Digital Commons Network^™

Regional Variation And Correlation Of Big Five Personality Traits With Rates Of Insufficient Sleep And Diabetes In The United States, Isabella Chirakos, Brennan Schroeder

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Diabetes and insufficient sleep are prevalent health concerns, and determining potential contributing factors could help decrease the incidence of these issues. This study aims to explore potential associations between insufficient sleep and diabetes mellitus, examining whether these negative health outcomes can be linked geographically and by personality traits. Results could help create more effective programs to combat diabetes and insufficient sleep.
Materials and Methods: The study utilized longitudinal health data and roadmaps from 2016 and 2023 for each state, categorizing the data into four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. We incorporated personality data from the Synthetic Aperture Personality …

Clarification Of Public Health Pathways Toward Clinical Careers: A Pilot Study Describing A Benchmark Analysis Project, Elizabeth A. Brown, Melissa Feliciano, Daniel Martinez

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Introduction: Undergraduate public health programs have adapted the required basic sciences based on medical and technological advances and the needs of the public health workforce. We aim to demonstrate how a benchmark analysis project was used to improve curriculum and develop a model where basic sciences in public health can be used to build pathways to clinical graduate programs like medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, etc.

Methods: Authors conducted a benchmark analysis of Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) Degrees (or public health-related degrees) in the southern region of the United States (US) to explore required basic sciences. Authors searched …

Psychometric Evaluation Of A Novel Measure Of Trauma-Related Cannabis Use To Cope, Sage E. Hawn, Terrell A. Hicks, Christopher Latourrette, Anita Thomas, Daniela Chaname, Sarah Ehlke, Abigail Powers Lott

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) are commonly comorbid and are associated with many negative public health outcomes. One plausible explanation for this comorbidity comes from a self-medication framework, which suggests people use cannabis to cope with PTSD symptoms. Despite theoretical and empirical evidence for PTSD-related cannabis use to cope, no measure of this construct exists.

Objective: We sought to address this gap by developing and validating a novel measure of PTSD-specific cannabis self-medication, which we have termed the Trauma-Related Cannabis Use to Cope (TRCU) questionnaire.

Method: The psychometric properties of the TRCU and how it …

Assessing The Relationship Between Perceived Psychological And Physical Pain In Adults With Orthopedic Pain, Daniel C. Karimi Dehkordi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Suicide remains a public health concern in the U.S., particularly among individuals experiencing chronic pain and psychological distress. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between perceived physical and psychological pain in 41 adults with chronic orthopedic conditions. The relationship between other risk and protective factors and perceived levels of pain distress was also examined. Results showed a significant positive correlation between psychological distress and physical pain (r(39) = 0.388, p < .05) and psychological distress and depressive/anxiety symptoms (r (39) = 0.477, p < .01). Psychological distress was moderately associated with feelings of hopelessness (r (39) = 0.403, p < .01), however, the relationship between physical pain and hopelessness was weak and nonsignificant (r (39) = -0.06, p = .71). Contrary to expectations, emotional support did not buffer the effects of psychological distress (r (39) = 0.07, p = 0.66). Mediational analysis confirmed that emotional support did not influence the relationship between physical pain and psychological distress (Beta (β) = -0.969, p = 0.572; Sobel Z = 0.5598, p = 0.575). Age was not correlated with psychological distress (r (39) = -0.24, p = 0.13) or mental health symptoms (r (39) = -0.05, p = .77). While there was no significant difference across sex, males reported higher mental health symptomatology and psychological distress scores than female counterparts. These findings underscore the direct impact of physical pain on psychological distress and challenge assumptions about the protective role of social support. The study highlights the need for integrated, multidisciplinary interventions targeting both physical and psychological pain to mitigate suicide risk among individuals with chronic orthopedic conditions. Future research should iii explore alternative support mechanisms and resilience-building strategies to address the complex interplay of pain, distress, and suicidality.

Generation Z’S Perception Of Skin Cancer And How It Relates To Climate Change, Piercen Bogolea

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and climate change has been identified as a significant contributor. Preventative action early on can help reduce occurrence, but it is unknown if Generation Z is aware of this and is taking the necessary action now to protect themselves. This research aims to gauge the perception of Generation Z on the severity of skin cancer, the relationship between climate change and skin cancer, and the prevalence of preventative measures being taken. A survey was distributed to students aged 18 to 27 enrolled at the University of Central Florida through mixed sampling. The …

A Comparative Analysis Of Stress Relief, Life Satisfaction, And Quality Of Life Based On Marriage Status And Gender Among Members Of Society Participating In Exercise, Ji-Hye Yang, Sicheol Jung, Hyejin Yang, Chulhwan Choi, Chul-Ho Bum

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Modern members of society tend to feel stressed in their workplace and at home, but exercising has been shown to effectively reduce stress and increase quality of life and satisfaction. This study aimed to investigate and compare stress relief, life satisfaction, and quality of life based on marriage status and gender among members of society who participate in exercise. We used a questionnaire survey with 311 participants, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, validity and reliability, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and a post hoc analysis. The study results showed that the single groups demonstrated higher mean …

Intersection Between Individual, Household, Environmental And System Level Factors In Defining Risk And Resilience For Children In Kenya’S Asal: A Qualitative Study, Esther Chongwo, Barack Aoko, Martha Kaniala, Moses Wesala, Phillis Magoma, Eunice Njoroge, Susan Nyamanya, Joyce Marangu, Anil Khamis, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Introduction: Children growing up in arid and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face heightened risks, often resulting in poor developmental outcomes. In Kenya, the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) exhibit the lowest health and developmental indicators among children. Despite these risks, some children grow up successfully and overcome the challenges. However, there is limited comprehensive data on sources of risks and resilience in these children, particularly research that incorporates community perspectives and indigenous knowledge. Systematic documentation of factors influencing child outcomes is crucial for understanding the overall burden, informing policy and implementing targeted interventions. This study aimed at …

Factors Affecting The Joy Of Life In Old Age: A Scale Development Study, Yalçın Karagöz, Yusuf Karaşi̇n, Mustafa Filiz, Mehmet Ateş

Adultspan Journal

This study aims to introduce a measurement tool into the literature that can reveal the factors affecting the joy of life in older adulthood. Participants included 266 individuals aged 55 and over living in Izmir, Turkey. The process of developing the scale includes the following stages: problem identification, item pool creation, expert opinion, form shaping, pilot application, and finalizing the scale. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale consists of 6 different dimensions, and the variance explained by these dimensions was found to be 65.184%. The acceptable values for the scale's fit indicators are as follows: χ²/df0.90, IFI > 0.90, …

Perinatal Policy Disparities And Their Impact On Maternal, Paternal, And Child Health, D'Ashanae Y. Pippens

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review synthesized evidence on perinatal policy framework to evaluate their public health significance and impact on family outcomes. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and corporate data from 2015-2025 were reviewed across national, state, and global levels. The analysis revealed seven thematic domains, (1) policy design and duration, (2) wage replacement, (3) insurance continuity, (4) workplace breastfeeding accommodations, (5) parental leave, (6) equity in access, and (7) policy enforcement. Evidence shows that integrated and inclusive policies particularly those in Sweden, Germany, and progressive U.S. states (NY and CA), yield substantial …

Small Town Voices And Stories: Rural Older Populations And Health Narratives, Wyatt K. Zumbahlen

Masters Theses

Stories play a vital role in our humanity; they help us understand the world around us. As we age, our experiences, along with those of the people around us, shape our perceptions of health and influence our healthcare choices. For older adults, narratives become an essential resource in making healthcare decisions. In rural communities like Coles County, Illinois, these stories are especially important for older adults who are navigating the limited care and services available in the area. This reliance on narratives impacts their willingness to seek care, highlighting the need to recognize the power of stories in empowering older …

Burnout At University: Cross-Sectional Study Among Dental Students, Manal Elhijazi, Hajar Nafia, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Context: The university constitutes a demanding and competitive learning environment which can impact the well-being of students. The objective of this survey is to assess the burnout of students at the faculty of dentistry.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire with 3 sections: socio-demographic data, lifestyle and habit, and burnout through the Maslach burnout inventory-student survey (MBI-SS) . Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations,categorical variables as numbers and percentages. The variables were tested in univariate analysis to assess predictive factors related to burnout using the Khi-2 test. The significance level was …

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceptions Of A Screen-Based Virtual Simulation And Self-Debriefing: A Qualitative Study., Fatima Zahra Mahou, Guillaume Decormeille, Asmae Khattabi

Health Sciences

The integration of virtual simulation and self-debriefing in nursing education offers promising approaches for enhancing students' competency in medication administration and dosage calculation. This study aims to explore undergraduate nursing students' perceptions and experiences with virtual simulation and self-debriefing, building on findings from a previously published RCT that demonstrated improved learning outcomes through these approaches. In the first phase (self-debriefing), 153 students answered five open-ended questions, followed by a focus group with six students in the second phase.The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis by two independent coders to ensure consistency and credibility. The study highlights the benefits of …

An Analysis Of Mental Health And Workplace Absenteeism, Kristin Marie Vrona

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the effect of mental health on own health-related absenteeism among employed adults in the United States, using data from the 2010–2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The MEPS uniquely differentiates between absences due to one’s own health and those due to another person’s health, enabling causal estimation of individual-level factors influencing absence decisions.

The analysis incorporates both mental and physical health measures, including diagnostic indicators and self-reported general well being, which are used as proxies for severity that may affect both diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals. Results reveal a consistent pattern: individuals experiencing high psychological distress but lacking …

Informal Caregivers Connecting On The Web: Content Analysis Of Posts On Discussion Forums, Michelle L. Foster, Chinenye Egwuonwu, Erin Vernon, Mohammad Alarifi, M. Courtney Hughes

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Background: About 53 million adults in the United States offer informal care to family and friends with disease or disability. Such care has an estimated economic value of US $600 million. Most informal caregivers are not paid nor trained in caregiving, with many experiencing higher-than-average levels of stress and depression and lower levels of physical health. Some informal caregivers participate in web-based forums related to their caregiving role.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how informal caregivers use easy-to-access caregiving web-based forums, including the types of information they share and seek from others. It also aimed to gain insights into …

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Racial Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women Of Color In New York City: Biological And Systemic Impacts, Kaylin Peña

Pitzer Senior Theses

Racial Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women of Color in New York City: Biological and Systemic Impacts

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore how racial health disparities, underrepresentation in gynecology, and socioeconomic barriers contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of color in New York City. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines resources from medical anthropology and human biology, this research will examine the biological implications of chronic stress, specifically HPA axis dysregulation, and its role in maternal health outcomes. With the idea of intersectionality, as conceptualized by Kimberlé Crenshaw, the study analyzes the various effects of systemic inequities and social …

Academic Proficiency In Ugandan Children With Sickle Cell Anemia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Robert Opoka, Shubaya Kasule Naggayi, Paul Bangirana, Simple Ouma, Betty Nyangoma, Annet Birabwa, Grace Nambatya, Maxencia Kabatabaazi, Ann Jacqueline Nakitende, Dennis Kalibbala

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Academic proficiency is crucial for advancing learning goals, school advancement, and future economic security. Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be at risk of disease-associated learning difficulties. Limited data exist on this topic among school-age children in the region. We aimed to assess academic proficiency in a sample of children with SCA in Uganda compared with unaffected controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda. Participants were school-going children with SCA, aged 6–12 years, attending Mulago Hospital SCA Clinic, and age-matched sibling controls without SCA. Academic proficiency was assessed by the Wide …

Association Between Lifetime Interpersonal Violence And Post– Covid-19 Condition Among Women In Kentucky, 2020-2022, Ayşe Güler, Heather M. Bush, Katie Schill, Nurlan Kussainov, Ann L. Coker

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of interpersonal violence. We investigated the association between lifetime interpersonal violence experience and risk of post–COVID-19 condition (the persistence of symptoms of COVID-19 and severity of health problems associated with COVID-19 that last a few weeks, months, or years) among women with lifetime interpersonal violence experience.   Methods: Women participants aged ≥18 years in Kentucky’s Wellness, Health & You—COVID-19 study completed online quantitative surveys about the impacts of the pandemic, developing COVID-19, and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition. We conducted cross-sectional analyses estimating rate ratios of developing COVID-19 and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition during the …

The Process And Significance Of Convening A Community Advisory Board With Individuals With Severe Mental Illness, Jacelyn Biondo, Nia Johnson

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Individuals with lived experience of being diagnosed with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders have deep and profound knowledge regarding the culture and needs of their community. Historically, these and other vulnerable populations have been excluded from care access, treatment insights, research development and participation, and often society in general. In this paper, we share our experience of convening a community advisory board with vulnerable populations and highlight the expertise these community members provide. We outline our processes of convening the community advisory board, engaging in collaborative meetings, revising the research protocol, and exploring future research needs. Using meeting …

The Role Of Music In Public Health, Joy Allen Phd, Mt-Bc

All MHI Citations

Music is emerging as a critical yet underutilized determinant of public health. Evidence demonstrates that music-based interventions reduce hospital stays, medication use, and staff burnout while improving patient outcomes, caregiver well-being, and population-level health indicators. Despite these proven benefits, the field remains fragmented and underfunded, limiting its capacity to scale. This paper reframes music as a pillar of public health and argues for systems-level investment in infrastructure, workforce development, and cross-sector innovation. Drawing on the work of the Berklee Music and Health Institute, we highlight how translational research, accessible evidence tools, and interdisciplinary training are advancing equity-driven, sustainable approaches to …

Readiness To The Privatization Of The Health System In Saudi Arabia: Translation And Factor Analysis Of Readiness To Organizational Change (Roc) Scale, Ahmed Ali Alasiri, Qi Zhang

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) began a major transformation as a part of version 2030 for its health system. These reform initiatives aim to privatize health services and improve efficiency. Despite this meaningful change, there is a knowledge gap in how healthcare providers prepare for or perceive this shift. Specifically, there has been a lack of validation of Arabic instruments that gauge the individual readiness to this change. This study bridges the gap by localizing and validating the Readiness to Organizational Change scale (ROC) to provide empirical evidence and to understand adaptability for the KSA context.

Method

The …

Exploring The Impact Of Pain Management Agreements On Physician-Patient Relationship: A Qualitative Analysis From The Patient’S Perspective In Opioid Analgesic Treatment, Shriya Doranala

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pain management agreements are increasingly used in the treatment of chronic pain with opioid analgesics. These agreements aim to reduce misuse of opioids by providing patients clear regulations and requirements to follow during treatment. This study seeks to assess the effect of pain management agreement for opioid treatment on the patient-physician relationship from the perspective of patients with a pain management agreement in the past two years. We recruited participants for the semi-structured interview through online media groups dedicated to patients with chronic pain that is treated with opioids. A cohort of eight individuals recruited from September 2023 to January …

Educating Nurses On Culturally Competent Intimate Partner Violence Care, Nicole Lee

Nursing | Senior Theses

Purpose

The purpose of this research proposal is to examine the impact of mandatory training for labor and delivery nurses on culturally sensitive care for pregnant women who have experienced intimate partner violence. It aims to address gaps in provider training by evaluating improvement in screening rates, enhanced confidence, and effective interventions.

Methods

This study will recruit nurses from different labor and delivery units from different hospitals. This study will use a pre-test and post-test design to assess the effectiveness of the training. The evaluation will measure the changes in knowledge, confidence, and screening practices before and after training.

Results …

Nursing Education On Sleep Health And Its Impact On Insulin Resistance In Adolescents, Salamasina Tufa

Nursing | Senior Theses

Modern-day adolescents are increasingly at risk for poor sleep quality due to rapid physical and physiological changes and stressors from technology and social media. Recent research suggests poor sleep affects endocrine function and contributes to insulin resistance (IR), a precursor to Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This proposed quasi-experimental study will examine if a nurse-led sleep education program can improve sleep quality and decrease the incidence of IR in adolescents with poor sleep. A total of 100 participants aged 12-18 across Berkley, California who score ≥ 5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will be randomly assigned to either …

Delayed And Misdiagnosed Endometriosis, Teresa Doyle

Nursing | Senior Theses

Aim: This research investigates whether targeted education can improve the early diagnosis of endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting around 10% of women of reproductive age. Unfortunately, endometriosis is often misdiagnosed, delaying treatment, prolonging discomfort, and lowering quality of life. Healthcare practitioners' knowledge gap is addressed by this study, which examines whether organized training promotes awareness and diagnostic accuracy. This research proposal evaluates an educational intervention developed to improve gynecological experts' knowledge and diagnostic skills. The main research issue is whether the intervention reduces misdiagnosis and improves patient outcomes. A quasi-experimental design will examine participants' knowledge and diagnosis accuracy before and …

Beyond Grit: Structural Determinants Of Resilience Among College Women With Children In The U.S., Juliana Kahrs

Dissertations of Practice

This critical quantitative analysis explores how social determinants of health, including basic needs security, caregiving and work responsibilities, healthcare access, discrimination experiences, and institutional support predict resilience among U.S. college women with dependents. Using data from the Spring 2021 ACHA-NCHA III survey (n = 4,417), this study integrated the Health Equity Framework with the Social Ecological Theory of Resilience to examine multilevel influences on resilience. Descriptive analyses highlighted disproportionate burdens among single, first-generation, and racially minoritized groups. Bivariate chi-square tests revealed significant associations between resilience and sense of belonging, basic needs security, employment, healthcare utilization, and self-assessed overall health. Multinomial …

Infant Health Equity In Oklahoma: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Personal, Organizational, Environmental, And Policy Factors Contributing To Black Infant Mortality, Ayesha M. Lampkins

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Black women experience higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, including infant mortality. There is a gap in the literature on multilevel strategies to achieve infant health equity and engage Black women. This study is unique in that no others have looked at the views of Oklahoma Black women to inform and address infant health equity strategies and utilize these views to provide context to existing infant mortality data. The study research questions are: 1) What views on infant health equity and infant mortality are held by Black women in Oklahoma? 2) What differences exist between Black and White mothers in …

Investigating The Extent To Which Diet-Induced Obesity Alters Gene Expression In Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells Following Influenza Immunization In Mice, Chaitanya Lahari Chowdary Pathipati

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Vaccines are a vital tool in preventing diseases, but their effectiveness varies depending on factors like diet and body weight. Obese individuals often experience reduced vaccine protection, as seen with influenza vaccines, where they have twice the risk of getting the flu compared to healthy-weight individuals after vaccination. This study aims to understand why obesity weakens vaccine effectiveness, focusing on the role of blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow, known as hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). These cells are crucial for producing immune cells that defend the body against infections. Previous research has shown that diet-induced obesity alters …

Laryngeal Hypersensitivity From The Perspective Of Pain Science: An Integrative Review Of Empirical Studies On Associated Factors And Processes, William Saint-Jules, Hugo Massé-Alarie, Nicole Y. K. Li-Jessen, Maude Desjardins

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

Objective

Laryngeal hypersensitivity (LHS) is a state of heightened sensorimotor response to stimuli in the upper airway. Although its clinical picture is becoming progressively clearer with recent research progress, specificities about its associated factors and processes remain to be clarified. The aim of this integrative review was to synthesize published empirical data from human studies on LHS, focusing on related factors and pathophysiology.

Study Design and Data Sources

Integrative review of the literature; Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science.

Methods

Keywords associated with the following three main concepts were used to query databases: (1) manifestations potentially associated with an irritable …

Investigating The Impact Of Phthalate Exposures From Personal Care Products On Uterine Fibroid Incidence And Prevalence In Us-Born Black Women, Ella Brissett

CMC Senior Theses

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors composed of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue that develop within or on the walls of the uterus. Despite being non-cancerous, they can severely affect quality of life by causing heavy bleeding, chronic pain, and reproductive complications. Fibroids are typically found in women of reproductive age, but they disproportionately affect Black women, who experience higher incidence and severity. The underlying causes of this disparity is poorly understood; however, an emerging body of research is highlighting the role of phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many personal care products, in exacerbating fibroid development. Through a critical analysis …