Digital Commons Network^™

Behere Nevada: Partnership And Policy, Sara Hunt

Community Engagement Expo Research Posters

Partnership: Nevada ranks 51st in the nation for mental illness prevalence and access to care (Mental Health America). Significant shortages in mental health professions, especially in rural areas. Other states using policy and funding to implement a “grow our own” model for behavioral health workforce development. Proposed a behavioral health workforce development center for Nevada.

Artificial Intelligence: In Your Phone And In Your Head, Gabrielle A. Johnson

ENGL 1102 Showcase

Artificial intelligence (AI) innovation has gained traction in recent years due to large investments towards improving the average person’s daily life. While operating the parent companies of common platforms such as Amazon, Instagram, and Microsoft, America’s richest citizens have spent billions on improving and researching the recent technology. AI offers ‘shortcuts’ to many daily inconveniences, fostering an over-reliance on the technology that has also led to human shortcomings. By using artificial intelligence, students can easily fill in homework answers with no calculations or critical thinking necessary. Beyond academics, relying on this technology compromises a broader necessity: human connection. With chatbots …

The Effects Of School Safety Strategies On K-12 Schools: Armed Civilians, School Resource Officers, And Metal Detectors As Contributors To The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Rebeca Petean

Dissertations and Theses

In recent decades, K-12 public schools have introduced get-tough measures ostensibly to improve school safety through punitive responses to misconduct and delinquency--expanding from traditional security measures to more punitive, zero-tolerance policies and surveillance-based approaches. Academic literature and media accounts highlight that such efforts continue to proliferate and extend across our nation's school spaces. This three-paper dissertation examines how specific safety practices--namely, the presence of armed civilians, School Resource Officers (SROs), and random metal detector checks--influence student outcomes and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. Rooted in Becker's (1963) and Lemert's (1967) labeling theory, as well as Sampson and Laub's (1997) cumulative …

Prison-Based Factors And Deviant Behaviors Amongst Inmate In Selected Correctional Centers In Iiorin, Kwara State, Nigeria., Sadiq Ewaoda Amali, Tinyiku D. Ngoveni, Muzukhona Wilfred Buthelezi

African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies

Prison-Based Factors and Deviant Behaviors Amongst Inmates in Selected Correctional Centers in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Abstract The study was conducted in two correctional centers in Ilorin with a total population of 908. Data was obtained from 713 respondents. Descriptive and inferential analyses were analyzed, variables were analyzed using frequency and percentage, while hierarchical logistic regression was used to test the formulated hypotheses. On ethical consideration, consent of each inmate who participated was obtained from penitentiary institution. A selected finding revealed that verbal and physical abuses of inmates by prison officials could predict deviant behaviors among inmates. Additional findings revealed …

Hb 1557 Impact On Family Functions, Andi Brabham

Undergraduate Research Conference

Families are often noted as the foundation of this country, so it is important to consider all families when implementing new policies. In 2022, the Parental Rights in Education bill (HB 1557) was approved in Florida. It was put into place with the intention of benefitting children and families, however, not every family was considered. Main points from HB 1557 include giving parents the right to know any information obtained on their children, the right of parents to have more control over decision making for their children, and the prohibition of discussions or teachings on sexuality and gender identity within …

A Narrative Review Of Military Reverse Triage., Daniel J Hurst

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: Military reverse triage has been described at several points in the literature. However, an extensive review of the concept and any gaps that may exist has not been conducted. This narrative review seeks to understand how reverse triage is used in the military literature and how it might be implemented in practice, as well as the documented historical applications of reverse triage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four databases were searched manually for English-language articles: PubMed, SCOPUS, JSTOR, and Worldwide Political Science Abstracts. In addition, a manual search of references, U.S. DoD, and NATO doctrine, as well as other published works …

Pain-Related Sleep Disturbance And Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Veterans With Chronic Pain, Alexa G. Deyo, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joon Kyung Nam, Victoria E. Carlin, Grant H. Ripley, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Pain-related sleep disturbances (PRSD) may contribute to patterns of alcohol consumption that elevate risk for negative health outcomes among U.S. military veterans with chronic pain, with this association potentially heightened among those who experienced combat. We are not aware of any prior research that examined either relations between PRSD and hazardous alcohol use among veterans, or the potential influence of combat exposure. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that PRSD would be positively associated with hazardous drinking among veterans, and that combat exposure would moderate this relationship. Method: Participants included 430 U.S. veterans (Mage = …

Cannabis Use, Psychological Distress, And Suicidal Ideation Among U.S. Veterans, Grant H. Ripley, Colin J. Jarrat, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Frequent cannabis use is rising among U.S. adults, particularly among those experiencing psychological distress. While Veterans generally report lower cannabis use than civilians, they face higher risks of mental health disorders, with approximately 17 Veterans dying by suicide daily. Understanding the relationship between cannabis use and psychological distress, particularly among Veterans with and without suicidal ideation, is crucial.

Ovma Resiliency Program: A Holistic Approach To Supporting Veteran And Military-Connected Students, Ken Marfilius, Brenic Nam, Natalie Hawes

Voices of Service Symposium

The Syracuse University Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) Resiliency Program (ORP), launched in August 2024, is an innovative initiative designed to support veteran and military-connected students. Developed in partnership with the OVMA, School of Social Work, and Hendricks Chapel, the program provides tailored resources and support networks to help students navigate academic, financial, physical, social, and mental well-ness challenges. Staffed by an Associate Director and graduate-level social work interns, the ORP addresses the critical needs identified in a U.S. Government Accountability Office report on veteran college experiences. Through dynamic support systems, the ORP fosters success and engagement, advancing …

Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Treatment Reduces Need For Clinical Services And Behavioral Healthcare, Dessa Bergen-Cico, Emily M. Johnson, Kyle Possemato, Mia Zappala, Allyson Smith, Robyn Sedotto

Voices of Service Symposium

Behavioral healthcare engagement is low for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) even in systems where high-quality evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) are available. Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) may mitigate avoidance in treatment through self-regulation and non-judgmental self-awareness. This study analyzed treatment engagement and service utilization of Veterans engaged in a randomized clinical trial MBI for PTSD (A Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Training (PCBMT)) to assess its impact on behavioral healthcare engagement in populations with PTSD.

Veteran's Service In Research Veteran's Advance Complementary And Integrative Mental Healthcare, Dessa Bergen-Cico

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster encompasses findings from research using complementary and integrative health interventions for Veterans with traumatic stress/PTSD. These studies encompass: a.) the use of mindfulness-based interventions for treatment of PTS/PTSD, suicidality, and depression (Possemato, Bergen-Cico et al, 2016) b.) implementation science involving Veteran peers as co-facilitators of primary care delivery of mindfulness-based interventions for Veterans with PTS/PTSD (Possemato, Bergen-Cico et al, 2022) c.) the efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention as evidenced by changes in biomarkers like cortisol a stress hormone(Bergen-Cico, Possemato, et al, 2014) d.) dog ownership and companionship for management of PTS/PTSD (Bergen-Cico et al, 2019; Ramon, Bergen-Cico Possemato, 2022)

Pain Interference And Hazardous Drinking Among U.S. Veterans: The Role Of Combat Deployment, Joon Kyung Nam, Kyle Mackenzie White, Victoria E. Carlin, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (i.e., patterns of alcohol consumption that elevate risk for negative health outcomes) are both common and often co-occur among U.S. veterans. Research examining associations between pain interference (i.e., extent to which pain disrupts daily functioning) and alcohol use among non-military samples has yielded mixed findings, with some linking greater pain interference to lower levels of alcohol consumption, and others linking it with increased odds of alcohol dependence. However, there has been a paucity of research examining these relations among veterans, and the role of combat exposure remains unexplored. The goal of these analyses was to …

Perceptions About Pain And Alcohol In Relation To Hazardous Drinking Among Veterans With Chronic Pain, Ava Cohen, Victoria E. Carlin, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction. Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (e.g., patterns of alcohol consumption associated with increased risk for negative consequences) are highly prevalent among U.S. military veterans. Perceptions regarding pain-alcohol interplay (i.e., pain as a motivator of drinking, use of alcohol to cope with pain, and pain as a barrier to alcohol cessation/reduction) may contribute to the onset and maintenance of hazardous drinking among individuals with chronic pain. Methods. Participants included 430 veterans who reported current chronic pain and past month alcohol consumption (24% female; 73% White; Mage = 57) and completed an online survey using Qualtrics Panels. Measures included the Perceptions …

Introduction To Military Culture And Mental Health Practice, Ken Marfilius, Sam Coyl

Voices of Service Symposium

The Introduction to Military Culture and Mental Health Practice course equips students across disciplines primarily social work with foundational skills for working with service members, veterans, and their families. Developed in 2016 by a former U.S. Air Force officer, the course addresses trauma, ethical dilemmas, dual loyalty, and command structures within military systems. Coursework includes case studies, ethical analysis, and interviews with military-connected individuals, fostering clinical and cultural competence. With 153 students trained to date, the course supports careers in the VA, nonprofits, and the Armed Forces, while advancing the university's commitment to military-affiliated students.

Expectancies For Alcohol Analgesia And Alcohol Use Among Veterans With Chronic Pain: The Moderating Role Of Discrimination In Medical Settings, Victoria E. Carlin, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joon Kyung Nam, Grant H. Ripley, Alexa G. Deyo, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction. Chronic pain and alcohol use are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur among U.S. military veterans. Expectancies for alcohol analgesia (i.e., degree to which an individual believes that consuming alcohol can help reduce or manage their pain) may contribute to alcohol consumption, dependence, and related harms. Discrimination in medical settings (i.e., degree to which one experiences inequitable treatment while receiving healthcare due to a stigmatized identity) has been linked to a variety of deleterious health outcomes and may amplify associations between expectancies for alcohol analgesia and drinking behavior. Methods. Participants included 430 U.S. military veterans with chronic pain who endorsed …

Developing An Undergraduate Course On Veteran And Military Behavioral Health, Sarah J. Litt, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Understanding the behavioral health needs of military service members and veterans is important for students who may pursue careers across the helping professions. This poster presentation details the development of a new undergraduate course that provides foundational knowledge in military and veteran behavioral health. The course examines a broad spectrum of psychological and behavioral health issues, including substance use and addiction, trauma and PTSD, military sexual trauma, suicide, pain and physical impairment, depression, anxiety, and the challenges associated with transitioning to civilian life. It also explores family and relationship dynamics, military culture, and barriers to mental health care. Key considerations …

Californians’ Perceptions Of The Causes Of Homelessness And Potential Policy Solutions, Sophie G. Srivastava, Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Vincent Berardi

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

This study examines whether residents’ perceptions of the causes of homelessness and preferred policy solutions are associated with homeless-related behaviors and opinions, and whether such perceptions are attributed to internal or external factors.

Methods

California residents (N = 371) completed a survey and an exploratory factor analysis was conducted, which identified subscales of the perceived causes, preferred policy solutions, opinions, and behaviors. We used MANCOVA to examine which sociodemographic characteristics were associated with each subscale, and multiple regressions to assess relationships among subscales.

Results

As predicted by attribution theory, internal causes (e.g. lack of ambition) were positively associated …

The Effect Of A Dance-Like Martial Arts Training On Prisoners’ Concentration Ability, Uta Czyrnick-Leber, Kiara Kuhrs, Christian Kraft, Pamela Wicker, Bernd Groben

Journal of Prison Education Research

A cognitive prerequisite for education and (re)entry into the labor market is the ability to concentrate for a long period. Conducted with 39 participants, the present study examines the effect of a six-week dance-like martial arts program on prisoners’ concentration ability in an open prison in Germany (n=15), and compares their concentration ability with a control group of prisoners (n=5), as well as a treatment (n=11) and control group (n=8) of university students. Concentration ability is assessed using the d2-R concentration and attention test before, after, and six weeks following the program. The program’s participants showed significant improvements compared to …

Dollars And Zen: A Randomized Control Trial Of A Community-Partnered Financial Capability And Stress Management Digital Intervention Among Low-Income Latino Adults, Luisa Blanco, Nataria Joseph, Mckenzie Richards, Flora Sedrakyan

School of Public Policy Working Papers

Latino adults disproportionately experience financial stress, but no programs developed for Latinos comprehensively and successfully integrate financial capability and stress management approaches to address financial stress. Using a community-partnered approach, we enhanced a digital financial capability intervention with theoretically- and empirically-grounded stress management techniques. We tested whether this integrative intervention improved financial capability, self-efficacy, actions, and stress as well as sleep, a correlate of stress. A sample of 76 Latino adults (39 in the intervention group, 37 in the control group; mean age = 45, 76% female, 88% with household income below $59,999) completed the three-month randomized waitlist-control trial. Participants …

No Vaccine? Why Not: Causes Of Vaccine Hesitancy And How Governments Can Stop It, Alexander (Alec) Mccarty '25

Honor Scholar Theses

Vaccine hesitancy is a term that has entered the spotlight since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With concerns about efficacy, safety, and individual choice, many people have developed a hesitancy toward receiving any vaccine, creating concerns for public and global health. Through responses from local and state health departments about their actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and through analysis of state vaccine rates based on political affiliation, this study suggests that vaccine hesitancy is a current issue that is likely politically motivated. States that are Republican affiliated have lower rates of vaccine uptake, and in turn they have higher …

Recognizing The Right To Care: A Key Step In Building The Care Economy, Valdrin Dragusha

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

The care crisis stems from the social prescription of women as caregivers, leading to their overrepresentation in unpaid care work. Unpaid is linked to broader structural crises like economic inequality, poverty, and precarity, which are exacerbated by intersecting inequalities. The care crisis perpetuates women’s marginalization in economic and social spheres due to the invisibility of care work in the care economy. The care economy includes non-market and market-based care provision, involving public investments in social infrastructure and protection. According to the International Labour Organization, women perform 76.2% of all unpaid care work globally, dedicating 3.2 times more hours than men. …

It’S Time For A Change: A Proposal To Abolish Solitary Confinement From Canadian Prisons, Amy Rico

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

Despite Canada’s reputation for being a leader in human rights, its treatment of prisoners requires a closer examination. In particular, prisoner and human rights advocates have widely criticized the use of solitary confinement in Canadian federal and provincial prisons as a form of torture. Solitary confinement imposes excruciating and demeaning conditions on prisoners, jeopardizing their mental and physical welfare. Following court decisions deeming solitary confinement unconstitutional, the federal government replaced the formal use of solitary confinement with structured intervention units. However, these units continue to be a reformulated version of the original practice, sustaining the torturous conditions subjected to inmates. …

Assessing Middle Eastern American Attitudes Towards Substance Use Disorders, Hazem Alata, Hussein Bazzi, Saleh Al-Juburi, Angie Achkar, Liam Browning, Nicole Oska, Adam Chaban, Arash Javanbakht

Medical Student Research Symposium

Assessing Middle Eastern American Attitudes Towards Substance Use Disorders

Introduction:

Substance use disorders (SUD) among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations remain largely understudied, despite evidence of high prevalence rates and lower rates of treatment engagement. Unique cultural conceptualizations and beliefs surrounding substance use disorders may perpetuate stigma, further contributing to disparities in access to and utilization of treatment services. This study aims to explore the attitudes and perspectives of individuals from MENA communities regarding substance use disorders, with the goal of identifying and addressing barriers to treatment.

Methods:

An anonymous bilingual Qualtrics survey was administered, gathering responses from …

Does Ai Help Or Harm? Why And How Ai Use Influences Workplace Outcomes And Employee Well-Being, Haille Trimboli, Reka Lassu

Education Division Scholarship

Although the recent surge in excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) might suggest it is a new development, AI has been applied in organizations for over forty years (Fanti et al., 2022; Markelius et al., 2024). Indeed, the term "artificial intelligence" itself emerged in the 1950s during a research project at Dartmouth College, where it was used to describe "machines able to simulate human intelligence" (Haenlein & Kaplan, 2019, p. 3). Most recently, in 2022, the landscape of AI use for laypeople greatly changed when OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, a generative AI tool, to the public; ChatGPT is an advanced AI language …

Understanding Cyberbullying Behavior Pre- And Post-Covid-19: A Qualitative Assessment With Application To Missouri Policy, Sydney Tyler Lamb, Kristen N. Sobba

Missouri Policy Journal

Cyberbullying is a form of abuse that has become more prevalent with the increased use of social media and advancements in technology. The current study aimed to evaluate cyberbullying behavior and its impact on society before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to understanding Missouri policy within these two time frames. The variables included for the study were cyberbullying behavior/perpetration, cyber victimization, and demographics including age, gender, and race. A content analysis was conducted to examine the literature involving the aforementioned variables pre- and post-COVID. Each variable was separated into prior and current information sections to examine the literature …

Prison Privatization And Its Impacts On Inmate Quality Of Life: An Analysis Through Logan's Eight Dimensions Model, Hafsa Ahmed

Master in Public Administration Theses

This capstone paper delves deeply into the ramifications of prison privatization on inmates' quality of life in contracted immigration detention facilities. With the increasing inclination towards privatizing correctional institutions, especially immigration detention centers, a rigorous evaluation is indispensable to ascertain the ramifications of such privatizations on the welfare of incarcerated individuals. In this exploration, Logan's quality of confinement model is meticulously applied to selected immigration detention centers to scrutinize the living conditions and reveal profound insights into the quality of life experienced by inmates. This model allows a structured assessment of various dimensions such as safety, order, care, activity, management, …

Volume 40, Issue 1

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Examining A Unl College Success Program Through The Culturally Engaging Campus Environments Model, Osvaldo Palma Vargas

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Higher education institutions have faced difficulties in providing environments designed to promote positive success outcomes among diverse student populations, especially first-generation students. While literature has focused on college success programs’ practices as a solution, there is a noticeable gap in what these programs do that integrate first-generation students’ cultures. This ethnographic-inspired study sought to identify what cultural practices within a college success program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Trenchard Foundation Institute of Excellence (TFIOE), contributed to creating culturally engaging campus environments for first-generation college students. Using Museus’s (2014) culturally engaging campus environments model (CECE) as a framework, I conducted …

How Seeing Rural America As A Commons Can (Re)Build Mutual Respect Across The Rural-Urban Divide, Lisa R. Pruitt

West Virginia Law Review

This Essay, written for a symposium that honors and amplifies Ann Eisenberg’s 2024 book, Reviving Rural America: Toward Policies for Resilience, contemplates benefits that could flow from taking seriously Eisenberg’s conceptualization of rural America as a commons. In particular, I argue that the mutual respect and collaboration necessary for a successful commons could help heal the rural-urban rift, which has widened dramatically in the last few decades. Recent studies suggest that rural residents have what scholars call a rural consciousnesses, which means that living in a rural place is a key aspect of their identity. One feature of this identity …

Missourians’ Opinions And Behavioral Changes After The Overturning Of Roe V. Wade, Rana Jordan, Hisako Matsuo

Missouri Policy Journal

The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade and the rise in restrictive abortion laws across the United States has caused a division across all communities, including citizens, politicians, and healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to learn the opinions and behavioral changes of birthing people since the overturning of Roe. This study utilized a cross-sectional online survey to explore the opinions and behavioral changes of birthing people after the overturning of Roe. The survey instrument covered the opinions and behavioral changes of Americans regarding abortion access, birth control access, willingness to share information with healthcare provider(s), and use …