Digital Commons Network^™

The Lived Experiences Of Fathers With Transgender Children Under 18 In States Banning Gender-Affirming Care, Ashley Perez

Dissertations and Theses

Parents of transgender individuals can experience numerous stressors in accessing overall care and support for their child's health and well-being. Parents can also undergo significant personal growth and change because their child is transgender. Unfortunately, the majority of the current literature focuses on mothers' experiences with transgender children. This study advances knowledge that can further support families navigating life with a transgender child, as the lived experiences of fathers are greatly lacking. Furthermore, the political and environmental scope in which the family is located can impact what families face when accessing care and support for their child and can result …

Shall I: Do The Motivations For Breakup Sex Differ Across Different Scenarios?, T. Joel Wade, Zoe Macuto

Faculty Journal Articles

This research investigated endorsement of the 4 motivators (relationship maintenance, ambivalence, hedonism, miscellaneous) for engaging in breakup sex across three relationship breakup scenarios, i.e., a breakup occurred due to: general reasons, infidelity, and being in a long distance relationship using an online questionnaire with a primarily White, primarily heterosexual sample (n = 304, Mage = 20.67). Results indicated that women are more likely than men to engage in breakup sex for relationship maintenance reasons when the breakup is due to general reasons, and for a long distance breakup scenario, non-heterosexuals engage in breakup sex for relationship maintenance reasons, and overall …

The Effect Of Need For Closure, Gender Essentialism, And Contact On Transphobia, Jacob E. Vargas

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Using a motivated social cognition framework, this study explores whether there is an indirect effect of need for closure on transphobia via gender essentialism and whether this relationship is moderated by transgender contact. Data were collected from an undergraduate sample of 405 cisgender participants (n_men = 159, n_women = 246). A simple mediation and a moderated mediation were used to examine the hypothesized relationships, controlling for participant gender. Results reinforced the positive correlation between gender essentialism and transphobia and the negative correlation between transgender contact and transphobia. However, the mediation and moderation hypotheses were not supported. Need …

Echo Chambers On The Left, Echo Chambers On The Right: How Socioideological Identity Emotion Shape Social Interaction Behavior On Social Media, Dean Carl Jackson

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation investigates how echo chambers emerge on social media by shifting the lens from aggregate patterns of information exposure to moment-by-moment, individual level interaction decisions between peers. I theorize that selective exposure online is not only about what content people consume or avoid, but also about selective social exposure—accepting, rejecting, or sharing with the sources of that content—guided by sociopolitical identity, ideological distance (ID), and discrete emotions. To test this, I employ two survey experiments using real tweets varying in ideological extremity and measure user’s likelihood to Block, Follow, Retweet, or reply, alongside self-reported emotional reactions and ID between …

This Is How You Can Be A Cool Adult, Angelica Angelica

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

“This Is How You Can Be a COOL Adult” is an interactive and self-reflective lesson designed to help high school juniors through college seniors practice being more compassionate, open-minded, optimistic, and laughing-out-loud (humorous) in their everyday lives. By the end of this lesson, students will be able to describe and explore research-based strategies that foster compassion, open-mindedness, optimism, and humor, and create a personalized “COOL Action Plan” with self-reflection logs to track progress. The lesson takes place in an unconventional classroom setting (outdoors) and includes mini-lectures, meditation, collaborative games, creative role-play, personal reflection, and practical methods for applying these qualities …

Gender, Victimization, And Delinquency: Examining Gendered Pathways To Crime Among Juveniles, Caitlin Hinds

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The intersection of gender, crime, and victimization is a critical area of study within criminology, particularly as it relates to understanding the differing pathways men and women take into criminal behavior. Historically, crime statistics have shown a significant male predominance, particularly in violent offenses. Feminist criminology has played an essential role in reframing the narrative around gender and crime, emphasizing the need to examine the gender pathways that shape male and female experiences differently. While men may employ violence more overtly, women often rely on more subtle strategies to navigate criminal activities, avoiding physical confrontation when possible. Feminist criminologists argue …

Using A Self-Report Survey To Determine Students’ Self-Concept, Math Attitudes, And Achievement In Ability-Grouped Math Classrooms, Jessica T. Blake

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Ability grouping is a common practice in the United States that aims to acknowledge differences in student ability by dividing students into more homogeneous groups. Numerous studies have examined factors associated with ability grouping such as self-concept, math achievement, and attitudes toward math, but there is little empirical research exploring these three factors simultaneously. The current study examines the differences in achievement level, achievement gains, math self-concept, and attitudes toward math in middle school students enrolled in math classes based on student ability. Participants included 407 middle school students across two schools that use between-class ability grouping for math. Students …

Childhood Chronic Illness: Assessing Emerging Adults’ Engagement In Social Activities And Predicted Money For Comfort In The Future, Mediated By Money Responsibility And Comparison To Others, Austin B. Mathews

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between emerging adults’ engagement in social activities and their prediction of having money for comfort in the future. Data used was from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) with individuals selected having at least one chronic illness that began during childhood. The study tested a series of hypothesis which tested the relationships between engagement in social activities and predicted money for comfort in the future, as well as, money responsibility and comparison to others as mediating variables. Significant associations were found between frequency of engagement in sports and money …

19.3 Ceus, Albright Aaron, Peighton Corley, Yusuf Barburoglu, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Navigating the Complexities in Gender-Diverse Counseling: Understanding the Interplay of Gender Identity, Racial Inequities, Economic Marginalization, and Aging

1. Which counseling approach discussed in the article explicitly weaves systemic oppression into cognitive restructuring for transgender clients?

A. Narrative Therapy

B. Gestalt Therapy

C. Intersectional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

D. Dialectical Behavior Therapy

2. According to the article, identity-integrated support networks are valuable because they:

A. Provide financial assistance for medical transition only

B. Affirm multiple intersecting identities, offering validation and belonging

C. Limit social interaction to reduce microaggressions

D. Operate exclusively in online spaces

Ai And Positionality:A Guide For Learning Communities, Emese Ilyés

Open Educational Resources

This practical guide helps educators thoughtfully integrate AI tools while preserving what matters most—student voice and agency. Drawing on research with students navigating AI in higher education, it offers concrete activities and frameworks that position technology as an assistant rather than a replacement for authentic expression. Through adaptable classroom strategies and qualitative approaches, educators across disciplines will discover how to create learning environments where students recognize the value of their unique perspectives in an age of artificial intelligence.

Students’ Perceptions Of Self And Peers Predict Self-Reports Of Cheating, Amber M. Henslee, Luke Settles, Sara E. Johnson, Gayla R. Olbricht

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Academic dishonesty and how to address it are common concerns across higher education disciplines, but engineering students admit to higher rates of academic dishonesty than other students. However, first-year students may be particularly receptive to prevention efforts. Considering self-perception, social norming, and behavioral choice theories, we hypothesized that 1.) Students who perceived themself as ethical and more knowledgeable of the consequences for misconduct would be less likely to self-report cheating and 2.) Students who perceived cheating and plagiarism to be common would be more likely to self-report cheating. For this study, freshmen engineering students (N=703) reported their self-perception, perception of …

Psychopathology, Symptomology, And Treatment In Offspring Of Holocaust Survivors: An Integrative Systematic Review, Lauren Grace Escobar

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the symptomatology, psychopathology, and treatment of offspring of Holocaust survivors (OHS). A comprehensive search was conducted in PsycINFO, PILOTS/PTSD, and Scopus for studies published between 1990 and 2024. Inclusion criteria required peer-reviewed studies, reports, books, literature reviews, and meta-analyses written or translated into English that reported on symptomatology and treatment for OHS. From an initial yield of 2,532 articles, 119 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that OHS demonstrate significantly higher levels of symptomatology and psychopathology reported in nine clinical classifications. Psychodynamic treatment was the most commonly found treatment modality for OHS, …

A Discussion Of Positioning Theory: An Interview With Michael Bamberg And Luk Van Langenhove, Pasi Hirvonen, Michael Bamberg, Luk Van Langenhove, Bo Allesøe Christensen

Psychology

Since 2015 a Positioning Theory conference has been held biannually in either Europe or the US. These conferences have become a significant event for scholars and practitioners interested in the development and application of PT providing thereby a platform for discussing the latest research, sharing insights, and fostering collaborations. In the fourth edition of the conference, organised in Finland in July 2024, Professor Van Langenhove and Professor Bamberg both provided keynotes and Pasi Hirvonen and Bo Allesøe Christensen seized the opportunity of engaging both in an interview discussing their insights, contributions and personal thoughts about PT and its history. © …

The Ascendance Of Influencers: Saints Of Capitalism In The Digital Age, Riley R. Hourihan

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

This thesis examines the rise of social media influencers as modern-day saints within the cultural and economic framework of late capitalism. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship from religious studies, media theory, and cultural criticism, it argues that influencer culture does not replace religion but retools its structures—ritual, authority, devotion, and community—for the digital age. Through detailed case studies ranging from Hailey Bieber and Taylor Swift to Ballerina Farm and MrBeast, the paper explores how influencers shape identity, mediate ethics, and mobilize affect through algorithmic rituals and parasocial relationships. Influencers perform a form of digital sanctity that parallels traditional hagiography, guiding followers …

An In-Depth Review Of Euthanasia-Related Practices, Arguments For/Against Them, And Proposed Solutions For Their Most Glaring Legal/Ethical Problems, Macon Plecha

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper’s goal is to cover the topic of euthanasia-related practices at great length. Terminology, history, and current programs around the world are discussed first, with the last point covering a wide geographical range: Colombia, Japan, Israel, and Africa, to name a few outside of the Western world standard. Arguments for and against euthanasia-related practices are explored. Within these arguments, several pressing legal and ethical issues arise, and the most severe of these are expanded on through the offering of potential solutions: how to handle stand-alone psychiatric cases, how to improve advanced directives and poor reporting rates, and how to …

How Do Religious Beliefs, Practices, And Experiences Impact Mental Health?, Samantha Coyne, Margo Gregor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The following literature review discusses the influence religious practices, beliefs, and experiences impact mental health. The discussion will revolve around three main religions: Catholocism, Judaism, and other denominations of Christianity. Negative and positive influences of religion on mental health were found and discussed.

“Democracy,” Usa, Marc Edelman

Publications and Research

What does it mean to be an effective citizen in a democracy? Answering this question requires unpacking “democracy” and an analysis of institutions that systematically disempower and alienate citizens. This paper briefly examines the contributions of psychoanalysis to understanding democracy and authoritarianism. It scrutinizes U.S. governance institutions and points to democratic deficits and backsliding present even before Trump 1.0 and 2.0. These range from the Electoral College, the Senate, and the Supreme Court to the Federal Communications Commission. All contributed to institutionalizing minority rule and elite capture. Governance institutions failed to deliver what the American people tell opinion pollsters they …

Designing Your Next Read: How Psychology Shapes The Way We Choose Books, Stephanie M. Xu

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

Designing Your Next Read invites students to explore the psychology behind everyday choices through the familiar act of picking a book. Using the lens of design psychology, the lesson examines why decision-making often feels overwhelming and how small shifts in perception, environment, and heuristics can make choices easier and more enjoyable. Students engage in interactive exercises, including a book-browsing activity, mini-lectures on choice biases, and a “Book Blurb” exercise, to reveal how heuristics such as availability, affect, and familiarity shape responses.

Through guided discussion and reflection, students connect psychological theories like the paradox of choice and decision paralysis to their …

Trigger Factors And Intervention Strategies Of Information Addiction Among College Students: An Analysis From The Perspective Of Stimulus-Organism-Response(S-O-R) Theory, Chen Zhang, Weihan Jiang, Pengbo Qian

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance]This study aims to explore the influencing mechanisms of information addiction behavior among college students, providing valuable reference for the prevention and management of information addiction behavior among college students. [Method/process]The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory is introduced,and the external stimuli in the process of college students' information addiction are summarized through literature review. The cognitive psychology that arises in the addiction process of the body is deeply analyzed, and the theoretical model of college students' information addiction behavior is constructed. The trigger path of college students' information addiction is empirically analyzed using structural equation modeling. [Result/conclusion]Based on the research results, information …

The Boston Metco Program: Recent Alumni Experiences And Educational Equity, Maya Hernandez

Honors Theses

This project focuses on contemporary school integration practices by examining, in particular, the Boston METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity Inc) program and the experiences of its recent alumni. The METCO program, the United States’ longest-running voluntary school desegregation program, was created in 1966 to give students of color from the city of Boston better educational opportunities by busing them to the surrounding suburbs for school. To this day, it is a program meant to expand educational opportunities, increase diversity, and reduce racial isolation, by permitting students from Boston to attend public schools beyond district lines, in the suburbs. My …

Nothing Short Of Superheroic: A Quantitative Study Of Lifetime Exposure To Superhero Comic Book Media As A Predictor Of Attitudes Towards Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion, Michael Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This dissertation examined the relationship between lifetime exposure to superhero comic book media and attitudes toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Drawing on theories of identity formation—transitional objects, parasocial relationships, and cultivation theory—it investigated whether engagement with superhero narratives predicted DEI attitudes. Using quantitative methods, data from 499 U.S. adults were collected via Qualtrics. Two instruments were used: the Lifetime Superhero Comic Book Media Exposure Scale (LSES) and the Intolerant Schema Measure (ISM), which assessed prejudice across race, gender, sexuality, class, age, and religion. Multiple linear regression revealed that superhero media exposure significantly predicted ISM scores (B = 0.118, …

Are We Safe In The Digital World? Why We Still Fall Victim To Cybercrime, Kevin Le

Honors Papers and Posters

Cybersecurity has only recently gained press coverage as millions of individuals are victimized by cyberattacks. While current cybersecurity measures offer some protection, human error has been the number one cause of cyberattacks for the past eight years (Verizon, 2024). Cybercrime continues to evolve in complexity, leveraging advanced technology and human psychology to bypass traditional security systems. This study examines why individuals still fall victim to cyberattacks. It explores the psychological and cognitive factors that make individuals vulnerable, focusing on social engineering techniques such as phishing and pretexting. This study also analyzes factors from psychological theories, including Protection Motivation Theory, Routine …

Using Theory Of Planned Behaviour And Stigma To Predict Help-Seeking Behaviours For Mental Health Issues Among Thai College Students, Duong Hoang Anh Tran

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

With the high prevalence of mental health issues, especially among college students, research on help-seeking behaviour is needed. This study aims to investigate the theory of planned behaviour, as well as social stigma and self-stigma as extended factors, in predicting help-seeking intention. Help-seeking intention was measured through the intention to use free-of-charge mental health services provided by the university. A sample of 105 undergraduates studying at Chulalongkorn University answered self-reported questions regarding help-seeking intention, attitude toward help-seeking, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control (PBC), self-stigma, social stigma, knowledge about mental health, knowledge about mental health services, and informal help-seeking. Results from …

Examining Collaborative Healthcare For Substance Use Disorder: A Case Study Of Brigham And Women's Hospital Bridge Clinic, Megan Bidgood

Psychology Honors Papers

Individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) are clinically underserved due to increased health and psychiatric comorbidities, structural barriers to treatment, stigma, and insufficient resources. This suggests that there is a need for an accessible and culturally competent treatment model. Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Bridge Clinic is a multi-disciplinary, low threshold SUD treatment to promote collaborative healthcare and the transitioning of patients to longer-term care. The aim of the current study is to better understand personal accounts of patients and various clinical and non-clinical providers to optimize the BWH Bridge Clinic’s approach to treatment. Patients (N=5) and providers (N=6) participated …

Relational Density Theory And Intercultural Interaction: Identifying And Shifting Perceptions Of At-Risk Groups, Ryan T. Moser

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Intercultural interaction is an important aspect for fostering global engagement and competence, yet we find that despite the numerous opportunities, many don’t engage cross-culturally. The current paper utilizes Relational Density Theory (RDT; Belisle & Dixon, 2020a) to examine and modify perceptions of approachability through two experiments. In experiment 1, a Multidimensional Scaling Procedure (MDS) was utilized to identify at-risk groups for non interaction among college students as well as willingness to engage. In experiment 2, a Stimulus Pairing Observation Procedure (SPOP) was utilized to determine whether exposure to positively valanced stimuli could shift the perceptions of the at-risk groups to …

Learned Helplessness: An Online Replication And Validation, Arshpreet (Sunny) Kandola

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The current study entails the partial replication of a classic learned helplessness two-phase triadic design experiment within an online learning context and aimed to validate a new attributional style self-report measure designed to identify individual differences in tendencies to develop learned helplessness consistent with the original reformulation of the hypothesis. Further, recent innovations in neuroscientific technology have allowed for a deeper examination of the mechanisms at play, finding support for a major re-interpretation of the theory of learned helplessness - suggesting that helplessness is more so the default passive response, while the active ingredient that is detected or expected (i.e., …

Apoyo En Comunidad: A Proposed Manual For Latinx And Hispanic Support Groups, Yadira Diaz Romero

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Navigating college life can be difficult; add to that the complications of navigating different cultures and it creates a chasm for young adults to overcome. This is true for many Latinx college students who often attend colleges where few resources exist to offer support in navigating these social and cultural issues in their everyday life. Additionally, while group therapy is championed as a treatment modality for many, few groups exist that target Latinx communities, especially Latinx college students. This project aims to highlight these social and cultural issues faced by Latinx individuals and provide clinicians with a treatment manual to …

Editor-In-Chief's Note, Surekha Rao

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Reviewers And Referees

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

George C. Roberts Award Recipients

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.