory Processing And Regulation To Improve Developmental Outcomes In A Nicu Developmental Clinic, Faith Crumley

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Background and Significance 

Infants and children who spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) experienced intense sensory stimuli early on, during a critical period of brain development. These early experiences have been associated with later challenges in sensory processing and regulation, impacting developmental outcomes (Pineda et al., 2023). Following discharge, NICU Developmental Follow-Up Clinics play a key role in monitoring developmental progress and identifying delays. Given the influence of sensory processing on regulation, motor development, and participation in occupations, early identification is critical. This capstone project was conducted at a NICU Developmental Clinic to address the need for …

Emotional Intelligence Training In Physician Assistant Education: Comparing Workshops Alone To Workshops Plus Coaching, Mickey Lebowitz, William Holmes

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Introduction

Clinicians and health care students with higher emotional intelligence (EQ) are more likely to experience positive outcomes for themselves and their patients. Given these benefits and EQ’s learnability, teaching EQ to health care students has been suggested. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of workshops combined with coaching (W+C) relative to workshops only (WO) on PA students’ EQ, and, as an outcome measure, their feelings of success. Additionally, we investigated whether these impacts depend on students’ baseline EQ.

Method

Using the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Inventory, we retrospectively tracked first- and second-year changes in EQ and success scores …

Stress, Anxiety, Personality Factors, And Coping Strategies Of Collegiate Students And Student-Athletes, Jordan A. Wise, Nicholas Erdman

ASPIRE 2026

No abstract provided.

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 …