Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Fixed Mindsets, Irrational Beliefs, And Athletic Performance In High School Track And Field Athletes, Gianna Bolusi

Theses and Dissertations

Sports performance research demonstrates that growth mindsets and flexible belief systems enhance athletes’ performance, while studies on fixed mindsets and irrational beliefs reveal detrimental effects. How irrational beliefs may influence the relationship between fixed mindset and athletic performance has not been explored in high school aged athletes. This research seeks to understand the role of irrational beliefs in the relationship between fixed mindsets and objective and subjective athletic performance. Measures of irrational beliefs, fixed mindsets, perspective of performance and styles of evaluating performance were analyzed among 211 competitive high school aged track and field athletes with a mean age of …

Incorporating Cbt And Mindfulness Into Teacher Training To Improve The Relationship Between Teachers And Autistic Students, Sarah Lauren Swerdin

Theses and Dissertations

Given the substantial amount of time that children spend in the classroom each day, student-teacher relationships (STRs) play a critical role in students’ social-emotional development and academic achievement (Breeman et al., 2015). Research indicates, however, that students on the autism spectrum tend to have STRs characterized by less closeness and greater conflict, often due to their social-communication differences and behavioral challenges (Losh et al., 2022). Teacher-level factors, including job stress and burnout, also shape teachers’ appraisals of students and their subsequent coping strategies (Obiweluozo et al., 2021), thereby influencing STRs. Although STRs have been widely examined among neurotypical students and …

Anger Coping And Its Relations To Ambulatory Blood Pressure Reactivity And Recovery: The Moderating Effects Of Ethnic Discrimination, Brandon Dial

Theses and Dissertations

Past research has found significant associations between anger coping (i.e., anger-in, anger-out, anger-control) and blood pressure. As these studies used retrospective surveys to measure anger coping and clinic measures of blood pressure, less is known about the relations of anger coping and blood pressure in daily life. This ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study tested whether momentary use of anger coping styles in the context of interpersonal interactions were associated with momentary blood pressure reactivity and nocturnal blood pressure recovery (i.e., blood pressure dipping). Lifetime perceived ethnic discrimination was tested as a moderator of the relations of anger coping and blood …

Exploring Perceived School Administrator Leadership Support And Teacher Burnout, Matthew H. Stifelman

Theses and Dissertations

Burnout is an issue that affects those in numerous occupational settings and comes with tremendous risks for physical and psychological consequences (Edú-Balsania et al., 2022). Burnout is defined as one’s psychological response to chronic work stressors that can cause cognitive, emotional, or physical health damage (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). Decades of research have identified numerous risk factors for burnout across occupations. Risk factors include job and personal values, workload, lack Burnout is an issue that affects those in numerous occupational settings and comes with tremendous risks for physical and psychological consequences (Edú-Balsania et al., 2022). Burnout is defined as one’s …

Beliefs And Recommendations Of Parents And Teachers For Internalizing Vs. Externalizing Disorders: A Thematic Analysis, Kyle Macdonald

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of mental health disorders among school-aged children continues to rise, underscoring the importance of effective collaboration between families and schools. This qualitative study explored how parents (N=11) and teachers (N=11) perceive the causes, severity, and most appropriate interventions for internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalizing (e.g., ADHD, conduct) disorders. Using vignette-based interviews and thematic analysis, six central themes emerged: (1) causal attributions (biological vs. environmental), (2) links between causes, symptom permanence, and intentionality, (3) intervention preferences, (4) importance of collaboration, (5) perceptions of severity, and (6) gendered interpretations of symptoms. 12 of the 22 participants (5 parents, 7 …

Public Image Vs. Patient Experience: A Comparative Study Of Children's Hospitals, Abigail M. Giles

Program in Community Action (PICA)

This study examines the divergence between the curated digital brand identities of children’s hospitals and the lived experiences of their patients. Focusing on how institutions carry out their marketing objectives whilst navigating a “manipulated public sphere” on social media to maintain institutional viability and gain philanthropic support, a qualitative content analysis of 1,618 social media posts from Instagram and Facebook and 239 Google Reviews from 2023-2025 was performed. The analysis compares the difference in content curation of urban children’s hospitals and rural children’s hospitals, collecting posts from Boston Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth. Key findings include the use …

Assessment Of Risk Factors In Sexual Offenders, Jennifer Bulin

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the importance and historical development of sex offender risk assessment, highlighting its critical role in managing public safety and guiding treatment interventions. This project traces the evolution of these assessments, from early methods focused on static risk factors to contemporary approaches that incorporate dynamic elements. The review discusses the most commonly used risk assessment tools for both adults and juveniles, evaluating their methodologies, strengths, and limitations. Assessments reviewed to be used with adults include the Static-99, Static-2002, Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool Revised (MNSOST-R), Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offence Recidivism (RRASOR), Sex …

Resilient Voices: A Proposed Support Group For Latina Middle Schoolers, Vanessa G. Leon

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

The transition to middle school represents a critical developmental period characterized by significant social, emotional, physical, and cognitive changes. For Latina adolescents, this transition may be further complicated by cultural, environmental, and systemic stressors that increase vulnerability to mental health concerns. This doctoral specialization project addresses the need for culturally responsive mental health interventions designed to support the well-being of Latina middle school students during this developmental stage. The project presents Juntas Podemos, a school-based support group intervention that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills within a culturally responsive framework to promote emotional well-being, …

The Great Divide: The Relationship Between Perceived Immorality And The Work Of Artists, Caelyn R. Anderson

Psychology | Senior Theses

The psychological response one has when viewing art depends heavily on contextual understanding. More specifically, when a viewer learns negative biographical information about perceived immorality of an artist, it can negatively affect their relationship with that artist's work (Kaube et al., 2023). The sample was made up of 134 participants randomly assigned to one of two groups exposed to either positive or negative information about the artist Paul Gauguin. After viewing information, participants were shown three different paintings, before being asked to respond to an intentionality scale, and two art reception scales. An independent samples t-test showed that there is …

Outdoor Recreation And Well-Being: The Effects Of Outdoor Activity From A Positive Psychology Approach, Sophia Watson

Honors Program Theses

Outdoor recreation has been associated with increased well-being in past literature (et al., 2018). This study focuses on well-being from a positive psychology perspective (i.e., flourishing, fulfillment, life satisfaction, etc.). Spending time in nature may increase well-being, due to its sensory properties which reduce stress and rumination (Kaplan, 1995). Physical activity may also be important for well-being due to its health benefits, neurotransmitter release, opportunities for socialization, and increasing self-confidence (Parlakyıldız, 2025). I investigated whether there was correlation between outdoor recreation and well-being and if so, whether it differed depending on the location of the activity and the physical activity …

How Parents & Children Talk About Technology Rules, Elisha Seoyoon Bae , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

The Roadhouse And Mindful Alienation: On Fearlessly Losing Hope In Twin Peaks’ House Away From Home, Matthew C. Halteman

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The Roadhouse scenes in Twin Peaks: The Return resolutely defy the conventions of serial television drama. From showcasing interminable bouts of floor-sweeping, to featuring lengthy music videos by little-known acts, to lavishing attention on the trivial conversations of seemingly random people, these scenes give significant time and space to stuff you just don’t usually see in a tightly plotted series. I suggest that these unconventional scenes are a feature rather than a bug. I argue that the Roadhouse scenes in The Return offer a therapeutic opportunity for viewers to become well-practiced at coping mindfully with feelings of alienation that arise …

Development And Validation Of The Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, And Engagement Scale (Lakes) Among Rural Adults, Anna Morrison

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Adults living in rural regions experience mental illness at rates comparable to those in urban areas yet utilize mental health services significantly less. Underutilization of psychotherapy in rural populations has been attributed to structural barriers (e.g., geographic inaccessibility, limited provider availability, reduced anonymity) and sociocultural factors such as stigma. However, rural adults may remain reluctant to initiate treatment due to attitudes toward psychotherapy, limited help-seeking engagement, or inaccurate knowledge about psychotherapy. The present study developed and examined the psychometric properties of the Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, and Engagement Scale (LAKES), a self-report measure designed to assess psychotherapy-related attitudes, knowledge, and engagement …

Music To Move You: Comparing Effects Of Music Genre On Subjective Performance Of Football Players In A Practice Setting, Devin Deturk

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Optimizing athletic performance has increasingly extended beyond conditioning to include psychological, health-related, and environmental interventions aimed at enhancing peak mental and physical fitness. However, advanced training mechanisms targeting these factors may not be readily available to all programs, necessitating cost-effective, accessible, and ethically sound adjuncts. Thus, music emerges as a potential solution that remains underutilized in applied sport settings but may be leveraged to address pervasive challenges such as fear of failure, burnout, and over-professionalization. The present dissertation investigated the effects of music in a practice setting, with particular emphasis on its capacity to enhance subjective performance, motivation, and positive …

Camouflaging And Autism: An Examination Of Camouflaging’S Potential Association With The Clinical Assessment Of Autism And Subject Demographic Characteristics, James George Modico

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and restrictive/repetitive behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The clinical assessment of ASD requires behavioral observation of the participant. Within the context of ASD, camouflaging refers to cognitive and behavioral strategies that a person with ASD can utilize to adapt to a non-autistic world (Cook et al., 2021). Camouflaging may influence an autistic person’s behavioral presentation to a more “neurotypical” state. Behaving in a less atypical manner may contribute to not being referred for testing, having a clinician assign lower ratings on diagnostic measures, and preventing issuance of …

Body Dissatisfaction Among Sexual Minority Men: Examining Associations With Health Behaviors, Gay Identity Centrality, Physical Appearance Comparison, And Conformity To Masculinity Norms, Ithan Sokol

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Introduction: Body image disturbance (BID), or poor body image encompasses dissatisfaction with one’s physical appearance, and is linked closely with disordered eating, depression, low self-esteem, and a compromised health-related quality of life. Although most research on BID has focused on women, this study examined its impact on men, specifically sexual minority men (SMM; cisgender men who identify as non-heterosexual). This subgroup notably exhibits heightened rates of BID compared to heterosexual men, shaped by sociocultural pressures and internalized appearance ideals.

Objectives: This study intends to examine potential determinants of BID in SMM as well as build upon existing insights that connect …

Navigating Motherhood: A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences And Challenges Of Non-Birthing Mothers In Queer Cisgender-Relationships, Anna Caravaggio

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study explored the psychological experiences of non-birthing mothers in queer cisgender female relationships, a population that remains underrepresented in the parenting literature. Existing research has focused primarily on birthing mothers or same-sex couples as a unit, leaving the unique perspectives of non-birthing mothers insufficiently examined. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, eight non-birthing mothers participated in semi-structured interviews examining their transition to parenthood, maternal identity development, and experiences within relational, social, and systemic contexts. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in five primary themes: pathways to parenthood and conception decision making; constructing maternal identity; bonding and attachment processes; …

The Hidden Cost: Vicarious Trauma And Burnout In Professional Sex Offender Treatment Providers, Diazia Hughes

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Professionals who provide treatment to individuals who have commuted sexual offenses are routine exposed to traumatic material, placing them at increased risk for both vicarious trauma (VT) and burnout. Despite growing recognition of these occupational hazards, limited research has examined the relationship between VT and burnout within this specialized population. The present study investigated the association between VT and the three dimensions of burnout (i.e. Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and personal Accomplishment (PA)) among licensed treatment providers working directly with individuals who have commuted sexual offenses. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with a sample of 107 licensed providers …

Visual Aids And Numeracy In Healthcare: Leveraging The Drawing Effect, Zephyr J. Markley

Capstone Showcase

Healthcare decisions often require patients to interpret numerical risk information under stress, yet many struggle with low numeracy, which can distort comprehension and undermine informed consent. Well-designed visual aids can improve diagnostic inference, calibrate confidence, and support better choices, especially for patients with limited numeracy, but their impact depends on whether users can actually interpret the format accurately. Drawing may further enhance these tools by adding a tactile, generative layer that engages visual, semantic, and motoric processing while helping patients organize information into concrete models.

Passive visual aids appear useful but limited because they often position patients as observers rather …

Adolescent Daily Critical Action During The 2024 Us Election, Jacqueline Cerda-Smith, Sholeh Najafian, Shevaun D. Neupert, Kelly Lynn Mulvey

Faculty Publications – Psychology

The 2024 US election was stressful. Taking critical actions (i.e., behaviors that address social or economic inequality) may reduce or exacerbate election stress and negative emotions. This daily diary study, spanning 20 consecutive days throughout the 2024 election, takes an exploratory and descriptive approach to understand adolescents’ daily critical action and its association with political stress and emotions. Participants (N = 32, M_age = 15.53, SD = 1.19), most of whom were White (59.4%), female (62.5%) and Democrat (71.9%), reported taking critical action frequently, especially before and a few days following the election. Participants were more likely to …

Climate Change In An Educational Context: A Model Addressing Psychological Distance, Hope, And Concern, Brooke E. Kasl-Godley

Scripps Senior Theses

As the threat of climate change becomes more urgent, educators should focus on fostering climate concern and action instead of simply providing climate information. These studies present a novel model of climate education where locally-framed and action-oriented curriculum increases students’ environmental concern through the mechanisms of psychological distance and hope. This curriculum was taught over two years to sixth-grade students at a school in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. Study 1 examines students’ environmental concern and sense of responsibility before and after delivery of the curriculum. Study 2 is a proposed follow-up study, that will address limitations of Study 1 …

Boredom And Creativity: The Effects Of Unstructured Play Versus Screen Time On Creative Performance, Vivienne J. Swenson

Scripps Senior Theses

Children today spend increasing amounts of time engaged with digital media, raising questions about how screens may displace developmental experiences that support creativity. Although research suggests that unstructured play and even mild boredom can facilitate divergent thinking, few studies have directly compared unstructured, self-directed play with passive screen use in early childhood. The present study proposes an experimental design to examine whether 20 minutes of unstructured play leads to higher creativity scores on the Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement (TCAM) than an equivalent period of passive screen engagement among children ages 3–5. Using matched-group assignment based on demographic, cognitive, …

Ambivalence In The Context Of Competing Narratives: Exploration Through A Case Of The Us Military Base Issue In Okinawa, Maho Aikawa, Andrew Stewart

Psychology

The current research focused on how competing narratives (i.e., dominant and resistance narratives) are endorsed among low-status group members, through the case of the US military base issue in Okinawa, Japan. Specifically, we explored patterns of Okinawans’ narrative endorsement (i.e., dominant and resistance narratives surrounding the presence of US military in Okinawa), as well as their behavioural responses (e.g., resistance and compliance) using survey responses of Okinawan participants (N = 172). Following the identification of factors in narrative endorsement and behavioural responses through exploratory factor analyses, we identified narrative profiles of participants through a latent profile analysis. Then, we mapped …

Campus Sexual Assault: Cybersex At Bucknell, Rebecca Bonomo

Master’s Theses

Campus sexual assault continues to be a prevalent problem, particularly at Bucknell. The present study is the first study out of Bucknell Campus Sexual Assault Research team to explore the new module of the Sexual Experiences Survey - Victimization (SESV) Cybersex (Koss et al., 2024). This is a mixed methods approach to exploring cybersex at Bucknell. The study explored prevalence rates, differences between gender binary, sexual orientation, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The first hypothesis was that cybersex victimization will be prevalent at Bucknell. The next hypothesis was that women and sexual minorities would have higher rates of cybersex scores than …

Launching Love Online: How Soft-, Hard-, And No-Launch Practices Shape Perceptions Of Commitment And Relationship Security, Aleana Goetz

Master’s Theses

Social media has introduced new ways couples signal relationship status, ranging from a “hard launch” (a clear couple post) to a “soft launch” (subtle cues such as hands or hints) to a “no launch” (no posting at all). Although these posting choices may seem minor, they may shape how committed and secure a relationship feels. Guided by the Investment Model (Rusbult, 1980) and interdependence theory (Kelley & Thibaut, 1978), the present study examines whether relationship visibility on Instagram relates to perceived partner commitment and relationship security.

A total of 176 participants (36 male, 118 female, 22 did not report) viewed …

Examining The Effects Of Black Parenting Styles Of Self-Esteems, Alexander J. Ruffin-Stcyr, Lorris Robinson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study examined the relationships between parenting styles, Afrocentric values, and psychological flourishing among African American families. Grounded in cultural and developmental perspectives, the study focused on how social and cultural contexts shape well-being outcomes. Parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive) and Afrocentric values were explored as key predictors of flourishing.

Using a quantitative survey design, data was collected from 86 African American adults who completed standardized measures assessing parenting style, cultural values, and flourishing. Correlational analyses revealed that permissive parenting was significantly and negatively associated with flourishing, indicating that higher levels of permissive parenting were linked to lower well-being. …

Hidden Wounds: Exploring Moral Injury In Childhood Exposure To Domestic Violence, Megan Elizabeth Denny

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The profound impacts of Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence (CEDV) have been documented extensively, revealing long-term psychological effects such as the potential development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and increased likelihood of future victimization or perpetration of violence. Yet, the concept of moral injury (MI) traditionally explored in military and healthcare contexts, remains significantly underexplored in populations exposed to CEDV. This study examines the relevance of MI among individuals who experienced domestic violence (DV) during their youth. The research focused on two primary aims: (1) to describe the level and variability of moral injury-related distress among adults with histories of …

Locked And Loaded: The Truth Behind Gun Violence, Alana N. Shroyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Gun control remains one of the most controversial policy issues in the United States. While gun reform advocates argue for stricter firearm regulations to reduce gun violence, pro-gun advocates contend that crime is driven more by individual behavior, socioeconomic conditions, and mental health than by gun availability alone. This research project examines gun control laws in the United States, analyzes gun violence data, explores illegal firearm trade markets, compares international approaches, and evaluates whether gun control laws effectively reduce violence while preserving constitutional rights.

Words Taking Root: The Psychological Effects Of Eco-Poetry On Eco-Anxiety And Connectedness To Nature, Erika Anderson

Psychology | Senior Theses

Eco-anxiety is fear and disorientation about climate change (Budziszewska & Jonsson, 2022) and is related to nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors (PEB; Curll et al., 2022; Jalin et al., 2024). Poetry therapy has aided a patient in developing new perspectives for coping with their eco-anxiety (Raile, 2024), but there is no research on the effects of eco-poetry on eco-anxiety. In the present study, participants read eco-poetry and reported their eco-anxiety, connectedness, and emotions relating to nature. I hypothesize that an optimistic eco-poem will lower eco-anxiety and increase nature connection, and the more participants engage in eco-poetry, the higher their eco-anxiety …

Self-Reported Psychological Effects Of Rock Climbing In Adults On The Autism Spectrum, Brennan Gleason

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Prior research has shown rock climbing to have considerable therapeutic potential through such mechanisms as boosting self-esteem, promoting mindfulness, and creating a supportive social community. (Liu et al., 2022, Osborne et al., 2025). Meanwhile, autistic adults experience mood disorders at a significantly higher rate than the general population; upwards of 54% are diagnosed with a psychiatric condition (Croen et al., 2015). Many of the issues negatively affecting autistic adults align with the benefits of rock climbing, including low self-esteem, inadequate social support, and anxiety.

Objective: This study aimed to find differences in mental health outcomes between autistic adults who …