Digital Commons Network^™

Techno Loteria: Working With Senior Planet From Aarp, Darryl Greer

Staying Safe, Smart, and Well Online: Empowering Older Adults in the Digital Age

No abstract provided.

What Am I Actually Sharing? Everyday Data Decisions And How To Stay In Control, Yair Cabrera Menendez

Staying Safe, Smart, and Well Online: Empowering Older Adults in the Digital Age

No abstract provided.

Digital Challenges Experienced By Older Adults In Hidalgo County, Migdalia (Dee) Ochoa

Staying Safe, Smart, and Well Online: Empowering Older Adults in the Digital Age

No abstract provided.

Behind The Jersey: Exploring Athletic Identity And Depression In College Athletes, Matt A. Moore, Lana Loken, Anne Kelly, Mastano Nambiro Woleson Dzimbiri, Payton Bennett, Lawrence W. Judge

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

A significant increase in mental health concerns among college athletes has fueled interest in the impact of athletic identity on psychological outcomes. Research has produced mixed results regarding the association between athletic identity and mental health. This study sought to clarify this relationship and to improve our understanding of depression among NAIA college athletes, especially those who attach a great degree of importance and strength to the athlete’s role in relation to other activities. Voluntary college athletes aged 18-years-old or older and attending an NAIA member institution participated in the study (n = 361). They completed a web-based instrument that …

Relationships Between Resource Utilization And Relapse In Rural Areas, Shane Sneddon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, over 100,000 deaths were attributed to drug overdose in 2021. Relapse rates are higher in rural communities than in urban communities due to sociocultural barriers such as employment, limited entrainment activities, and peer pressure during social events. Previous research did not indicate whether the increase or decrease of Daily Living Assessment (DLA-20) scores have a correlation between community resource utilization and relapse. Using systems theory as the research lens, this study examined the correlation between use of community engagement resources and relapse as manifested by scores on the DLA-20. Data were collected from 100 individuals enrolled …

Under Pressure: Stories Out Of Youth Care, Elien Decock, Nele Cox

Journal of Social Care

In this practice‑oriented research we explore how storyweaving can counterbalance the increasingly negative public discourse surrounding youth care. While societal narratives often emphasise staff shortages, aggression, and systemic failure, youth care workers also describe moments of connection, growth, and meaning that rarely enter the dominant conversation. Through nine storyweaving workshops with 79 youth care workers, six duo‑interviews across roles and organisations, and ongoing reflection with a professional steering group, three central themes emerged: the importance of connection and recognition, the shrinking “space in between” where genuine relational work can occur, and the need to focus on process rather than results. …

Practices And Ethics In The Act Of Transmission In Social Work In A Disrupted Environment, Ana-Luana Deram, Ségolène Payan

Journal of Social Care

At the dawn of the 21st century, we are witnessing demographic, sociological, professional and institutional changes that accompany educational policies and transformations in social work training, giving rise to paradoxical demands sometimes being placed on educators. Like a beacon, adherence to an ethic of consideration in transmission through teaching, sharing and comprehension, nourish the reflection associated with the support of today's social work students.

En ce début de XXIème siècle nous sommes témoins des changements démographiques, sociologiques, professionnels et institutionnels qui accompagnent les politiques éducatives et les mutations de la formation en travail social, à l’origine des injonctions paradoxales parfois …

Cv: John Halloran, John Halloran

Social Work Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Opportunities, Challenges, And Conspicuous Absences: An Integrative Review Of The Social Work Literature On Artificial Intelligence, Michael J. Massey, Ian G. Williams, Grace C. Polistina, Eathan A. Breaux

Publications and Research

INTRODUCTION: Social work discourse regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in practice, research, and education has proliferated over the last 5 years, reflecting both excitement over its potential and ambivalence about its ethical challenges. However, the extent to which social work is fully engaging with the structure of AI and its enormous impacts on the environment, labour, and distribution of power remains unclear.

METHODS: An integrative review of social work literature from 2020–2024 was conducted to address two research questions: 1) What is the nature of the social work discourse related to AI? 2) To what extent is the discourse …

Public Perception Of Risk In Missing Persons Investigations, Harry Lockett, Stefana Juncu

International Journal of Missing Persons

The current study investigated public perceptions of risk in missing person cases. A total of 271 participants were sequentially presented with five fictional vignettes describing missing individuals. Each case included a baseline description of the disappearance being "out of character" and four of these cases were paired with an additional risk factor: substance abuse, depression, dementia, or repeat missing status. The gender of the missing person was also manipulated between participants. Participants rated each case using both the standard categorical scale (Low/Medium/High) and an Extended Scale ranging from 1 to 7 and were also invited to respond to exploratory items …

‘‘If It Bleeds, Does It Lead?’: Lived Experiences Of Media Engagement For Families Of Missing Persons., Sarah Wayland Professor, Loren O'Keeffe, Syadani Riyad Fatema, Amy-Louise Byrne Dr, Elizabeth Paton

International Journal of Missing Persons

The media plays an important role in a missing persons case. Media is a powerful tool in raising public awareness and support, traversing police investigation, family liaison, and the business of media. This article reports on a focus group of seven people with a long-term missing family member, and two focus group facilitators, one of whom was also the family member of a missing person (n=9). The aim of the study was to better understand how people, who have lived experience of a family member missing, participate in media opportunities, to understand impact. Thematic analysis generated five major themes 1) …

Navigating Homelessness And Housing Accessibility: An Ethnography Of Guests At Operation Nightwatch, Chase Kawika Patton

Dissertations and Theses

In 2025, over 7,000 individuals in Portland, Oregon experiencing unsheltered homelessness are without access to shelter or transitional housing. In this resource gap Operation Nightwatch (ON) provides material support for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in the University District neighborhood of downtown Portland. This study focused on the experiences of chronically homeless guests of Nightwatch as they navigated homelessness and housing access. The study relied on semi-structured interviews with staff and guests and on-site participant observation to determine the availability of support to access housing in a system governed by Coordinated Access and the Housing First model. Primary research took place …

Language Analysis Of "Gaslight" And "Narcissist" As Seen On Tiktok, Aaren Fernandez

Journal of Research Initiatives

TikTok is a popular social media platform from which users frequently obtain information. Specifically, psychological concepts such as anxiety, depression, and related conditions are becoming popular vernacular on TikTok through trends such as "story times." However, the accuracy of these terms' usage requires examination. In this qualitative analysis of TikTok posts and comments under the hashtags #gaslight and #narcissist, it was found that videos under these hashtags often originated from users attempting to warn viewers about psychological traits that align with common diagnostic language. However, comments under these videos tended to use these terms in a more casual sense than …

Parents’ Lived Experiences With Competitive Integrated Employment For Children With Intellectual And Developmental Disability, Dr. Aisha J. Omar

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the lived experiences of Kentucky parents seeking Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Guided by the research questions—How do parents experience this process, and what barriers or supports do they encounter?—the study highlights systemic challenges despite legislative efforts such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. In-depth interviews with five parents revealed three themes: (a) parental transformation and the pursuit of meaningful work, (b) systemic challenges in accessing CIE, and (c) overcoming protective instincts: navigating fear, independence, and self-advocacy. Findings suggest a …

“Sometimes You Need A Middleman”: Negotiating Family Engagement For Foster And Kinship Caregivers Involved With Child Welfare, Anna Wasim, Catherine A. Labrenz, Nelkasia Graves, Samantha Zuniga Thompson, Monica Faulkner

Graduate School of Social Work: Student Scholarship

Family engagement is increasingly prioritized in child welfare policy and practice, yet limited research has explored how foster and kinship caregivers perceive and navigate this process. Understanding caregivers’ experiences is critical to advancing relational permanency and improving outcomes for children in foster care. Using an adapted grounded theory design, this qualitative study examined the experiences of 24 foster and kinship caregivers from two agencies participating in a family engagement practice model in one state. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, and were analyzed thematically. All participants provided informed consent, data were de-identified, and pseudonyms were assigned to …

Secondary Students’ Mental Health And Absenteeism Post-Covid-19: School Social Workers’ Perspectives, Tiffany Hines Sutton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School social workers practice in a post-COVID-19 educational context where anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation are closely associated with chronic absenteeism among middle school students. This practice problem is central to clinical social work because distress-based avoidance is often misinterpreted as defiance, resulting in punitive responses that intensify disengagement. The purpose of this doctoral project was to explore how school social workers perceive and respond to the interconnected dynamics of student mental health and chronic absenteeism following COVID-19. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory guided the inquiry. A qualitative descriptive design was employed using semi-structured interviews with 10 middle school social workers …

Left Behind In Lockdown: A Scoping Review Of Covid-19’S Impact On The Lives Of Transition-Age Foster Youth, Johanna K P Greeson, Sarah Wasch, John Gyourko, Antonio R. Garcia, Hannah Bennett, Kate Greco, Liya Cha

Faculty Scholarship

This scoping review asked: What is known about the scope and nature of research on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on older youth with foster care experience in the United States, including the types of studies, samples and outcomes examined? Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and PRISMA-ScR, we searched 11 databases and grey literature sources (October2024 to January 2025). Eligible studies were United States based, published from 2020 onward and included primary data on foster youth or relevant professionals. Thirty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies were descriptive or cross-sectional, reflecting early phases of the pandemic. Mapping …

Under The Guardianship: Experiences Of Mothers In Egypt’S El Nayaba El Hesbaya, Hana Khayry

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersectional lived experience of El Nayaba El Hesbaya in Egypt. El Nayaba El Hesbaya, operating under Law 119/1952, is the administrative and judicial body responsible for overseeing the financial and legal affairs of minors whose father or mother had passed. Hundreds of thousands of mothers in Egypt have (had) children under the guardianship of El Nayaba El Hesbaya. This research delves into the experience of mothers whose children are or were under the guardianship of El Nayaba El Hesbaya, examining how it shape(s/d) their everyday life as women, mothers, widows or ex-wives, citizens, and legal subjects. …

School Social Workers In Practice: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On Understanding Role Navigation And Providing Mental Health Support In Educational Settings, Jennifer J. Bowers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of school social workers as they navigated their professional roles in supporting student mental health within educational settings. Grounded in Organizational Role Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, the study explored the meanings participants assigned to their roles, the challenges they encountered, and factors that supported or hindered their work. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 11 licensed and unlicensed school social workers employed in the South Florida Tri-County area. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using epoché, horizontalization, and thematic clustering. Findings revealed four interrelated themes: navigating roles and …

Platforms For The Development And Sustainability Of Practice Research In Social Work: An International Cross-Case Analysis, Bowen Mcbeath, Michael J. Austin, Ilse Julkunen, Maija Jappinen, Lynette Joubert, Ralph Hampson, Rosaleen Ow, Lars Uggerhoj

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose:

This paper presents an institutional and organizational comparative case analysis of practice research platforms in social work, which are institutionally embedded partnerships of university-based research centers, organizations delivering social services and healthcare, and other knowledge intermediaries that connect social work practice and research.

Methods:

An institutional and organizational comparative case analysis is presented concerning four practice research platforms from the USA, Finland, Australia, and Singapore.

Results:

We identify similarities and differences in the platforms’ purpose and basic goals, administration and financing, and substantive and methodological foci in the development of social work practice research studies.

Discussion:

We conclude by …

How Disaster Risk Shapes Voter Turnout, Laura Brugger, Pedro Spindler-Ruiz, J.S. Onesimo Sandoval

Center for Social Development Research

Climate disasters are intensifying. With the intensification comes a growing threat to democracy in the United States and to the communities that depend on fair representation. When disaster strikes, barriers arise that can silence voters, especially in communities already facing systemic inequality. This brief presents findings from an analysis of precinct-level turnout in the 2020 U.S. presidential election across over 2,000 precincts in the three cities. The cities were chosen for their size, diversity, and exposure to climate threats: hurricanes in Miami, Florida, wildfires in Los Angeles, California, and flooding in San Antonio, Texas. The findings underscore the need to …

How Do Social Isolation And Loneliness Vary By Age?, Jihye Baek, Cal J. Halvorsen

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Social isolation and loneliness, which are experienced by many older adults, can negatively impact health and well-being. Although often used interchangeably, social isolation is defined as an objective lack of social ties (e.g., number of close family members or friends) and loneliness as an internal sense of disconnection (e.g., feeling alone even when surrounded by others). Because social relationships, health, and life circumstances change as we age, patterns of social isolation and loneliness may differ by age group. Therefore, this research brief asks, How do patterns of social isolation and loneliness differ across age groups among community-dwelling older adults? 

Corrigendum To “Decolonizing Knowledge As Epistemic Justice: Key Conceptual Tendencies From The Global South” [Tanzania Journal Of Sociology, Vol. 11, Issue No.2, December 2025: 113 - 128], Richard Sambaiga

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This article registers corrections done to a reference section of "Decolonizing Knowledge as Epistemic Justice: Key Conceptual Tendencies from the Global South” [Tanzania Journal of Sociology, Vol. 11, Issue No.2, December 2025: 113 - 128]

Employment Circumstances And Use Of Financial Services Among Low-Wage Workers, Anthony Nixon Jr., Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

Work arrangements have become increasingly varied in recent years, with much labor-market participation happening outside of traditional full-time roles. As gig work and other forms of self-employment,  contract labor, and part-time positions grow, and work arrangements diversify, employment instability is a growing concern,  especially for low-wage workers. This brief presents original evidence on the use of financial services among low-wage workers in the United States. Data come from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey administered to a nationally representative sample of 2,511 U.S. workers earning less than 250% of the federal poverty line.

Examining Patterns In Childcare Utilization For Low-Wage Workers And Their Access To Government And Employer-Based Childcare Supports, Amrita Kulkarni, Laura Brugger, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

For parents in the United States, childcare costs are one of the largest expenses in the budget. This brief examines the childcare arrangements low-wage workers adopt, their difficulties in accessing and affording childcare, and the extent to which they utilize childcare benefits offered by their employers or the government. To do so, we use on data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. For these analyses, the sample includes only workers with children under the age of 6.

A Qualitative Examination Of The Motivations For Homeschooling Among Black Americans, Portia J. Witt

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the motivations and lived experiences of African American homeschooling families. Twelve Black parents from multiple states participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’ (1994) Modified Stevick–Colaizzi–Keen method and coded thematically using NVivo. Nine themes emerged: autonomy, holistic education, community belonging, online networks, public resources, curriculum gaps, personal values, effective learning, and legacy of harm. While racialization in schools—including tracking, microaggressions, and misidentification—contributed to participants’ decisions, motivations also reflected intersectional factors such as faith, disability, mental health needs, giftedness, and a desire for cultural protection and flexible learning. Findings suggest homeschooling serves as a …

The Impact Of Digital Reverse Mentoring On Older Adults' Digital Literacy: Mediating Roles Of Self-Perceptions Of Aging And Self-Efficacy, Jierong Hu, Minzhi Ye, Haotian Wan, Wengian Leong

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Digital literacy is critical for older adults to maintain social connections, access information, and support overall mental well-being. However, many older adults struggle with using digital devices. Guided by the self-fulfilling prophecy theory, this study investigates how digital reverse mentoring (DRM), referring to younger individuals assisting older adults in learning and using digital technology, is associated with digital literacy, with self-perceptions of aging and self-efficacy as mediators.

Research Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 402 community-dwelling older adults aged 60+ in Macao, China. Control variables include gender, age, education, income, self-rated health, and home …

Employment Stability And Security Of Low-Wage Workers In The United States, Mathieu Despard, Guangli Zhang, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

One quarter of workers in the United States make $35,000 or less, and nearly half of these are between 35 and 64 years old. Forty percent are caring for children in the home. As temporary and gig working arrangements become increasingly common, this brief explores the stability of work and income for low-wage workers. The analyses draw upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility survey administered to a nationally representative sample of U.S. workers earning less than 250% of the federal poverty line. The findings from this work have direct implications for employment practices and labor policies.

Navigating Academic Accommodations For Students With Chronic Illnesses In Higher Education: A Scoping Review, Lauren M. Sutton

Social Work Theses

College is a very important and exciting chapter in students’ lives, one that will prepare them for a career and the rest of their lives. For one student population though, this also comes with additional unknowns, obstacles, and institutional barriers. This student population is students with disabilities. For a student with a disability pursuing a degree in higher education, there are institutional barriers that can be addressed by receiving academic accommodations, reducing or removing institutional barriers that disproportionately affect these students. The barriers faced by a student with a disability vary greatly by student, their disability, their major or program, …

Psychosocial Strengths Associated With Higher Functioning After Interpersonal Adversity In The United Kingdom And Ireland, Matthew Brooks, Victoria Banyard, Xiafei Wang, Sherry Hamby

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objective: Over the past two decades, positive psychology research has identified correlates of resilience. Although a range of strengths have been explored, there is a need to identify specific strengths that best support individuals to thrive after interpersonal trauma and adversity. This study assessed the contribution of 24 strengths from the Values in Action (VIA) positive psychology survey, alongside five other measures of strengths identified from resilience research, to identify those that show most promise.

Method: In total, 1,440 adults from the United Kingdom and Ireland completed the online VIA survey, and questions on five psychosocial strengths (ecoconnections, …