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The Teaam: The Development Of A Trauma Assessment Measure For Late Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Jessica Wimmer

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Exposure to potentially traumatic events is common among adolescents and emerging adults. While outcomes to trauma exposure may vary, development of maladaptive symptoms and disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is of great concern to clinicians, researchers, and advocates for youth. However, recent research has identified that existing trauma measures and the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition Text Revision criterion for event exposure for PTSD, Criterion A, fail to address specific types of events and experiences that may elicit post-traumatic stress responses. Subsequently, this dissertation aimed to review the existing literature regarding trauma and how it is measured in adolescents …

Retoriando "La Neta": Cosechando Testimonios Del Campo Y Desahogos Laborales As Regenerative Rhetoric Pathways For Raza Obrer@ Performing La Talacha In Marginalized Laboral Spaces, Ramiro De Anda

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Emic, phenomenological, and interdisciplinary, this study draws on and seeks to bring the fields of Sociopsychology and Rhetoric and Writing Studies into conversation to address the potential intracultural cognitive bias of raza obrer@ (RO), by raza non-obrer@ (RNO), throughout the Borderland (the El Paso/Juarez Region) through the strategic application of Regenerative Rhetoric.

In this dissertation, I examine testimonios del campo (personal narratives from laboral spaces) and desahogos laborales (emotional laboral releases) of RO performing la talacha (arduous blue-collar work) within marginalized labor spaces utilizing Regenerative Rhetoric reparative discourse/dialectic strategies that spur sentipensamiento en la sudoracion (sensing and thinking within the …

Are You Patronizing Me? Understanding And Identifying The Implications For Benevolent Racism On Inclusion In The Workplace, Nisha Quraishi

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the construct of benevolent racism. The purpose of this study was to address the following areas. First, to distinguish benevolent racism in the racism, benevolence, and sexism literature. Second, to examine how minorities experienced benevolent racism in the workplace. Third, to use that data to conduct a quantitative analysis that examined the impact of benevolent racism on work group identification and inclusion. To do so, two studies were conducted. The first study was a qualitative study that conducted interviews which examined how benevolent racism impacted minorities in the workplace. The second study was a quantitative study that …

The Impact Of Sibling Sexual Abuse On Parenting Stress, Giuliana Berry

Theses and Dissertations

Sibling sexual abuse is the most common yet least reported, treated, and studied manifestation of child sexual abuse (Bertele & Talmon, 2023; Caffaro & Conn-Caffaro, 2005; Krienert & Walsh, 2011; O’Brien, 1991). It is a particularly challenging form of intrafamilial sexual abuse for parents and caregivers because their children are both the victim and the perpetrator of the abuse. They struggle to balance the needs of both children (Duane et al., 2002; Tener et al., 2020) and may experience heightened stress and associated psychological difficulties. Parenting stress is linked to child and adolescent posttraumatic stress and internalizing and externalizing problem …

Evaluating A Video Modeling Approach To Teach Shelter Volunteers How To Interact With Dogs In The Shelter, Sean Michael Will

Theses and Dissertations

Well-trained volunteers are required to help meet the daily needs of dogs waiting to be adopted in animal shelters and to find new homes for them. Inadequate volunteer training leads to mismanagement and attrition of volunteers who are essential to helping shelter dogs get adopted. However, animal shelters often lack access to the resources and funds required to provide adequate training for volunteers. Using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design, this study evaluated a cost-effective program consisting of video modeling with voiceover instruction, on-screen text, examples, and non-examples that instructed volunteers to interact with the dogs in a specific manner to …

Matrix Training Of Verb Tenses With Autistic Children, Alexandra Lynn Ewald

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extend the research on matrix training by evaluating its efficacy for producing recombinative generalization of regular verb tense endings. Three autistic children were shown videos of people known to the participants acting out behaviors associated with an action about to take place, currently taking place, or that took place. The targets (actors, actions, and verb tenses) were arranged in a matrix, and the targets appearing along the diagonal of the matrix were directly trained, while the remaining targets were probed to determine if the participant was able to emit correct responses without any …

Precarious Manhood: Masculinity Threats In Gay Men, Andrew S. Rivera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Manhood is a precarious state that is both sought and easily undermined and demands continual validation from public perceptions. Previous research shows that threats to one's masculinity often coerces reactions of bravado, aggression, and sexual risk-taking behaviors in men in an attempt to reestablish their manhood. However, little empirical attention is paid to deviations of such reactions as a result of varying self-concepts of masculinity and femininity, such as in gay men. In the current study, I explored the different ways in which self-identified masculine and feminine gay men navigate the volatile state of manhood, particularly when confronted with masculinity …

The Impact Of General And Religious/Spiritual Minority Stressors On Lgbtq Spiritual Health, Adlyn Perez-Figueroa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

A great deal of research has focused on the impact of minority stress on the mental and physical health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, but little is known about how minority stress impacts spiritual health. The purpose of this study was to develop a new theory of LGBTQ spiritual health. Another purpose was to explore how the impact of minority stress, such as discrimination, differs in everyday settings vs religious/spiritual (R/S) settings. A total of 227 LGBTQ participants were recruited online using a Prolific Survey Panel. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine: (a) if minority …

An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Black Men: Perceived Discrimination, Depression, Social Support, And Marital Satisfaction, D'Anthony Teon Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black Americans have long endured significant psychological distress due to racism and discrimination. Yet, limited research has examined how these stressors impact the mental health of Black males in the context of marital relationships. This study investigated the effect of perceived discrimination on depression in married African American men, examining whether marital satisfaction mediated this relationship and whether social support moderated it. Rooted in the historical legacy of systemic racism and modern forms of aversive discrimination, the study aimed to fill a gap in the literature concerning the intersection of race, gender, and mental well-being. Utilizing a diverse and well-educated …

Positive And Negative Religious Coping As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Covid-19 Stressors And Employee Burnout Among Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Kristen M. Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

During the investigation of this study, no study was located that explores the moderating effects of both positive religious coping (PRC) and negative religious coping (NRC) on the COVID-19 stressor-employee burnout relationship within the vocational rehabilitation counseling (VRCs) profession. Therefore, this study sought out to examine just that. Recruitment emails were sent out to VRCs to obtain 79 participants who were at least 18 years old, have worked at least 6 months as a VRC during the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked an average of 20 hrs/week. Each participant completed a 20-minute online survey containing CIS, PSS, MBI-HSS, Brief RCOPE scales. …

A Phenomenological Look At Licensed Professionals' Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Parental Alienation In The Family Court System, Jacqueline Ziebart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental alienation (PA) frequently emerges in high-conflict child custody disputes and is commonly understood as one parent encouraging a child to unjustifiably reject the other parent. The behaviors associated with PA encompass a complex form of family violence, incorporating elements of both intimate partner violence and child psychological abuse. As a polarizing and multifaceted social issue, PA necessitates further dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals. This qualitative research study explored licensed professionals’ perceptions and lived experiences of PA in the family court system. The research aimed to investigate the meaning professionals attributed to PA across individual, family, and institutional levels. …

Not Right Now: Factors Affecting Interruption Decisions In A Healthcare Paradigm, Matthew G. Pacailler

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Interruptions are common in the workplace, but when they happen during high-stakes critical tasks, they can have serious consequences. In the field of healthcare, interruptions can lead to serious adverse events or medication errors. Research on interruption management strategies addresses the potentially harmful outcomes of interruptions but often fails to account for the initial decision to accept or reject the interrupting task. Two experiments were performed to examine the decision-making outcomes for interruptions.

In experiment I, the participants monitored two EKG displays while simultaneously entering medication information into a patient chart. The decision to accept or reject an interruption was …

Investigating The Ability To Perceive Nonverbal Behaviors In Different Interaction Formats, Amanda J. Ashdown

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The rapid rise in interactive video-based communication has raised important questions about how it affects the perception of nonverbal behavior and impression formation. Guided by the Parallel Process Model (PPM), Multiple Resource Theory (MRT), and Working Memory (WM) models, this study investigated the ability of individuals to observe and assess another person’s nonverbal behaviors and form accurate impressions during conversations in live, face-to-face interactions compared to virtual formats. The study employed a 2 (interaction format: live vs. virtual; within-subjects) × 2 (observation type: active vs. passive; between-subjects) × 2 (genuineness: genuine vs. nongenuine behavior; between-subjects) mixed design. Participants either actively …

Mobilizing Discord On The United States’ Many Borders: Critical Social Science And Geopolitical Complexity, Margath Walker

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Attention to the political landscape connecting the United States, Mexico, and Central America has returned with glaring intensity, highlighting the visibly geostrategic elements of bordering practice. Scholars have focused on how state power materializes at multiple scales while at the same time being attentive to the contestable and mutable nature of myriad agentic forces. This talk operates similarly by considering prospects for a frictional and at times ambiguous spatial politics. I extend the notion of discord as a productive lens through which to consider securitization, mobility, and migration. I use two short examples—the border-industrial complex and migrant caravans—to illustrate my …

Understanding The Needs Of The Intellectually And Developmentally Disabled And Autistic Population In The Criminal Justice System, Emily Sateary

Master of Arts in Human Services

This paper explores the inequitable treatment of the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled and Autistic (IDD/A) population in the criminal justice system. Although progress has been made over the past century with understanding the unique needs of this population, they still face challenges at all stages of the criminal justice system. Behavioral, social skills, and sensory challenges make it difficult for the IDD/A population to avoid criminal justice contact and to understand the criminal justice process. Insufficient training for police and attorneys harms both persons with IDD/A and criminal justice professionals. This paper examines current practices in place that are barriers …

Adolescence: Bio-Physiological Development, Theresa C. Allen

Essays in Developmental Psychology

The Wonder Years was a television comedy-drama that aired for six seasons from 1988 to 1993.  It was a series on the coming of age…life through the eyes of an adolescent boy, Kevin Arnold, living in the late 1960’s - early 70’s.  From surviving the indignities of the junior high gym locker room, to discovering the joys of the opposite sex, to struggling to cut parental apron strings, a nation watched Kevin Arnold try to navigate the ever-changing waters of puberty, friendships, love and lust, and the uncertainty of tumultuous social times while trying to forge a sense of self …

Learning Disabilities Summary, Michael L. Woodward, Lisa L. Persinger

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Learning Disabilities are the most prevalent category of special education within the United States. Recent U.S. Department of Education statistics indicate over 2.3 million school-aged (ages 6-21) students are currently eligible for special education services under the category of a Specific Learning Disability. These students encompass 3.5% of the U.S. school-aged population, and nearly 40% of all students eligible for special education services.

Gardner’S View Of Intelligence, Seth C. Courrege, Nathan C. Weed

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Howard E. Gardner’s framework for understanding intelligence is one of the most well-known alternatives to the more widely-accepted Cattell-Horn-Carrol model of intelligence (CHC). In 1983, Gardner published Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, in which he rejected the idea of a single intelligence (g) in favor of multiple, relatively independent intelligences. In his introduction for the third edition of Frames of Mind, Gardner describes a myriad of inspirations for his theory, including a notable lack of research on artistic talents within cognitive psychology. Gardner argues that the traditional definition of “intelligence” is too narrow, and that some of …

Experimental Studies, Alexander Beaujean, Allison D. Gutierrez

Essays in Developmental Psychology

The concept of an experiment has undergone many changes in psychology's relatively short existence, and its essential features are still debated. Psychologists agree that it involves (a) systematically observing and recording phenomena; (b) explicitly describing the conditions under which the observations occurred, and (c) analyzing the resulting data to look for meaningful relations. The major area of disagreement is whether manipulation of phenomena is required.

Obesity, Sara D. Mcmullin, Eric A. Goedereis

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 in adults and above the 95th percentile for children based on age and sex norms. The prevalence of obesity across the lifespan has increased over the last several decades in the United States. Currently, 17% of children and 36% of adults in the United States meet these criteria, with higher prevalence among racial and ethnic minority groups. Childhood and adult obesity are associated with immediate and long-term medical, psychological, and cognitive consequences. Therefore, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends all children and adults are …

Reasons For Divorce, Ryan Bennett, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Today, divorce is a common result for many couples regarding marital conflict and discord. The impacts of divorce have been linked to increased psychological distress, increased risk of substance abuse, depression, and poorer overall health when compared to non-divorced individuals (Amato, 2000; Hughes and Waite, 2009). Per Shelby Scott and colleagues, there are ten likely reasons for a couple to get divorced (Scott et al., 2013). By understanding these ten reasons, one may better conceptualize the overall factors that contribute to divorce.

Representative Sampling, Jessica Choe, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

The research process begins with an initial observation that scientists or researchers of various backgrounds want to engage in and understand, which prompts them to formulate theories and hypotheses, collect data, and use statistical procedures to organize, summarize, and interpret gathered data. Research conducted through questionnaires or surveys are often utilized to determine the nature of a population or the interests of members in a particular group.

African American Adolescent Depressive Symptoms And Caregiver Perceptions, Katerina Marroquin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American adolescents with untreated mental health problems can have symptoms of depression. Depressive symptoms can persist in adulthood if untreated. Caregiver recognition is the strongest predictor of adolescent behaviors and depressive symptom outcomes. Caregivers can identify depressive symptoms in African American adolescents by focusing on met and unmet needs. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to ask about caregiver perceptions of African American adolescent depressive symptoms with focus on physiological needs, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. The theoretical framework for this study is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Data analysis was conducted using NVivo to enhance the interpretation …

Provision Of Brand Information And Critical Reasoning Predict Advertising Literacy, Eugene Zheng Yao, Alexandra List

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study investigated students’ critical reasoning about commercials, as an aspect of advertising literacy. Critical reasoning was examined under two different experimental conditions. That is, students were tasked with watching four different commercials with 1) brand information provided or not, and 2) asked to engage in critical reasoning or not. The commercials chosen used various production techniques (e.g., socially conscious marketing) to mask their persuasive message. Students provided with brand information within commercials had significantly higher critical reasoning scores when viewing two, out of the four, commercials, and significantly higher overall Analysis of Persuasive Intent (API) scores and brand recall. …

Volume 16, Maggie Duncan, Madeline Little, Alicia Hoffman, Megan Livesay, Gabrielle Quaresma, Serenity Allen, Laina Pfountz, Ainslie Allred, Sabrina Robles, Nicholas J. Duellman, Trinity L. Deguzman, Melissa H. Savage, Margaret Dudley, Jocelyn Escobar, Olivia Hildreth, Olivia Hopkins, Benjamin Gettier, Lee Kassay, Jade Riddle, Ashley Seiders

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Lee Millar Bidwell

The Hujum Campaign in Uzbekistan and its Consequences by Madeline Little

Wet Cupping Compared to Dry Needling for Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic by Alicia Hoffman and Megan Livesay

Optimization of eDNA Air Sampling Via 3D Printed Fan by Gabrielle Quaresma

Beyond the Classroom: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Attrition and Retention by Serenity Allen and Laina Pfountz

The Treatment of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome with Platelet-Rich plasma Injections Verses …

Well-Being In Disney Animated Feature Films, 2013–2023, Ruth Zeman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most existing research on Disney animated films has concentrated on problematic themes, including stereotypical portrayals of romantic relationships or aggression, while comparatively little attention has been given to how these films may also convey positive messages and promote prosocial behavior. Research on well-being is particularly relevant, given its strong association with improved health outcomes and the development of positive interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how well-being is portrayed in Disney animated feature films released between 2013 and 2023. Seligman’s model of well-being, which consists of the pursuit and attainment of five core pillars—positive …

Inside The Mad Mind: Medical Ethics In 19th Century Fiction, Danielle Dentremont

College Honors Program

The professionalization of medicine in mid-to-late 19th century America and Britain corresponded with heightened critical scrutiny of the ethics of doctor-patient relationships in contemporary fiction. With ethics frameworks of the century focused primarily on good fellowship between practitioners, it was difficult to charge practitioners with bad ethics. Yet, the broader debates of vivisection and women’s rights brought to light power imbalances between men and women that novelists began to suggest were present in medicine as well. Wilkie Collins’ Heart and Science weighs in on the danger of the doctor-scientist encroaching on women’s rights with the suggestion that women will be …

Balancing Parental Rights And Child Welfare In Custody Decisions Involving Mental Health, Colette Methling

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the evolving intersection of parental rights, child welfare, and mental health within the context of termination of parental rights proceedings. Historically, mental illness was often viewed as a categorical disqualifier for parenting, with courts relying on stigmatized assumptions rather than individualized evaluations. These early judicial approaches, influenced by eugenics and social biases, as exemplified by Buck v. Bell (1927), led to systemic injustices and overly broad state interventions into family life.

Through a doctrinal and historical legal analysis, this thesis traces how U.S. courts have gradually moved from rigid, diagnosis-based determinations toward more nuanced, evidence-based standards. It …

Integrative Treatment Providers’ Perspectives: Gender Differences For Adult Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Amanda M. Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The long-term effects that individuals suffer because of childhood sexual abuse may impact their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health. Treatment providers and helping professionals working with childhood sexual abuse survivors offer a unique insight into the impact of the trauma based on the gender of the survivor. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore integrative treatment providers’ perceptions of treating male versus female adult survivors of sexual abuse. Seligman’s positive psychology was used for the theoretical framework of the study, and the conceptual framework was based on Engel’s biopsychosocial model. The data for this study were …

Which Virtues Are 'The' Virtues? A Rank-Ordered Analysis Of Virtues In Leadership, Maegan L. Winegar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current research study was conducted from an Aristotelian and Christian understanding of virtue within leadership. Nineteen virtues were identified in the literature review and discussed as essential for living a life of eudaimonia or flourishing. Within the literature review, a gap was identified in the discrepancy between how the general public conceptualizes virtue and how philosophers, psychologists, and theologists understand virtue. Additionally, scientific research in leadership is inconsistent in the operationalization of virtue, which limits the ability to research virtues in leadership validly and reliably. Therefore, this study provided the general public with an online survey of 19 virtues …