Digital Commons Network^™

Broken Promises: The Lived Experiences Of African American Employees Who Interpret The Removal Of Dei Policies As A Breach Of Psychological Contract, Geneva A. Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The publicized murder of George Floyd in 2020 prompted organizations across the United States to affirm their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Following the 2025 presidential administration, however, many organizations began retracting DEI policies and adopting merit-based initiatives aligned with new federal mandates. For African Americans (AA), this shift echoed a familiar historical pattern of progress followed by withdrawal, requiring them to navigate promises made and promises withdrawn. Despite the significance of these changes, little is known about how AA employees experience the workplace after the removal of a value-laden policy. This interpretative phenomenological analysis study explored the …

The Struggle Is Real: How Black Female Supervisees Navigate Gendered Racial Microaggressions In Cross-Racial Clinical Supervision, Regina S. Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Clinical supervision between White supervisors and Black female supervisees occurs within contexts where power and racial dynamics are salient. Existing research suggests that Black female supervisees are at increased risk of experiencing gendered racial microaggressions due to their marginalized identities; however, limited research has examined how these intersectional stressors are navigated within cross-racial supervision. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of Black female supervisees in cross-racial supervisory dyads, with a focus on how they perceive and navigate gendered racial microaggressions and how these experiences impact psychological well-being, the supervisory working alliance, and professional development. …

The Perceived Effects Of Safety Coaching On Safety Knowledge And Training Transfer: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Dariusz Krajewski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Workplace safety remains a concern in municipal environments, where time and resource constraints limit training. This phenomenological study involved an examination of municipal employees’ experiences with safety coaching and how these experiences influenced the transfer of safety knowledge into daily work practice. Transfer of training theory, social cognitive theory, and transformational leadership theory were the theoretical foundations for this study.

The researcher conducted semi-structured virtual interviews with 15 participants. Data analysis followed Moustakas’ (1984) phenomenological approach. The methodological process involved bracketing, horizontalization, clustering into themes, textural and structural descriptions and essence description. The researcher clustered the thematic findings into seven …

Resilience In The Age Of Covid-19: A Phenomenological Study Of Survivors 65 And Older, Kwajulyn Onothia Rucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Few studies have examined resilience among those aged 65+ during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research fills that gap, offering data to guide policies and treatments for future pandemics. The pandemic revealed factors influencing psychological resilience, with stressors linked to health issues becoming chronic worldwide. Older adults faced heightened stress, and 95.5% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in those 50 and older. Lockdowns increased isolation and depression, yet many showed resilience by drawing on strengths, social networks, and circumstances. Key themes from this study included faith, engagement, adaptability, and adversity. Most (80%) adapted well, feeling 'fine' or 'okay' and finding hope through …

The Role Of Faith In Coping With Mental Health Challenges In Late Life: A Phenomenological Study Of Religious Experience In The Aging Population, Krista Kelley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are significant concerns among older adults. These conditions are often neglected due to stigma, atypical symptom presentation, and medical comorbidities, resulting in increased healthcare utilization, heightened suicide risk, and emotional dysregulation. Psychosocially, these challenges obstruct a successful resolution of Erikson’s final stage, ego integrity versus despair, leading to dissatisfaction, regret, and reduced well-being. Although previous research has suggested a link between religious engagement and improved mental health outcomes, few studies have explored older adults’ lived experiences of faith in coping with mental health. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the experiences of 25 older adults regarding …

Occupational Identity And The Interactions Of Perceptions Pertaining To Career Choice Satisfaction And Intrinsic Job Satisfaction, Barbara Denisi Etterle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals are often remembered not solely for who they are but also for what they do. Grounded in identity theory, social identity theory, and informed biblical theology, this study advanced the premise that occupation serves as the most salient expression of identity and purpose. The construct of work–life purpose, defined as the alignment between an individual’s occupational pursuits and overarching life purpose, was introduced. This study examined the relationships among occupational identity; career choice satisfaction; intrinsic job satisfaction; and self-perception, others-perception, and divine-perception. Using bivariate correlations and regression analyses, the results revealed significant correlations among constructs, but the predictive power …

How Race Influences Leadership Motivation: A Study Of Career Aspirations In Diverse Workforces, Latosha V. Hayes-Sperling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored whether and how racial identity influenced leadership motivation among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals. Despite growing attention to workplace diversity, limited research had examined the internal motivational processes shaping leadership ambition for racially marginalized groups. Using a non-experimental design, this study examined whether perceived racial discrimination predicted leadership motivation and whether this relationship differed by gender. Survey data were collected from approximately 126 BIPOC professionals using validated measures of perceived racial discrimination and leadership motivation, the latter measured as a dimension of career aspirations. Results indicated that perceived racial discrimination, operationalized through workplace microaggressions …

The Role Of Leadership Style On Perceived Effective Communication And Job Satisfaction In The Community College Virtual Workplace, Julie I. White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Advances in technology enable the creation of virtual workspaces, allowing geographically dispersed virtual employees to collaborate in teams and complete tasks. We must understand the advantages and challenges that virtual teams encounter. This research examines the relationships among leadership styles, perceived effective communication, and job satisfaction within virtual teams, specifically in community colleges. Transformational, servant, and authentic leadership styles of virtual leaders in higher education were evaluated. Participants include full-time and part-time virtual faculty from community college institutions. Data was collected through online surveys. A quantitative correlation research design was employed to explore the experiences of virtual faculty working at …

Building Moral Resilience: The Role Of Biblical Forgiveness In Dealing With Moral Injury Among Christian Combat Veterans, Kwasi Boateng Asamoah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An unsuccessful navigation of exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) can result in psychological, emotional, and spiritual distress, which can lead to moral injury. Moral injury continues to receive wider attention among researchers and clinicians in the field of military psychology and mental health due to the prevalence of exposure to PMIEs among this population. Research has shown that over half of the veteran population has experienced at least one PMIE, and about 6.5% have reported moral injury. Although moral injury is considered an injury of the soul and has spiritual consequences, there remains a gap in the literature …

The Integration Of Cybersecurity In Social Science Classes: A Study On Adolescents, Callie Lynea Hansen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test study, the researcher examined adolescents’ vulnerability to cyber threats, a challenge exacerbated by the current compartmentalized approach to cybersecurity education. Grounded in psychological theory, biblical world views, and current cybersecurity best practices, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of integrating cybersecurity education into social science classes to enhance adolescents’ judgment and confidence in online environments. Approximately 45 adolescent students were recruited to participate. Participants completed a pre-test consisting of a Cybersecurity Judgment Questionnaire (CJQ) and a self-reported cybersecurity confidence survey (CCS), establishing a baseline of their judgment and confidence in virtual spaces. …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Psychological Impact Of Race And Gender On Black Clergy Women, Quaitra A. Bynum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the psychological impact race and gender have on Black clergywomen serving in leadership positions in the church. The current research explored how Black clergywomen perceive race and gender in the Black church, how race and gender influence Black women when pursuing senior clergy positions, and how strength and resilience impact Black women who serve in church leadership positions. The theories guiding this study were the Black Feminist Theory, Intersectionality, and the Strong Black Woman Theory. In the early 1980s Black women activists such as Patricia Hill Collins and Kimberlé Crenshaw …

Navigating Trauma: The Lived Experiences Of Black Women Veterans In The Mental Health System, Malika K. Whitley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research investigated how Black women veterans managed their traumatic experiences while interacting with mental health services. Black women veterans developed trauma from different origins, which include combat experiences, systemic racism, interpersonal violence, and service reintegration difficulties. Black women veterans faced multiple barriers to healthcare access because they experienced both cultural stigma, limited representation, and healthcare institution inequities, despite their high rates of trauma-related conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder( PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The existing barriers prevented these individuals from using available services, which resulted in incorrect diagnoses and diminished trust in available treatment options. This research employed a qualitative …

Church Attendance, Post-Pandemic Stress, And Resilience Factors, Pavel Bugriyev

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Stress levels among adults increased, and a sense of community loss occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent events. Despite previous studies establishing an association between religious practice and psychological well-being, much remains unknown about the differences in religious practice format (i.e., in person, virtually, and not at all) with post-pandemic stress and resilience-related traits. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined whether the format of church attendance (in-person, virtual, or no church attendance at all) was related to post-pandemic stress and resilience-related traits. Also, whether hope, making meaning out of hardship, and perceived social support statistically mediated the difference in …

Entrepreneurship After Incarceration: The Barriers And Success Factors For Startups Led By Individuals With A Conviction Record, Charlotte E. Garnes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study examined the barriers and facilitators influencing the success of businesses established by formerly incarcerated individuals through an online survey. It explored the roles of support and resilience in overcoming societal stigma and institutional constraints through survey questions (N = 119) and semi-structured interviews (N = 7). Quantitative analyses included binary logistic regression to evaluate relationships between region, industry, time in business, years since incarceration, and scale scores for support, motivation, and barriers with three outcomes: annual revenue, net profit or loss, and customer ratings. I also conducted a thematic analysis to understand the challenges, supports, and successes …

Bridging The Gap: Teacher's Perspectives On Trauma-Informed Care And It's Implementation In Schools, Alyssa Erika Jimenez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma exposure is a profound public health concern with significant impacts on overall development and long-term physical and mental health. However, a critical gap remains in understanding how these experiences manifest in school settings. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of teacher perspectives on trauma and trauma-informed care approaches in school settings and level of competence and support by administration when encountering potential trauma-induced behaviors in the classroom. Data were collected utilizing semi-structured audio-recorded interviews and open-ended questionnaires from four educators who had some form of experience with trauma-informed care practices. Thematic analysis …

Rest And Recovery: A Randomized Pilot Study Of Spiritual Rest Practices And Recovery From Work Stress And Burnout, Ashley Martin Cauley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals who work in the helping professions, identified as those careers within the fields of health care, medicine, education, psychology, and social work, report higher levels of stress and burnout than the average worker for these constructs. Research to address these higher levels within the helping professions has focused on both individual and organizational interventions. While rest and recovery have been explored as a means of reducing work stress, there is a lack of literature on the specific use of spiritual rest practices. This randomized controlled pilot study gathered information on the impact of spiritual rest practices on stress and …

Examining Stereotype Internalization In Female Veterans, Lakeysha Rule

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Stereotypes reflect a specific cognitive bias shaped by the perceptions individuals hold about others or groups. Moreover, Black Americans are often overwhelmingly targeted by racial prejudice and biases. Similarly, Black women frequently face unique challenges stemming from culturally specific stereotypes, which subsequently shape how they view themselves and their role as Black women. Experiences of stereotype internalization are often correlated with numerous adverse mental/physical health outcomes, including deteriorating physical health and declining mental health. In a military culture, stereotypes signify more than mere words or ideas due to their significant occupational implications in this historically male-dominated environment. Prior research has …

The Influence Of Love During Childhood On Young Adult Relationships And Psychological Wellbeing In Rural Appalachia, Kerry Ann Saul Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationships among childhood love, relationship love attitudes, and psychological wellbeing among young adults with childhood experiences in rural Appalachia. Childhood love was operationalized through adult attachment styles, specifically avoidant and anxious attachment, using the Experiences in Close Relationships–Short Form (ECR-S). Love attitudes were measured using the Love Attitudes Scale–Short Form (LAS-S), and psychological wellbeing was assessed using Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being–18 (PWB). The sample consisted of 88 participants between the ages of 21 and 35. Pearson’s correlation analyses revealed significant negative relationships between attachment insecurity and psychological wellbeing, indicating that higher levels of …

Barn To Brain: Relationship Between Farm Animal Interaction And Well-Being In Rural Adults, Tiffany N. Hendershot

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between naturally occurring farm animal interactions and overall well-being among rural adults living in the central Appalachian region, specifically western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to compare adults with at least five hours of naturally occurring farm animal contact per week to those with less than one hour of contact per week. Overall well-being was measured with the PERMA-Profiler, and heart rate variability (HRV) was measured using wearable devices as a physiological indicator of autonomic health. Grounded in polyvagal theory, the biophilia hypothesis, and …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For The Treatment Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Critical Review Of Evidence-Based Treatment Methods, Caroline A. Page

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating condition affecting approximately 3% of the U.S. population. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the current psychotherapeutic gold standard for treating OCD. Although highly effective, ERP can elicit much distress, has a limited focus on comorbidities, and has notable drop-out and refusal rates. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave behavioral therapy that may address some of these limitations as it (a) fosters a more accepting stance towards feared stimuli (obsessions) and (b) targets core mechanisms of OCD as well as transdiagnostic mechanisms seen in many other mental health disorders, such …

Building Capacity And Inspiring Change: The Impact Of Louisiana’S Ucedd Across The Lifespan, Alicia Kowitz, Constance Alphonse, Phil Wilson, Maria Blanco

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Human Development Center (HDC), as the state’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), serves as a catalyst for inclusive systems change through interdisciplinary training, community engagement, and evidence-based service delivery. This manuscript highlights the breadth and impact of HDC’s initiatives across early childhood, education, transition, and community inclusion. Through programs such as Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood, PAYCheck, and LEND, HDC builds capacity among professionals, empowers individuals with disabilities and their families, and strengthens systems to be more responsive and equitable. The stories and outcomes shared illustrate how intentional, collaborative efforts …

When Faced With Persistent Crying, Will Adults Follow The Advice To Take A Break?, Lauren J. Duplessis, Remington K. Asta, Benjamin N. Witts

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Inconsolable crying in early infancy can have detrimental effects on caregiver mental health, the caregiver-infant relationship, and infant safety. Professionals often advise caregivers to walk away and take a break. This study used n-of-1 methodology to examine how frequently undergraduate students will follow this advice when tasked with calming a simulated inconsolable infant. Results are mixed, but suggest active training prior to the baby’s arrival might yield promising outcomes

Strategic Silence: The Greek Left's Avoidance Of The 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe During The Refugee Crisis, 2015–2019, Harry Courts

College Honors Program

This thesis examines why the Greek political left, and specifically the SYRIZA government under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during the time period from 2015 to 2019, made near-absent reference to the 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe when addressing the refugee crisis of those years. The Catastrophe, in which approximately 1.3 million Orthodox Greeks were displaced from Anatolia, is the foundational trauma of modern Greek nationhood and a living presence in Greek political culture. When hundreds of thousands of Syrian, Afghan, and Iraqi refugees arrived on Greek shores from 2015, the historical parallel was widely noted. That SYRIZA rarely drew it requires …

Person-Supervisor Fit Antecedents: Self-Determination Theory In Salesforce Turnover Intention, Ilgım Dara Benoit, Jeffrey R. Foreman, Bonnie S. Guy

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Rehabilitation Belief And Engagement Transformation (Rbet) Model: A Grounded Theory Approach, Jade Ibhar V. Cuambot, Marc Eric S. Reyes, Karen Katrina V. Trinidad

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Competitive sports injuries have significant physiological and psychological consequences for athletes. While rehabilitation medicine effectively addresses the physical aspects of injury recovery, the psychological and emotional journey of injured athletes remains neglected. Thus, the current study addresses this gap by examining athletes’ transforming belief systems and emotional experiences during injury rehabilitation. A qualitative research design grounded in grounded theory principles was conducted with professional athletes to understand how their beliefs toward rehabilitation evolved over time. Findings revealed a dynamic process of belief transformation consisting of seven interconnected stages, captured in the Rehabilitation Belief and Engagement Transformation (RBET) Model: (1) Pre-rehabilitation …

Acute And Chronic Oral Administration Of Cannabidiol-Dominant Cannabis Products: Sex- And Formulation-Dependent Effects On Anxiety-Like Behavioral Patterns In Rats, Carlos R. Maestas-Olguin

Psychology ETDs

Interest in the anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid found within the genus, Cannabis, has grown significantly in recent years. However, preclinical investigations of CBD’s anxiolytic potential often elect to forgo translationally relevant models that maximize external validity in favor of greater internal and mechanistic validity. As a result, the effects of relatively low dose (< 3mg/kg) oral CBD administration on anxiety-like behaviors are not yet fully characterized. The present studies examined the impact of two orally delivered CBD-dominant cannabis products – a “full-spectrum” formulation derived from the whole plant and a CBD isolate derived from the same chemovar – on innate defensive behaviors exhibited by adult male and female rats in various tests of anxiety. Results indicated that acute and chronic low dose oral CBD administration attenuated anxiety-like behavior in rats, regardless of sex or formulation. These findings extend the growing corpus of literature describing anxiolytic-like effects of CBD.

Examining Associations Between Socioecological Factors And Addiction Cycle Domains In Separate Community And Treatment- Seeking Samples, Kara Link

Psychology ETDs

The Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA) is a multimodal clinical assessment framework designed to capture the heterogeneity of addictive disorders and inform personalized treatment. The ANA is grounded in three neurofunctional domains aligned with the Koob and LeMoal addiction cycle stages: incentive salience (IS; binge/intoxication), negative emotionality (NE; withdrawal/negative affect), and executive function (EF; preoccupation/anticipation). In addition to these primary domains, the ANA also proposes ancillary assessment domains thought to be related to these neurofunctional domains. However, the ANA developers do not provide a rationale for including these ancillary measures in the framework nor hypothesize about their relevance to the ANA …

A Characterization Of Fat Acceptance Across Identities In A College Sample, Brynn Liabraaten

Psychology ETDs

Weight stigma is a class of discrimination in which those who are of higher weight face biases and discrimination. This can lead to worse outcomes ranging from poor mental health to societal barriers. Fat acceptance is the idea that all people, regardless of weight, deserve respect and equal treatment. The study of fat acceptance is in its infancy in the field of psychology, and there is little research addressing what kinds of people may be more or less fat accepting. The present study utilized a college sample to create a characterization of which intersecting identities and characteristics may correlate with …

Predictors Of Opposite-Sex Antipathy, Mikayla R. Poe

Psychology ETDs

Evolutionary pressures have shaped men’s and women’s motivations to cooperate and compete with one another. Sexual conflict is generated in natural conditions but may be exacerbated by features of the modern world. The current study recruited participants from Prolific to respond to a Qualtrics survey (n = 812) to investigate the correlates of opposite-sex distrust/antipathy using the newly developed Opposite Sex Antipathy (OSA) scale, which is the first of its kind to allow cross-sex comparisons. Men and women’s antipathy for each other was predicted by perceptions that the opposite sex was of lower value to society, more harmful experiences …

Tiktok And The Brain: Neuropsychological Correlates Of Short-Form Video Consumption, Caty Enders

Psychology ETDs

Short-form video platforms like TikTok have quickly become the fastest growing segment of social media, thanks to powerful algorithms serving up personalized content driven by large quantities of user data. This study investigates the neuropsychological correlates of digital media use, with a particular focus on TikTok and smartphone screen time among young adults. Combining correlational analyses and an experimental design (n = 49; n = 44 included in final sample), we examined the relationship between digital media use and cognitive and emotional functioning across multiple domains. Objective measures of digital media consumption (daily average screen time and time on TikTok) …