Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Moral Injury In Emergency Department Clinicians: Predictors, Outcomes, And Evidence Gaps, Rose Doering Lightspeed

University Honors Theses

Moral injury (MI) is an emerging construct for understanding clinician distress in high-acuity healthcare settings, yet its application to Emergency Department (ED) clinicians remains limited. MI refers to psychological distress resulting from exposure to, or participation in, situations that conflict with deeply held moral or ethical standards, often due to systemic or organizational constraints. Although prior research has examined MI in heterogeneous healthcare samples, the ED remains underexamined despite its unique combination of high patient acuity, throughput pressure, and resource limitations.

This review synthesizes literature on MI among healthcare workers with a focus on ED clinicians, drawing on Industrial-Organizational psychology …

Overcoming Behavioral Health Barriers In The Homeless Population: A Healthcare Case Study, Uchenna Godson Ogbuokiri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Will Beauty Save The Brain? Exploring The Relationship Between Eudaimonic Reels Exposure And Egyptian Gen Z'S Mind And Motivations, Petra Zaky

Theses and Dissertations

Social media entertaining content includes a mixed bag of the meaningful and the trivial. For Generation Z, whose favorite daily entertainment is shallow yet funny short-form videos (reels), there is often an invisible price paid. The loss of ability to watch long meaningful videos, distractedness from self, “Brain Rot”, glamorizing of hedonism are among the maladies left behind the attractive rabbit hole of their daily media diet. This study explores the relationship between exposure to meaningful reels, in contrast to pleasurable reels, and Gen Z’s reflective thinking, “Brain Rot” symptoms, motivation to watch long meaningful videos and life motivations between …

The Style Of Decision: Consumer Wisdom And The Mediating Role Of The Heuristic-Systematic Model Of Information Processing In Clothes Shopping, Nourane Sakr

Theses and Dissertations

Rationality and emotions are often treated as opposing forces in decision-making. Yet what if the more productive question is not which one prevails, but how a balance between the two might be achieved? Wisdom offers precisely this kind of integrative paradigm. Wisdom is a central trait for self-development; yet, little has been explored on Consumer Wisdom from a communications perspective. The theory has been initially examining ecology principles with an extensive space in consumer behavior and marketing practices. This research approaches consumer wisdom in online fashion advertising context whilst understanding the common information processing modes; evoked by the mediation of …

Equine-Assisted Therapy For Dementia: A Pilot Rct On Standardizing Sessions To Improve Cognition, Mood, And Quality Of Life, Madeline Alford, Maria Dos Prazeres Da Silva Gonçalves Dr., Maria Manuela Da Silva Leite Dr.

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating equine-assisted therapy (EAT) into memory workshops for older adults with mild to moderate dementia. EAT is hypothesized to enhance cognitive function, promote physical activity, and improve mood through multisensory experiences. To ensure consistency and replicability, a standardized 8-session cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) protocol was developed, structuring interventions across cognitive, emotional, and motor domains.

Methods: A 3-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials .gov: NCT06662578) was conducted with 36 older adults diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: equine-assisted therapy workshop (EATW), traditional …

A Unified Behavioral Core: How Cbt And Act Often Do The Same Thing, Davis M. Paxton

Student Works

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) have emerged from the shared heritage of behavioral therapy and learning theory. ACT and CBT are evidenced to be effective and complementary by shared clinical outcomes across various patient demographics. Both therapies share a therapeutic framework or a unified behavioral core, despite formal differences. This behavioral core utilizes functionally equivalent awareness-based and behavior-change processes to accomplish the shared goals of symptom reduction and patient well-being. Psychological flexibility as defined by Hayes can be understood as both an outcome and potentially a mechanism of change for both therapies. Techniques from CBT …

Engaging Immigrant Families Of Children With Disabilities: Recommendations For Practitioners, Robai N. Werunga, John William Mckenna, Rocio Rosales

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Family involvement is essential for positive school outcomes. Yet research suggests that family engagement for students with disabilities may be marked by conflict. Furthermore, creating an environment that promotes active engagement for immigrant families may be challenging. In this paper, we synthesize existing research, legal guidance, and community-engaged insights to present four practice-oriented recommendations for educators and practitioners working with immigrant families of children with disabilities. Grounded in Hans and Love’s stages of immigrant family engagement, these recommendations aim to support meaningful and culturally responsive participation in special education processes.

U.S. Black Men’S Perceptions Of The Similarities And Interplay Among Mind-Body Practices, Spirituality, And Religion: A Qualitative Study, Khanh Pham

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored U.S. Black men’s perceptions of relations among mind-body practices (MBPs), spirituality, and religion to understand how these factors might influence Black men’s health. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze data from individual semi-structured interviews with 18 Black male MBP instructors. Five themes were generated. The themes were (1) spirit(uality) is the foundation for Black men’s experience of life seen and unseen, (2) MBPs and religion are rooted in spirituality, (3) MBPs, religion, and Black culture share common characteristics, (4) MBPs and religion facilitate holistic wellbeing, and (5) confusion and negative perceptions about MBPs, spirituality, and …

Positive Partner Support And Veteran Well-Being: How Capitalization Support Strengthens Military Veterans And Partnerships, Maryann Dona Samson

Dissertations and Theses

Among military veterans, the transition to civilian life is often marked by elevated distress and burnout, low job satisfaction, and a lack of perceived psychological safety. Social support, especially from intimate partners, can serve as a critical protective factor. While most support literature focuses on stress-buffering in adverse contexts, positive social support, such as responsiveness to shared positive experiences (i.e., capitalization support), is a powerful though understudied process. This dissertation investigates the role of partner capitalization support, which is the responsiveness shown by a romantic partner when one shares good news, as a source of stress reduction, resilience, and relational …

Why Am I Here? Individual, Organizational, & Societal Influences Of Employee Motives To Attend Voluntary Diversity Training And Their Effects On Training Outcomes, Henri T. Maindidze

Dissertations and Theses

Diversity training is a key part of diversity management efforts, but its effectiveness has repeatedly been called into question in both academic and applied spaces, leading many to question its utility. In the case of voluntary diversity training (VDT), where employees can opt in or out of participation, those motivated to attend might not be the ones who would most benefit from participating, thereby limiting the effectiveness of VDT for the organization. As a result, understanding the predictors and outcomes of employee motives to attend VDT can guide improved implementation and evaluation of VDT. Informed by self-determination theory and training …

When School Culture Excludes: Deficit Discourse, Microaggressions, And The Mental Health Of Marginalized Students – A Conceptual Framework With Implications For School Psychology Practice And Equity Policy, Modupe Mercy Oyewunmi

Publications

Deficit-laden language like ‘behavior problem,’ ‘not college material,’ ‘won’t fit in’, ‘not a cultural fit’, operates as a systemic form of implicit bias and microaggression in school settings. Despite decades of research on school belonging and well-being, school psychology has yet to integrate these exclusionary discursive practices into a coherent health-determinant model that also accounts for the current anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy environment. This conceptual paper proposes a testable framework linking deficit discourse and school-based microaggressions to student identity suppression, academic impostor phenomenon, and educator moral injury, with downstream effects on school mental health outcomes. We situate these …

Psychogastroenterology: An Introduction For Behavioral Health And Healthcare Professionals, Jerrod Brown Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., M.S., M.S., Jeremiah B. Schimp Phd, Ma, Lpcc, Leanne Skehan Dcn, Msacn, Mph, Mba, Cns, Ches, Shelley Mydra Dmft, Lmft, Jonathan Ward Dc, Phd(C), Ms, Dibcn, Tiffany Flaten Cns, Ldn

Nutritional Neurocriminology Today

Although often difficult to discuss with clients, gastrointestinal (GI) issues affect an estimated 60 to 70 million Americans (American Gastroenterological Association, 2022). Yet only about 25% of those experiencing these conditions receive treatment. This is troubling because GI issues frequently co-occur with clinically significant consequences for physical health, psychological well-being, daily functioning, and overall quality of life. Designed for behavioral health and healthcare professionals, this brief article introduces the field of psychogastroenterology, with emphasis on symptoms, stigma, diagnosis, and treatment. Key topics include the gut-brain axis, common digestive health conditions, and the mental health implications associated with gastrointestinal disorders.

Misinformation Machine, Jan A. Wozniak

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

No abstract provided.

Quiet Hills, Restless Hearts: An Intersectional Exploration Of Lgbtq+ Religious Journeys In Appalachia, Allison S. Monroe, Stacey L. Williams

McNair Culminating Research Projects

Many researchers have utilized Meyer’s (2003) minority stress model to examine the social factors influencing the daily lives of LGBTQ+ individuals. Previous research has looked at negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals (McGraw et al., 2023), the presence of religious stress for this community (Page et al., 2013), and religious journeys of these individuals (Halkitis et al, 2009).  However, few studies have examined the intersection of religion, LGBTQ+ identity, social support, and the overarching values of Appalachian culture. The proposed study seeks to add to the literature and understand the breadth of these experiences by employing qualitative semi-structured interviews. …

Exploring The Link Between Substance Use Severity And Self-Stigma: The Moderating Role Of Enacted Stigma, Alaya Shelton

McNair Culminating Research Projects

Self-stigma has been shown to negatively impact treatment engagement, recovery, and reintegration outcomes among individuals with substance use and criminal histories (Moore et al., 2023). Further, prior research has shown that markers of an individual’s substance use treatment history (e.g., number of prior treatment episodes and perceived substance use severity; Hammarlund et al., 2018; Luoma et al., 2012; Silveira et al., 2016) and negative experiences with medical professionals (Hoover et al., 2022; Muncan et al. 2020) are closely linked to self-stigma. While these factors independently contribute to one’s level of self-stigma, to our knowledge, no prior work has examined how …

Polygenic Risk Scores, Sex, And Socioeconomic Factors As Predictors Of Age Of Onset For Major Depressive Disorder, Kaitlyn M. Nowak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric condition influenced by genetic, sociodemographic, and environmental factors, yet the extent to which these factors jointly shape the timing of disease onset remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of polygenic risk scores (PRS), sex, and socioeconomic status (SES) on age of onset for MDD across two independent cohorts: the Pharmacogenomics Research Network Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomics Study (PGRN-AMPS) (N = 486) and the All of Us Research Program (N = 8,014). Analyses were restricted to individuals of European genetic ancestry, and PRS were constructed using both European-ancestry (EA) and multi-ancestry (MA) genome-wide …

Racism In The Science And Practice Of Psychotherapy, Richard E. Redding, Craig L. Frisby

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

We discuss a recent controversy that occurred in The Cognitive Behavioural Therapist over whether Lilienfeld’s critical views on microaggressions theory and research reflect racist beliefs, as alleged by some. This is one of many recent examples of a profoundly antiscientific practice whereby racism allegations chill scientific debate and open inquiry on important research issues. This produces an overtly politicized science that has a corrosive effect on scientific progress and ultimately the useful application of research in clinical practice. The microaggressions controversy provides an especially useful vehicle for challenging this state of affairs given the widespread application of microaggressions theory, including …

Blended Family Dynamics And Executive Functioning In Preschoolers: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kayla Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Predictors And Outcomes Of Reading Intervention Success In Autistic Children: Memory And Brain Connectivity, Meagan Elizabeth Beckerson

ETDs from 2020-2029

Reading comprehension is a complex skill that relies on linguistic and cognitive abilities, including executive control processes. Creating a cohesive representation of text involves maintaining visual and verbal information in short term memory (STM) and using executive control skills to integrate information, apply it to questions, and draw inferences. Many autistic children demonstrate strong individual word reading (decoding) but poor comprehension, resulting in a discrepant reading profile. The role of STM and executive control—along with the underlying neural systems that support these processes—in reading comprehension and response to intervention has not been examined in autistic children with this profile. The …

The Relationships Between Adult Cyberbullying Victimization, Introversion, Extroversion, And Demographic Variables, Amber Paige Arrington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Life Sustaining Well-Being Practices And Physiological Health Among Black Men, Dakota W. Cintron, Monique N. Golden, Jennifer M. Boylan, Julia K. Boehm, Tomiko Yoneda, Hebi Wang, Erik M. Hines, James L. Moore Iii

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective

To identify culturally grounded well-being practices among Black men in midlife and examine their associations with physiological health.

Methods

Analyzing data from the 2004–2005 Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, we examined, 116 open-ended responses to the question, “What do you do to make your life go well?” Network topic modeling identified six topics: (1) interpersonal kindness and positive mindset; (2) caring for children; (3) practicing spirituality and faith; (4) maintaining social connections and well-being; (5) avoiding stress; and (6) meaningful work and daily activities. Topic scores, reflecting participants’ tendency to discuss these themes, predicted allostatic load and …

An Exploratory Study: The Presence Of Imposter Syndrome In New Graduate Allied Health Professionals And Its Relationship To Location Of Practice, Samantha J. Barber, Carol A. Flavell Dr, Moira Smith Dr

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Imposter syndrome (IS) explores the feelings of fraudulence within personal and professional settings. Commonly IS results in impaired self-confidence, and self-perceptions of one’s own abilities, their mental health, and places them at a higher risk of burnout. Imposterism is linked to transitionary periods, such as being newly graduated, and while IS addressed amongst the medical community [doctors and nurses], there is a gap in literature relating to IS amongst allied health professionals (AHPs). Additionally, there is no known literature in which IS presence or severity is explored in relation to an individual’s geographic location. The aim of this study …

Testing The Christian University Belonging Scale: Revision From Target Population Feedback., Jasmine Bowles

Honors Projects

This study explored whether feedback from a scale’s target population can improve its psychometric qualities. We developed a psychological scale of Christian university belonging, defined as feelings of being accepted, valued, engaged and connected in direct association with the faith-integration at a Christian university. Three studies were executed. First, we collected and analyzed quantitative data (n=55) on the 14-item scale and reduced the number of items to six. Second, we collected and analyzed qualitative data from students attending a Christian university in the Pacific Northwestern United States (n=7) on the 6-item version to revise the scale. After revision, the scale …

Beyond Social Disconnection: The Unique Relationship Between Existential Loneliness And Depression, Lauren Beatrice Edwards

Masters Theses

Depression and loneliness are among the most pressing mental health concerns in the United States, yet their relationship remains incompletely understood. Research has extensively examined social-emotional, or general, loneliness. However, existential loneliness (EL), the felt sense of being fundamentally alone in one's existence, has remained on the theoretical periphery. This study examined EL as a meaningfully distinct dimension of loneliness and explored its unique relationship with depressive symptoms in a sample of 301 U.S. adults recruited via Prolific. A joint exploratory factor analysis confirmed that EL and general loneliness are empirically separable dimensions of loneliness. Regression analyses revealed that EL …

The Effect Of Perceived Support On Black College Students' Sense Of Belonging, Jamillia Domani Mckinley

Masters Theses

Black college students oftentimes navigate higher education environments while managing academic demands alongside racialized stressor that can weaken their sense of belonging. Existing literature and research examined peer relationships, faculty support, and institutional support separately; however, little to no studies considered how these forms of support operate together in shaping belonging. The current study addressed that gap by examining whether perceived peer support, teacher support, and institutional support predict Black students’ sense of belonging in college and university settings. Through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, belonging was viewed as a foundational need for confidence, connection, growth, and self …

Law Enforcement Officers' Perception Of Human Trafficking And The Efficacy Of The Training They Receive, Christian Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Attachment Styles And Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Following Sexual Infidelity In Committed Relationships, Arnetta Yardbourgh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Novice Counselors’ Stress And Burnout: Experiences, Perceptions, And Help-Seeking Behaviors, Jillian Towar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

How Lesson Type Shapes First-Grade Scienceengagement And Enjoyment, Stella Cybulski, Brooke Towner, Joy James

Journal of Youth Development

Although traditional classroom instruction often emphasizes passive forms of learning, growing evidence highlights the value of active play in promoting curiosity and conceptual development. Grounded in guided play theory, this study investigated how young learners experience science lessons across three instructional contexts: indoor inactive, indoor active, and outdoor active. Thirty-two first-grade students in a Title I laboratory school completed an enjoyment survey and drawing task following each lesson type. Results demonstrated that active play, particularly in outdoor contexts, was associated with higher enjoyment and more dynamic depictions of science learning. Thematic analysis of drawings indicated that students connected more deeply …

Rhode Island Teen Institute Remains Impactful After More Than A Decade Hiatus, Tayla Von Ash, Anusha Gupta, Michael J. Thompson, Jennifer Stevens, Terese Gregg, Sandra Del Sesto

Journal of Youth Development

Rhode Island Teen Institute (RITI) is a 5-day residential program based on the Positive Youth Development approach that exposes participants to intensive training in individual and community advocacy, decision-making, interpersonal communication, and leadership development. Results from prior iterations of RITI (2002-2009) demonstrated that the program was efficacious at improving leadership and other related skills among participants. However, unfortunately due to loss of funding, the program did not run from 2010-2023. The present study assesses the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the 2023 implementation of RITI after more than a decade-long hiatus. The program was successfully implemented with 44 youth …