Digital Commons Network^™

Our Stories: Black Parents’ Experiences At K-12 Predominantly White Institutions, Jason Thompson

Dissertations

Black parents of Black children attending K–12 predominantly White institutions (PWIs) often experience stress as they navigate school environments where they may be perceived as uninterested, combative, or “token” members of the school community. These deficit-based perceptions can cause Black parents to limit school interactions, question whether their perspectives will be valued, and develop distrust toward school personnel. Although research has examined Black students’ experiences in PWIs, fewer qualitative studies have centered on Black parents’ stories. Capturing these experiences in parents’ own words helps challenge harmful stereotypes and offers schools, especially school counselors, deeper insight into strengthening relationships with Black …

Poor Peer Relations During Early Adolescence Amplify Bidirectional Pathways Between Body Dissatisfaction And Alcohol Misuse, Molly Selover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The current study focuses on the growth of body dissatisfaction and alcohol misuse, and factors that amplify their interplay. Participants were 221 sixth- and seventh-grade students (118 girls, 103 boys; ages 10–13) attending a public school in Florida. Self-reports and peer nominations were collected at three time points across the course of a school year. Results from parallel process growth models indicated that higher self-reported body dissatisfaction at the beginning of the school year predicted increases in self-reported alcohol misuse across the academic year. Conversely, higher initial alcohol misuse predicted increases in body dissatisfaction. Follow-up analyses revealed that loneliness, low …

Enhancing The Well-Being Of Refugees With Disabilities Through Equitable Access To Essential Services: A Participatory Qualitative Study In The United States, Mustafa Rfat

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Access to services for refugees with disabilities (RwDs) is critically important for improving their well-being and enhancing their integration. This population often faces prolonged exclusion that begins in their country of origin and often continues to worsen during displacement, leading to accumulated disparities. Because the United States (U.S.) refugee program is structured around rapid employment, refugees who do not fit the fast-track employment criteria are often left behind. RwDs are often considered unemployable, which automatically shifts resources and services away from them. Abandoning RwDs during the critical period of resettlement puts them at heightened risk of increased and long-term exclusion. …

Comments On Proposed Regulations Reg-117270-25: Trump Accounts Under Section 530a, Jin Huang, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

In December 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department published a notice of intent to issue regulations concerning Trump Accounts (also known as 530A accounts), requesting public comments on proposed regulations for the Trump Accounts Contribution Pilot Program. This testimony presents comments submitted n response. Drawing on decades of Child Development Account research, including insights from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment (SEED OK), the authors urge Treasury to adopt automatic enrollment to ensure that all eligible children— not only those whose families actively enroll them—receive the $1,000 pilot-program contribution. They outline federal–state implementation pathways using Social Security number data, recommend layered …

Records Management Systems Employed By Registries In Zambia: A Case Study Of Selected Departments In Health And Education In Livingstone., Sututu Imasiku

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the records management systems employed in the education and health sectors in Zambia, with a focus on their role in improving service. Using a mixed-methods triangulation design, data was collected through surveys, interviews, observations from registry users and key informants with a sample size of 150. 100 teachers where purposively sampled from the Education department specifically at the District Education Secretary registry with 5 key informants and 40 from the Livingstone Teaching Hospital registry with 5 key informants. Chi-square t-test and descriptive analysis was used in quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The …

Teaching Under Pressure: A Study Of Factors Influencing Stress Among Educators, Daniel K. Ashlock, Shaun D. Bell, Victoria K. Hutcherson

Ex Sapientia Loqui

There were three purposes of this non-experimental study. The first purpose was to determine whether there was a difference in stress levels between teachers of different grade levels. The second purpose was to determine whether there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of the educational setting (either public or private school). The third purpose was to determine if there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of class size. The participants (n=81) included a convenience sample of PreK through twelfth-grade teachers in or around Searcy, Arkansas. Their …

Health And Motivation, Lydia E. Erickson, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Mental and physical health are two fundamental components in a person's life that directly affect well-being. Across continents, cultures, and all human backgrounds, mind and body are something every individual has in common. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mental and physical activity when accounting for motivation.

Understanding this relationship is critical for developing more effective health interventions and motivational strategies, especially among adolescent and young adult populations. The researchers hypothesized that intrinsic motivation and physical activity would positively predict well-being.

Participants in this study were students attending Northwestern College. Participants included both male and …

The Effect Of Sports On Personality: An Examination Of Athletes Vs. Non-Athletes, Noah C. Parmelee, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study aims to further investigate these relationships by comparing personality traits between athletes and non-athletes, as well as differences between participants in team and individual sports. It is hypothesized that athletes will score higher in conscientiousness, extraversion, and emotional stability, while showing no significant differences in agreeableness or openness. Additionally, individuals in individual sports are expected to exhibit higher levels of neuroticism than those in team sports. By clarifying how sports participation relates to personality development, this research contributes to a better understanding of how athletic experiences shape psychological outcomes and can inform coaching, education, and athlete support strategies.

Effects Of Social Media Comparisons On State Self-Esteem, Fomo, And Depression In Young Adult Women, Amanda J. Trapp

Student Scholar Showcase

Social media has quickly become a main source of entertainment that may have more damaging effects than one may expect. For specifically women, it is important to understand how the use and comparison of exposing oneself to the life of other influencers, family members, and friends affect self-esteem, depression, and FOMO. Previous research has shown the damaging effects of other social media sites such as Facebook, and the way comparing oneself to others has an impact on these variables. It is important to focus on women in this topic as they are more susceptible to damaging effects through comparison. Along …

Teaching With S2scc-Ai: A Practical Framework For Sport Management Classrooms, Kimberly D. Bynum, Wendy T. Gillis

The COSMA Journal

ABSTRACT

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, are radically changing how higher ed students approach their college learning experience. These shifts are especially impactful in undergraduate sport management programs, where employers expect graduates to demonstrate teamwork, critical thinking and digital literacy skills. As AI becomes embedded across sport industry functions such as event operations, marketing, analytics, and fan engagement, higher ed pedagogy must evolve to reflect the professional contexts students are preparing to enter. In this paper, Student-to-Student Co-Creation enhanced by AI (S2SCC-AI) is advanced as a practical, COSMA-aligned pedagogical framework for leveraging …

"A Pre-Eminently Christian Life": The Seventh Earl Of Shaftesbury As A Guide For Modern Political Engagement, Clara Kernodle

Harding Undergraduate Research Conference

Society has suffered in the absence of Christian courage. Today, an antagonistic culture is feeding an increasingly antagonistic government. Christians do not know how to “win” – we do not even know how to engage. Rod Dreher's "The Benedict Option" encourages us to give up and retreat. Andrew Isker's "The Boniface Option" encourages warfare-style aggression. But Dreher’s and Isker’s approaches each take an aspect of the solution and expand it out of proportion. The proper solution is found in the historic Christian tradition. The Church has always understood her role within culture as one not of fear and loathing, but …

Utilizing Dungeons And Dragons With Expressive Arts Therapy To Analyze Sense Of Connection Socially And To The Self: A Literature Review And Autoethnography, Neve N. Johnson

Expressive Therapies Theses

This expressive arts-based autoethnography explores the use of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) as a tool in expressive arts therapy to foster self-expression and connection to oneself and others. Research on the use of TTRPGs as a viable therapeutic medium is in its early stages, particularly for the widely-renowned fantasy TTRPG Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Geek Therapy, a therapy surrounding “geek culture” and affinities, emerged in 2011 and began research questioning if such affinities as costume play, anime, video games, or TTRPGs could be tools for self-expression in therapy. This has led to a range of current literature on the therapeutic …

Setbacks And Stigmas: The Career Consequences Of Mental Health Treatment For Soldiers In Combat Roles, Micah Mark Marchand

LSU Master's Theses

This study examines how potential career consequences, perceived stigma, and confidentiality concerns influence mental health help-seeking among United States Army Soldiers, with particular attention to differences across Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) categories. Despite the availability of behavioral health services, many service members delay or avoid treatment due to fears that seeking care may negatively impact their careers, including risks to promotion, deployment eligibility, and retention. Guided by Systems Theory, this research explores how interconnected military structures, policies, and cultural norms shape these perceptions and behaviors.

Using a confidential survey design, data were collected from current service members and recently separated …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 9, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Toward A Local Governance Model For Green Building Regulation: Lessons From A Philippine City, Mikaela Amihan S. Arrosa, Aileen V. Lapitan

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The study analyzed local governance in implementing green building regulations in a city in Metro Manila, Philippines, through a case study. Compliance rates were calculated by comparing projects with Green Building Compliance Certification to those with Green Building Pre-Compliance Certification issued by the city. The Delphi method explored environmental sustainability implications of compliance, while key informant interviews and policy landscape analysis identified the factors affecting Green Building Code management. Fewer than half of the pre-compliance and construction permit holders also received occupancy certificates. Three rounds of the Delphi method were conducted, resulting in consensus on recommendations to enhance governance mechanisms …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 18 - April 16, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 18 - April 16, 2026. 20 pages.

“An App That Truly Works For Us”: Co-Designing A Mobile Health Intervention To Support The Transition To Adulthood For The Latino Autism Community, Antonio F. Pagán, Miriam Ortiz, Breana Mccormack-Sadler, Ana Esparza, Grace Gogola, Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Katherine A. Loveland

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Background: Autistic Latino young adults face significant disparities and a service cliff during their transition to adulthood. While mobile health (mHealth) applications offer a scalable solution, few evidence-based, culturally adapted programs have been successfully transitioned to mHealth platforms for this population. This study aimed to conduct a multi-stakeholder needs assessment to guide the development of a culturally adapted mHealth app designed to accompany the ¡Iniciando!/Launching! treatment program to support young adults transitioning to adulthood. Methods: This study used a multi-phase, mixed-methods design. An initial needs assessment survey was administered to three key stakeholder groups: autistic young adults ( …

Book Review: Abortion Pills: Us History And Politics, Sydney Elaine Brammer

Feminist Pedagogy

N/A

Benefits And Barriers: Csd Faculty Attitudes Toward Student Accommodations, Erika Squires, Lori A. Pakulski, Celeste Domsch

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Purpose: Academic accommodations in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) have been explored via university websites and surveys of clinical educators, but little is known about CSD faculty attitudes toward accommodations in higher education. This study explored the types of accommodations faculty report and the benefits and barriers they encounter in doing so.

Method: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study design was used to survey CSD faculty and instructors about the types of accommodations used by CSD students and the benefits and barriers associated with accommodations. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants’ responses. Qualitative analyses were used to identify themes on benefits …

A Mild Case Of Pseudoachondroplasia In A Child: Lessons For Long-Term Primary Care, Alec J. Pupo D.O., Connor J. Stinson D.O., Autumn Dye D.O.

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Background: Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) is a rare autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia caused by pathogenic variants in the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) gene. It is classically characterized by early-onset growth failure, disproportionate short stature, progressive epiphyseal dysplasia, and premature degenerative joint disease. Although phenotypic variability has been reported, PSACH is often regarded as a uniformly severe condition with predictable orthopedic morbidity.

Case Presentation: We report an eleven-year-old female with genetically confirmed PSACH who demonstrates an unexpectedly mild clinical phenotype, despite a maternal history of severe disease requiring bilateral total hip replacement during adolescence. The patient exhibited mild hip dysplasia, evolving genu …

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy And Career Duration In Former Professional American Football Players: A Literature Review, Malik I. Watson, Chase Forbes, Bhavik Singh, Etop Udoh, Kévin Borgella, Jonathan Mosley, Erik Zarandy

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Background:

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head trauma and has been increasingly identified in former contact sport athletes, particularly American football players. Although the relationship between repetitive head impacts and CTE has been well documented, the role of career duration as a measurable exposure variable remains an important area of investigation. Understanding this relationship may provide clinically useful insight for primary care physicians responsible for longitudinal monitoring of individuals with extensive athletic exposure.

Methods:

This literature review examined published studies evaluating the relationship between football career duration, cumulative head impact exposure, and neuropathologic …

Integrating Oral Thc:Cbd Into Chronic Neuropathic Pain Management In Primary Care: A Two-Patient Observational Case Series, Camryn Butera, Tytianna Robinson, Samantha Temucin, Jade Mcnulty, Ryan Pinto, Maya Rakoczy, Jessica Peskin, Frederick J. Goldstein, Micky Bacchus, Sarah Kizun, Alivia Kurelowech, Alexandra Loverdi, Kruti Patel, Neha Bhardwaj, Tyler Kung, Hiren Walia, Rebecca Han, Alexa Romanella, Christie Okoye

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Introduction: Cannabis use among U.S. adults has increased substantially in recent years, and primary care physicians increasingly encounter patients using cannabis for chronic pain management. This case series describes two patients with chronic neuropathic pain participating in an observational study evaluating a dose-controlled oral tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): cannabidiol (CBD) formulation. Methods: Two participants completed a four-week program involving incremental oral administration of a 1:1 THC:CBD formulation. Pain intensity scores, medication use, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Both participants reported reductions in pain intensity and decreased reliance on pre-study analgesic …

Targeting Oxidative Stress In Cadasil: Case Insights And Therapeutic Approaches, Maria Meshreky, Richard Weinberger, Giana Johnson, Andrew Abraham, Jacob Rosendale

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a rare hereditary small-vessel disease caused by NOTCH3 mutations, leading to recurrent ischemic strokes, cognitive decline, and early-onset dementia. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of small-vessel cerebrovascular disease, but therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative injury remain limited. We present a 40-year-old female with recurrent ischemic strokes involving the right and left middle cerebral arteries, persistent hypercoagulability of unknown etiology, and no identifiable inherited or acquired thrombophilia. Despite well-controlled blood pressure and standard medical management, the patient remains at high risk for cerebrovascular injury. An extensive review of …

Implementing An Integrated Primary Care Model In Outpatient Specialty Medicine: Lessons Learned And Future Directions, Kristen Perry, Rachel Allen, Katherine Dollar, Christina B. Shook, Alexandra Alvarez, April Eaker, Molly Goodrich, Jennifer Patterson

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has a successful history of integrating behavioral health into primary care through its Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program, utilizing the Colocated Collaborative Care (CCC) model to improve access, early intervention, and team-based care. Recognizing this model’s utility, coupled with the high prevalence of psychological concerns among patients with chronic medical conditions—such as cancer and pain—and their associated elevated suicide risk, VHA launched the Mental and Behavioral Health Integration (MBHI) into Specialty Medicine Demonstration Projects in 2022. These projects expand CCC services into outpatient Oncology and Pain Management clinics, supported by implementation facilitation strategies …

Innovations In Developing Behavioral Health Care Managers Within Collaborative Care Programs, Jesse K. Allen-Dicker, Virginia Kelly Arlt Mutch, Derek M. Tate

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

The collaborative care model is an effective method to treat adults with depression and other psychiatric symptom presentations within primary care settings. Research suggests that patients treated by more experienced behavioral health care managers receiving consistent supervision experience greater symptom relief. Supervision is an essential and widely accepted component of the collaborative care model, though minimal guidance has been offered on how to best implement supervision and foster behavioral health care manager development within these programs. The present paper highlights the approach developed by a collaborative care program with an emphasis placed on consistent and frequent consultation and supervision and …

Black Women Library Leaders: Challenges And Considerations For Inclusive Advocacy, Aisha Johnson, Shaundra Walker, Tamika Barnes, Tina D. Rollins

Library Faculty Scholarship

Black women leaders face unlimited challenges navigating the complex landscape of leadership, balancing race and gender dynamics that often intersect to create unique obstacles. The intersectionality of our identities compounds the hurdles we encounter, making our leadership journey particularly challenging. Research indicates that Black women leaders frequently grapple with systemic racism and gender bias in both professional and societal spheres.1 Additionally, we encounter stereotypes and preconceived notions that affect perceptions of our competence and authority.2 We strive to break through the glass ceiling while confronting structural barriers and limited representation at executive levels, exacerbating an uphill climb.3 The impact of …

A Proposal To Examine Naturally Occurring Mindfulness And Correctional Officer Stress And Burnout, Anthony M. Nasrallah

Undergraduate Theses

Correctional officers (COs) work in institutions characterized by high interpersonal demand, safety risk, and organizational complexity; as a result, they experience elevated rates of occupational stress, burnout, and mental-health disorders relative to the general workforce. At the same time, research in allied helping professions demonstrates that mindfulness and related contemplative practices can reduce stress and improve emotion regulation and well-being. However, little is known about whether COs’ own, pre-existing informal mindfulness practices are associated with lower on-the-job stress or burnout rather than formal training courses. This review integrates findings from qualitative studies, quantitative analyses, and systematic reviews to show what …

Nature Nearby: Use Of Green Spaces Mediating The Relationship Between Access To Green Spaces And Health, Sydney P. Goodson

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Access to green spaces has been consistently linked to improved physical and mental health, yet the mechanisms driving this relationship remain underexplored, particularly in the United States. Using data from the 2018 General Social Survey (N = 1,045), this study examines whether time spent in natural environments mediates the relationship between access to green spaces and self‑rated physical and mental health. Linear regression models with robust standard errors reveal that time spent in natural environments mediates the relationship between access to green spaces and both health outcomes. These findings suggest that proximity to green spaces alone is insufficient to produce …

Family Processes As A Protective Factor Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Adolescent Delinquency, Tessa Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores whether family processes (i.e., parental attachment and parental discipline/monitoring) serve as protective factors between the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adolescent delinquency. Prior research has established an association between ACEs and many negative life outcomes, including delinquent behavior, while strong parental attachment and parental discipline/monitoring are linked to lower rates of delinquency. However, the interplay of these three factors has been understudied. Drawing on data from the 2024 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) (N=22,016), this study examines the relationship between ACEs, family processes, and delinquency using negative binomial regression models. Results indicate that parental …

The Role Of Avoidance In The Relationship Between The Impact Of Childhood Trauma And Physiological Responsivity To Fear And Reward In Adulthood, Tristan Alana Benjamin

Dissertations (1934 -)

Childhood trauma is prevalent and has been associated with deleterious physical and psychological outcomes that persist into adulthood. Extensive research on the neurobiological consequences of experiencing trauma has demonstrated an association between experiencing a traumatic event and elevated physiological arousal in response to fearful stimuli compared to healthy controls. By contrast, emerging research has found that adults who experienced a traumatic event during childhood demonstrate blunted physiological arousal responses. The physiological profile associated with childhood trauma may be related to coping strategies utilized; notably, children may be more likely to engage in avoidance to cope with the impact of trauma …