Digital Commons Network^™

Leisure Activities And Stress Levels Among College Students​, Ellie Nahm

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The present study sampled 30 university students to test the effects of time spent participating in leisure activities on stress levels, with social support and physical activity as moderators. Participants were aged18 to 56 and were largely White and women. We hypothesized that the relationship between time spent engaging in one's leisure activity and stress will be moderated by the physical exertion and social support experienced through leisure activity engagement. Results indicated no significant relationship between leisure participation and stress levels in this sample, nor a moderating effect of social support or physical exertion. Limitations include a small sample size …

Are You In Control? How Timing And Severity Of Trauma Shape Perceived Self-Agency, Kinsey L. Henrichsen, Caleb A. Sanders, Carissa L. Philippi

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Exposure to trauma may alter self-agency, or the sense that one can influence outcomes and exert control over life circumstances. The present study examined whether the timing and severity of traumatic experiences are associated with perceived self-agency across development. Based on prior research, we tested whether trauma occurring earlier in life would be associated with lower self-agency than trauma occurring later, and whether greater trauma severity would be associated with further reductions in perceived control. Participants were 116 trauma-exposed adults (38 male; 78 female) who reported trauma exposure using the Life Stressor Checklist. Trauma variables included age at earliest trauma, …

Love And Artificial Intelligence: A Research Proposal, Bryanna M. Deatherage, Necdet Gurkan, Sandra J.E. Langeslag

Undergraduate Research Symposium

What happens when people fall in love with Artificial Intelligence (AI)? This study seeks to examine individuals who are in love with AI companions to gain a deeper insight in the cognitive and affective consequences. In addition, this study will examine the most effective forms of intervention regarding growing or reducing feelings of love toward AI. The first part of this study will be a questionnaire about the social and emotional impact of being in love with an AI companion. Three hundred participants will be recruited through online communities related to AI companions. The second part of this study will …

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Disease Made Invisible By Stereotypes, Isabella Tober

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a very complex disease that is often overshadowed by public opinion. Stereotypes within modern-day media have turned this disease into a social joke, leading individuals to suffer in silence and isolate in fear of judgment. Historically, society has allowed this invisibility to be placed upon the disease, but so has the medical industry through misdiagnosis and inaccurate treatment. The reality of OCD is very real and impactful for those living with this condition. Through proper education and exposure to the truth behind OCD, negative discourse will turn positive, ultimately allowing people to feel visible and seek proper …

Reframe The Narrative: Menganalisis Motivasi, Konsekuensi, Dan Solusi Perilaku Bullying Dalam Lingkungan Sekolah Dasar Melalui Teori Frustasi-Agresi, Muhammad Hatta, Nabila Eka Ramadhani, Majesty Steffania Putri Anggen Dese, Manda Zahratu Nisa, Dimas Ramadan Hariadi, Muhammad Abdan Shadiqi

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

This study analyzed the motivation, consequences, and solutions to bullying behavior from the perpetrator's perspective among elementary school students, applying frustration-agression theory. A qualitative transcendental phenomenological approach was employed to explore the lived experiences of bullying perpetrators among elementary school students volving 10 participants aged 11–12 years in Banjarmasin and Banjarbaru. In-depth interviews served as the primary source of data, while the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) was administered after the interviews as supplementary descriptive data to provide an indication of participants’ frustration levels. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with educational and child-protection professionals was conducted to …

Catatan Editor: Ai, Kesejahteraan Psikologis, Dan Masa Depan Relasi Manusia, Rahkman Ardi

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

Kecerdasan buatan kini hadir dalam wilayah kehidupan yang sebelumnya hampir sepenuhnya ditempati oleh manusia: percakapan, dukungan emosional, dan relasi. Kita dapat menceritakan kecemasan kepadanya, meminta nasihat, mencari penghiburan, bahkan kembali kepadanya ketika percakapan dengan manusia terasa terlalu sulit. Kecerdasan buatan (Artificial Intelligence/AI), khususnya AI generatif, dengan demikian mulai bergerak melampaui fungsinya sebagai alat. Ia perlahan memasuki wilayah yang selama ini sangat manusiawi: wilayah relasi.

Adaptasi Dan Validasi Skala Kelekatan Terhadap Kecerdasan Artifisial, Theda Renanita, Julaibib Julaibib, Yohanes Budiarto

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

Recent years have witnessed renewed interest in how attachment is no longer limited to human figures. Instead, the attachment discourses now also encompass artificial intelligence (AI). Attachment to AI could be caused by a number of factors which could potentially lead to some psychological consequences, hence this new dynamic calls for further in-depth inquiries to understand it better.

To date, no previous study has developed an Indonesian version scale to measure AI attachment that is adequate in terms of its psychometric properties. The primary aim of this study is to demonstrate the adaptation and validation of the attachment to AI …

Pemaknaan Perilaku Phubbing Dalam Interaksi Sosial Pada Generasi Z Dan Generasi Milenial: Sebuah Studi Kasus Berganda, Ikhwanul Ihsan Armalid, Zidan Achmad, Wulan Zaesa Aurellia, Azimatul Mardliyah

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

The development of digital technology has transformed patterns of social interaction and given rise to the phenomenon of phubbing, which refers to ignoring one’s interlocutor due to smartphone use. This study aims to examine the meaning-making of phubbing behavior among the Millennial Generation and Generation Z in social interactions, focusing on differences in meaning, emotional responses, and ethical judgments. This study employed a qualitative approach with a multi-case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations involving seven participants selected using purposive sampling techniques. Data analysis was conducted through verbatim transcription, coding, and thematic analysis using the constant …

Digital Companions Or Relational Substitutes? Understanding The Use Of Generative Ai As Storytelling Companion Among Young Adults, Lail Queeny Nurfaizah, Syurawasti Muhiddin Ms

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

Objectives. This study aims to explore the factors underlying the use of GenAI as a storytelling companion among young adults. Method. A qualitative approach was employed within an interpretivist paradigm, using an open-ended questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. A total of 412 participants aged 19–33 years were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using data-driven thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework. Results. Two major themes emerged: Driving Factors and Barriers to Continuing Interaction. Each theme comprised four sub-themes organized around cognitive, affective, instrumental, and social dimensions, yielding 26 sub-themes in total. Driving factors were predominantly …

The Algorithmic Narcissus: Ai Validation And The Atrophy Of The 'Athletic' Social Self, Ilham Phalosa Reswara, Anggi Mayangsari

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

Artificial intelligence systems designed around continuous affirmation and minimal friction are becoming increasingly prominent as social and relational partners in everyday life. This article examines how sustained interaction with such frictionless AI systems may reshape the developmental conditions under which social selfhood forms and is maintained. Drawing on Cooley's (1902) looking glass self, Kohut's (1971) concept of optimal frustration, and the developmental literature on social competence, the article argues that frictionless AI may distort the social mirror through which identity forms, remove the manageable frustration that appears necessary for psychological growth, weaken empathic capacity, and erode the social stakes that …

Penerapan Digital Parenting Untuk Menangani Dampak Negatif Bermain Gawai Terhadap Kemampuan Prososial Anak Usia Dini, Pria Dita Anis Wari, Muqowim Muqowim

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

Implementing digital parenting is an alternative for parents to address the negative impacts of gadget use on the prosocial abilities of early childhood. This is particularly relevant for working mothers who have limited time to accompany their children's digital activities. This study aims to examine the perceptions of working mothers regarding the implementation of digital parenting as an effort to enhance the prosocial abilities of early childhood, the forms of implementation, and the dynamics experienced. This research is qualitative and phenomenological in nature. The subjects of the study consist of three working mothers with different professions and children aged 5-6 …

Sharing Toys, Sharing Talks, Sharing Thoughts: Siblings’ Role In Language Skills And Theory Of Mind In Children, Khansa Nabila Anjani, Ike Anggraika Kuntoro

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

Background: Theory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to understand one’s own and others’ mental states and is closely related to children’s prosocial behavior. Previous research has linked ToM to language skills and sibling factors; however, findings remain inconsistent. Siblings may function as early social partners who support language use and social–cognitive development, thereby influencing ToM. This study examined whether sibling presence moderates the relationship between language skills and ToM in children. Methods: Participants were 117 children aged 4–7 years from the Jabodetabek area, recruited using convenience sampling. A simple moderation analysis with bootstrapping was conducted. Results …

Gambaran Generasi Z Yang Kesepian Dalam Penggunaan Chat Ai Sebagai Pemenuhan Kebutuhan “Someone To Talk”, Ikhwanul Ihsan Armalid, Febty Zahra Arsiwi, Qisthi Fathiyyah, Ratri Mayzakky Afra Syahida

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial

This study aims to understand the experiences of Generation Z individuals who experience loneliness in utilizing Chat AI to fulfill their need for someone to talk to within a socio-emotional context. The study employed a qualitative approach using a phenomenological method involving six Generation Z participants aged 18 to 25 who had used Chat AI for emotional sharing or venting. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The thematic analysis yielded six main themes: the dynamics of Generation Z social interactions, experiences of loneliness in social life, patterns of Chat AI usage, Chat AI as a …

Victims Of Bravery (2): Secondary Trauma And Impacts Of Acts Of Bravery On Key Family Members Of Australian Civilian Bravery Award Recipients, Tom Voigt, Susan Balandin, Angela Dew

Heroism Science

We explored the experiences of key family members of Australian civilian bravery award recipients using a constructed grounded theory approach. Twenty-four family members participated in qualitative interviews during 2019–2020. Eighteen reported experiences consistent with possible secondary trauma and negative impacts on mental health and well-being. Participants described helplessness in supporting award recipients, limited knowledge of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS), and insufficient support for managing their own emotional responses. They also reported anxiety, uncertainty, hypervigilance, behavioral adjustments, social isolation, and sadness associated with living with a person they perceived as changed by the aftermath of heroic …

Perceptions Of Correctional Officers In Prison Environments And The Coping Mechanisms They Use To Support Work–Life Balance, Amiee C. Ruger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study explored correctional officers’ lived experiences with occupational stress, coping strategies, work–life balance, and psychological well-being. The purpose of the study was to better understand correctional officers’ experiences working in high-stress correctional environments, including how they experienced and managed occupational stress, as well as the factors that influenced their psychological well-being. The Yerkes-Dodson law, Nixon’s human function curve, and the transactional model of stress and coping provided the theoretical framework for the study. Eight correctional officers were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Semistructured interviews were conducted through the online meeting platform Zoom, and the data were …

Differences In Mental Toughness Among Mixed Martial Artists And Physically Active Individuals, Savannah M. Calleja, Soleil Ramos, Victoria Potvin, Anthony A. Ricci, Gabriel J. Sanders, Corey A. Peacock

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a physiological and psychological demanding sport. While the majority of the literature conducted in MMA regards physiological health and risk of injury, researchers are beginning to assess the psychological profiles of MMA athletes. Previous studies have evaluated mental toughness (MT) within MMA; however, no study has examined MT in MMA athletes at the professional division. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research was to evaluate the difference in mental toughness between professional MMA athletes and physically active individuals. Secondary aims are to evaluate potential variations in mental toughness within the professional level between champion and …

Fear, Threat, And Google Searches: Examining Ideological Shifts Using Big Data, Erin M. Cerasaro

Master's Theses

In their review of research on factors that affect political conservatism, Jost et al. brought together research from several theoretical viewpoints. This produced a model of psychological needs and motives in individuals which react with stimuli that make them feel fearful and threatened (F/T), increasing adherence to conservative ideology. While some research supports these claims, evidence shows that in some contexts these variables increase ideological polarization overall, but may also have a greater impact on conservative attitudes specifically. Researchers have had difficulty in investigating these relationships in naturalistic settings due to an inability to manipulate events that precipitate this ideological …

The Role Of Counselors In Facilitating Family Involvement In The Treatment Of Individuals With Severe Mental Illness: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Shanice Stephenson-Walcott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore counselors’ experiences with family involvement in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Although family involvement has been associated with improved treatment outcomes, limited research has explored counselors’ experiences facilitating family involvement in SMI treatment, leaving a gap in understanding the challenges counselors face in clinical practice. Guided by Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology, this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study included six licensed professional counselors experienced in counseling individuals with SMI. The research question asked: How do counselors experience family involvement facilitation in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness? …

Cultural Orientation, Parent-Child Connectedness, And Student Mental Health Perceptions, Abigail M. Mattias

Master's Theses

An individual’s perception of mental health is likely shaped by multiple interrelated factors. Connecting research into mental health perceptions across racial groups and parental value transmission suggests that a strong parent-child relationship increases the likelihood of the child endorsing parental and cultural values. The current survey examined the following predictors of mental health stigma among 144 college students: cultural orientation (collectivist/individualist attitudes), cultural background (collectivist/individualist heritage) as mediated by perceived parental mental health stigma, and parent-child connectedness as moderating the mediation. As predicted, there were stronger links between parent and child mental health stigma when parent-child connectedness was stronger. The …

The Perception Of Gay Black Males Concerning Cultural Responsiveness Of Police Officer Use Of Force, Christopher M. Collier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officers’ use of force on the public has been a popular topic of conversation over the last decade. Political campaigns, social media platforms, and neighborhood groups have expressed concerns about how police officers use force disproportionately within various communities. Suggestions have been made to increase police training, promote body-worn cameras, and foster greater transparency to hold police officers accountable for actions that may be unethical or illegal. This study sought to understand if cultural environments have an effect on law enforcement’s interaction with Black same gender loving males (BSGLM). Understanding the use of force was derived from BSGLMs’ perspectives …

Barriers To Psychological Care: Lived Experiences Of Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Hovhannes Nazaryan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) may experience significant disability-related stressors, yet mental health services remain underused within this population. Although prior research has identified barriers to service use among individuals with SMA and people with disabilities more broadly, there is less literature about how adults with SMA experience the mental health care system. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of adults living in the United States with SMA as they relate to this system. Guided by the biopsychosocial model and Andersen’s behavioral model, the study involved addressing the question: What are lived experiences …

Phenomenological Study Of Protective Buffering By Afsoc Civilian Spouses During Military Deployments, Janell C. Cotton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Protective buffering (PB) is used by civilian military spouses to withhold or deny stressful information or concerns to protect their spouse, others, or themselves, from upset or burden. This coping mechanism is commonly used during military deployments, yet is associated with negative physical, psychological, and social consequences. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of when and why civilian military spouses engage in PB during military deployments. Guided by the communication privacy management theory and the transactional stress and coping theory, the study examined the civilian spouses’ perceptions of their active-duty spouses’ stressors, and …

Hybrid Deep (Cnn-Bilstm) Intrusion Detection For Defense And Mission-Critical Networks, Corey A Cheng, Jermaine Anim-Addo, Asma Jakir Hussain, Zion O Smith-Fox, Sanjay Goel, Yuksel Celik

Military Cyber Affairs

This article examines how hybrid deep learning can strengthen intrusion detection for military and defense networks. Using the CSE-CIC-IDS2018 dataset, the study evaluates a CNN-BiLSTM model designed to detect benign traffic and multiple attack categories, including DDoS, DoS, botnet, brute-force, web attack, and infiltration activity. The model achieved strong multi-class detection performance, with 0.9893 accuracy and 0.9979 ROC-AUC. The findings suggest that AI-supported intrusion detection can improve cyber defense operations, analyst triage, and protection of mission-critical networks.

The Psychosocial Experience Of Black Pentecostal Pastors In Western America Post-Pandemic, Isaiah Kelley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted religious institutions, altering how Black pastors provided spiritual leadership, community support, and social connection. Limited research has examined how these disruptions affected the social identity and psychosocial well-being of African American Pentecostal pastors. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 11 African American Pentecostal pastors in the western United States following COVID-19 church closures. Guided by social identity theory, semi-structured interviews examined changes in participants’ social identity. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’s phenomenological approach: first- and second-cycle coding, member checking, reflective journals, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: psychological and emotional burden, social isolation …

Changes In Physical Activity And Sleep In Relation To Reductions In Body Weight And Cholesterol Levels Among Adults With Ptsd, Jeffery Kibler, Karla Patricia Molina Valenzuela, Shalynn Murphy, Claudia Ocholski, Valeria Rangel Cunha, Dania Dabbagh, Blaise Desautels, Alexis B. Tola, Mindy Ma

Faculty Articles

There is evidence of strong relationships between posttraumatic stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Interventions focused on healthy behaviors may promote CVD risk-reduction in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study includes analysis of the associations among key outcomes from an intervention study of a cognitive behavioral healthy lifestyle intervention in PTSD, treated as an adjunct to standard trauma therapy. Specifically, we examined whether changes in physical activity and sleep efficiency were associated with changes in body weight and cholesterol. The health behavior intervention is conducted in 12 weekly sessions and includes four overlapping modules (physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and …

How Partner Support Impacts The Intimate Relationship Quality Of Adult Childhood Sexual Abuse (Csa) Survivors: A Qualitative Study, Colin E. Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) often experience long-term disruptions in their ability to form and maintain healthy adult intimate relationships. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how adult survivors described partner support and its impact on their relational healing and the quality of their intimate relationships. Eleven adults who had experienced CSA and had participated in a committed intimate relationship lasting at least 12 months were recruited through a combination of convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling. Data were collected through demographic questionnaires, a Lived Experiences Timeline Activity (LETA) sheet, semi-structured interviews, field notes, and memos. …

Invisible Transitions: A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Christian Working Women Navigating Perimenopause, Rebekah S. Willis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Perimenopause is a significant life transition that can affect how women experience their bodies, relationships, work, and sense of self. However, the experiences of working women during this transition, specifically women of faith, remain underrepresented in existing literature. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of Christian working women navigating perimenopause, with attention to how they understood changes in daily life, professional identity, personal coping, workplace experiences, and faith. Eight women participated in semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Five major themes emerged from the findings: the disruption of a previously …

Coping Mechanisms: A Neurotypical Child's Response To A Sibling With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Heather G. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex lifelong neurodevelopment disorder with the current prevalence estimation of 1 in 31 children. With the rising prevalence of diagnosed individuals with ASD, there is an increase in the number of neurotypical children (NTC) who live with a sibling that has a diagnosis of ASD. Research on how NTC copes with daily stressors of a sibling with ASD and how their relationship is affected with a sibling with ASD is underexplored. Knowledge of ASD and coping strategies should become a regular process in the NTC life to help manage the stress that may come …

The Lived Experiences Of Custodial Grandparents In Northern Appalachia: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Christina Marie Savage

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Grandparents raising their grandchildren represent a growing demographic in North America. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological research study examined the shared lived experiences of custodial grandparents living in Northern Appalachia. This study was guided by Erikson’s seventh and eighth stages of psychosocial development and Resilience Theory. Fourteen custodial grandparents who reside within a Northern Appalachian county in Pennsylvania participated in semi-structured in-person interviews and data were analyzed using Moustakas' (1994) transcendental phenomenological method. Six themes emerged from the data: returning to parenthood later in life, accepting responsibility to protect grandchildren, changes in family roles and relationships, navigating challenges with limited support, …

Enhancing Cognitive And Emotional Development In An Inclusive High School Setting: A Study Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Roxanne Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students with intellectual disabilities often experience cognitive deficits that limit the development of social cognition and critical thinking skills. Challenges in executive functioning, including reduced metacognitive awareness, emotional regulation, and self-regulation, further hinder their ability to plan, monitor, and adapt their thinking and behavior, creating barriers to success in inclusive educational settings. This mixed-methods pilot study examined the effects of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) program on the cognitive development of five high school students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in an inclusive Christian high school over one semester. Using a sequential explanatory design, quantitative data were collected via the MINDCAP …