Digital Commons Network^™

Interaction Effects Between Mentorship And Leadership Style On Employee Well-Being, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Stay, Thomas M. Tostado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Companies are realizing the powerful impacts of mentorship on employee well-being, intent to stay, and job satisfaction. Mentorship typically involves pairing a more experienced employee, commonly called the “mentor,” with a newly hired or junior employee, known as the “mentee.” Mentorship allows employees to professionally develop and grow within the organization while creating a network of trusted advisors. A key component of successful formal mentorship includes leadership style. The current gap in the literature does not fully explore the mentor’s leadership style on employee well-being, job satisfaction, and intent to stay, or the interaction effects between the mentor’s leadership style …

The Correlation Between Leadership Performance And Personality In Virtual Technology Workers, Henry C. Mullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between leadership performance and personality traits among leaders in the technology sector, who work across the spectrum of virtuality. Personality traits were measured using the Big Five model: extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, using the IPIP-NEO-60 instrument. Leadership performance was measured using the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) and interpreted through both the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and Transformational Leadership theories. Holistically this is viewed through a Transformational Christian worldview. This study also examined the role of virtuality, defined as the extent to which an individual works from an office or remotely. Participants were …

A Qualitative Study – The Effect Of Technology Through Social Media On Christian Young Adult’S Self-Image And Moral Development, Claudia Sosa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With technology usage growing among adolescents and much research conducted around the impact social media has on their development and mental wellbeing, there is little research that has been conducted to explore the lived experiences of social media on Christian young adult’s self-image and moral development and what role their faith plays in it. Through a qualitative study via a phenomenological approach and using semi structured interviews, this study sought to understand how Christian young adults ages 18-25 years old experience and describe a shared phenomenon and how they create common meaning on how they believe social media has impacted …

The Unsovereign Citizen: The Reconfiguration Of Rights And Belonging In Fascist Italy, Roberta Pergher

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Modern political thought tends to associate citizenship with democracy, equality, and political participation. This article demonstrates that citizenship can be profoundly important also for authoritarian rule. In Fascist Italy, citizenship remained central to political life, not as a vehicle of democratic participation, to be sure, but as a category through which the regime redefined belonging, hierarchy, and sovereignty. Drawing on citizenship legislation, imperial ordinances, racial laws, police reports, and ministerial commentary between 1912 and 1943, this article shows how the dictatorship hollowed out liberal citizenship within the peninsula, stratified it across imperial territories, consolidated it across diasporic populations, and ultimately …

The Courts Closest To The People: The Battle Between Populism And Democracy In The U.S. District Courts, Shruti Rana

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

The U.S. district courts have emerged as a critical site of contested terrain amid the chaos and controversies consuming American law and politics since the start of the second Trump administration. This article examines these frontline courts through the theoretical lens of populism, arguing that they have become a critical institutional flashpoint in the populist assault on constitutional democracy in the United States. As the courts closest to the people, the district courts occupy a unique structural position: They are the fact-finding courts, the most geographically dispersed and professionally diverse tier of the federal judiciary, and often the first institutional …

Author Biographical Notes

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Reviewers And Referees

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial History

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Why Publish With Mssj?

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Mission And Editorial Policy

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Likes, Comments, And Connections: Exploring The Perceived Impact Of Social Media Use On Relationship Satisfaction Among Men, Beth M. Pyritz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The rapid growth of social media has transformed how individuals communicate and maintain romantic relationships, introducing both opportunities for connection and potential relational challenges. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how men in heterosexual romantic relationships perceive the influence of social media use on their relationship satisfaction, including aspects of intimacy, trust, communication, and the balance between face-to-face and digital interactions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via video conferencing with 13 men aged 18–35 who had been in a heterosexual romantic relationship for at least one year and were active social media users. Data were analyzed using …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of African American Millennial Couples' Perceptions Of Dual Trauma And The Impact On Marital Satisfaction, Christopher Ray Merrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe African American millennial married couples’ experiences with unresolved trauma in the North Texas Region, Texas. The theory guiding this study is John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. Multiple traumatic experiences and relationship fractures that inhibit marital satisfaction among African American millennials are also examined. Trauma, viewed from a generalized perspective and conceptual form, is defined as an uncontrollable and sudden event with highly adverse outcomes that may persist. Among African Americans, trauma from interpersonal distress, historical events, racial barriers, and socioeconomic stressors often hinders the pursuit of healthy marriages. This study examines millennial …

A Phenomenological Approach To Exploring Emotional Dysregulation And Lack Of Empathy In Preschoolers From Low Income Christian And Non-Christian Families, Christine Mendez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Children often apply the adaptive skills they learn at home to the classroom in preschool, marking their first experience in structured environments. Two constructs, emotional regulation and empathy, are behaviors necessary for a preschooler’s development. However, the absence of socially desirable contexts can lead to preschoolers developing academic and behavioral deficits. Existing literature does not explore the spiritual, social and cultural practices of the familial and academic environments of preschoolers from disadvantaged groups. Earlier studies from higher socioeconomic levels suggest that poor attachment during infancy, parenting skills, trauma or lack of age-appropriate learning opportunities are conditions that deteriorate regulation and …

An Examination Of Cumulative Exposure To Potentially Traumatic Events And Identity Distress In Emerging Adults: The Influence Of Life Stressors, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, And Event Centrality, Kane Richard Vest

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Plentiful research has been conducted to examine the negative outcomes of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs). Together, findings have indicated that certain exposures increase the risk of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and adjustment problems in children, teens, and young adults. However, few studies have specifically focused on the influence of such experiences on the development of identity distress in emerging adults, and even fewer have examined such influence in the context of exposure to multiple potentially traumatic events. Exposure to natural hazards such as the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes is known to impact economic, social, and educational outcomes, but …

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 …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Utilization Of Coping Strategies Among Pastors: Religious Strategies Vs. Secular/Traditional Strategies, Arbedella Denise Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how Christian pastors serving congregations throughout the United States utilize religious and secular coping strategies to address occupational stress and achieve work-life balance. The theory guiding this study was Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional model of stress and coping, as it provided a framework for understanding how pastors cognitively and emotionally respond to ministry-related challenges, and how their coping choices, whether spiritual or secular, reflect an ongoing process of adaptation, meaning-making, and resilience within complex realities of pastoral life. The study was guided by three research questions that explored how pastors …

Teacher Perception Of Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder And Acceptability Of Interventions For Students With Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder, Andrea S. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurocognitive disorder, highly diagnosed in students. Teachers play a crucial role in the detection of ADHD and in implementing interventions. However, their perceptions, confidence, and barriers influence how interventions are applied in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions and knowledge of ADHD and their perceptions of the evidence-based interventions for students with ADHD. The study also explored the role of student-teacher relationships on academic outcomes, perceived barriers to implementation, and factors influencing teachers’ willingness to implement interventions. Participants included 25 certified teachers, teaching core subjects in grades …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Christians Who Have Experienced Divine Healing And The Role Of Relational Spirituality, Dora Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Divine healing has been described as miraculous and supernatural, attributed to a divine entity, and other methods. Pathways have varied from fasting, praying, worshiping, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, faith, hope, trusting, surrendering, and having a relationship with God. Perceptions and understandings of God, as influenced by religious and spiritual beliefs, are referred to as relational spirituality grounded in attachment theory, which may lead to viewing God as an attachment figure, influencing perceptions of self and others. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Christians who have experienced divine healing and the role of relational spirituality. Delimitations are …

Communication Modality And Communication Satisfaction In Relationships, Regina Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Communication modality choices available for individuals to use in their relationships are varied today. This qualitative phenomenological study examined communication modalities in two relationship dyads, seven married heterosexual couples and seven same sex platonic close friends, through individual and couple interviews. Findings showed that face-to-face communication was preferred for its emotional richness and ability to convey nonverbal cues like body language and tone. Participants felt these reduced misunderstandings and enhanced feelings of being heard, seen, and understood. Participants also stated presence and undivided attention were more important to communication satisfaction than any specific modality alone. Findings also show that communication …

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 …

From Renaissance To 20th Century: The Influence Of Musical Training On Historical Music Preferences*, Susanna Ziesmer

Campus Research Month

Music taste is highly complex, influenced by factors of age, personality, familiarity, and musical training. While any studies have researched trends of preference for popular music genres and general classical music, few have broken the classical genre into its stylistically unique historical periods. This study examines the differences in preference for six historical music eras—Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, and 20th century—between classically trained and non-trained individuals. Musicians were expected to show a higher overall preference for classical music and a narrower preference range between eras than that of non-musicians. It was also hypothesized that Romantic music would receive the …

Which Is The Most Effective Study Break: Movement, Media, Or Rest?*, Emily R. Grant, Kalla Carballo, Aislin Robinson

Campus Research Month

College students frequently incorporate breaks of various types into their study sessions; however, limited research has examined how different types of breaks affect memory retention. The proposed study will examine how exercising, spending time on social media, or participating in quiet rest affect delayed recall among undergraduate college students. The study predicts that students who participate in an exercise break will show improved memory retention, while students who are exposed to social media will experience reduced memory retention. The study also hypothesizes that students who are assigned to the quiet rest condition will demonstrate no significant change in retention. Undergraduate …

Chatgpt Or Human: Perceptions, Beliefs, And Use Of Ai Among Faculty And Students*, Elaina N. Redden, Julia Lang, Laurel Massey, Sidney Rankin

Campus Research Month

The use of artificial intelligence is becoming an inevitable and prevalent part of academia. Our study aimed to examine the use of AI among college students and professors and to illuminate general beliefs and perspectives on AI. We predicted that older generations would exhibit a more conservative view and use of AI, whereas younger students may be more liberal and open to its usage. We conducted a voluntary survey using students and faculty from Southern Adventist University, where they answered questions about their own AI usage, comfort levels, and beliefs. Results indicate that students tend to report higher AI usage …

Beyond The Echo Chamber: Mitigating Confirmation Bias In Christian Communities*, Alina Lytvynyuk, Jasmine Zavala, Erin Rouse, Sadie Elias

Campus Research Month

Individuals have shown marked levels of confirmation bias, particularly in religious beliefs. This study investigated whether generating oppositional arguments to a pre-established belief about women’s ordination reduces the tendency to produce biased credibility and strength ratings of AI-generated essays for or against the practice. Additionally, it explored how attribution of the essays to a religious authority figure would impact the level of bias. It was hypothesized that participants in the counterargument condition would display reduced confirmation bias, and the authority condition would either exacerbate or reduce a person’s preexisting level of bias.

Long-Term Impact Of Covid-19 On Burnout, Turnover, And Job Satisfaction Among Hospital Nurses, Delaney Corona Martinez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital industry workforce separation has remained a persistent concern in the United States, with uncertainty regarding how national hospital industry separation patterns changed following the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental retrospective study was to examine whether national hospital industry monthly separation rates differed between the prepandemic period (2018–2019) and the postpandemic period (2023–2024), whether separation rates demonstrated a statistically significant linear trend from 2018 through 2024, and whether separation rate variance differed between periods. The conceptual framework for this study was grounded in Maslach’s Burnout Theory and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Job Satisfaction, which explain how workplace …

Disgust Sensitivity And Orderliness, Ari Rad

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This literature review serves as a map for understanding the relation between disgust sensitivity and trait orderliness, with a focus on a cybernetic framework to conceptualize the emotion of disgust as an evolutionary system. It adopts a systematic approach that begins with the evolutionary foundations and basic definitions of disgust as an emotion, trait orderliness, and, lastly, the process by which these traits could be pathologized. The pathologization is explained within the hypothesized cybernetic system (the Cybernetic Disgust-Orderliness Hypothesis) with the goal of demonstrating the interdependency of trait orderliness and the emotion of disgust. The body of research regarding the …

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 …

Developmental Dynamics Of Frontal Alpha-Band Eeg Coherence And Fearful Temperament Across Infancy, Samantha Christiana Gott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Infancy represents a period of rapid neural development during which early temperamental traits begin to emerge. Fearful reactivity, a core dimension of temperament, has been linked to later risk for anxiety and related internalizing outcomes. The present study examined developmental patterns of frontal alpha-band electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence across infancy and tested whether neural connectivity within frontal regions was associated with fearful temperament. Participants were 61 infants recruited through a multisite longitudinal study conducted at Florida Atlantic University, Washington State University, and Virginia Tech. Infants completed laboratory visits at approximately 6, 8, 10, and 12 months of age. During each visit, …

Temperature And College Life, Porsha Purkiss, Quiniyah Shumpert, Olivia Lane

Scholars Week

Temperature and College Life

Absenteeism in college students can be caused by a variety of factors ranging from personal attitudes to environmental factors. Considering that, on average, American college students spend over $20,000  per semester on tuition, absenteeism is unlikely to be random (Barragan Torres, 2025). This study aims to explore how climate, mental health, socioeconomic status, and basic demographic information correlate with academic attendance, with an overall focus on outdoor temperature. Research observes that temperature is a key factor of absenteeism, determining that many students are incentivized to skip class if the temperature is warm enough for leisure activities …

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, …