Digital Commons Network^™

Aiding Foster Youth Toward High School Graduation, Desiree A. Amaya

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research has displayed the differences between the number of students who are non-foster youth graduating high schools and the number of students who are foster youth graduating high schools. The foster youths’ numbers are low in comparison to those who are non-foster youth. Why? The research paper has gathered articles and references to determine common factors that prevent these students from graduating with their classmates and from being successful for the outside world. Through this research, it will go over the common factors that can impact a youth’s life, the supports that can aid towards the youths’ struggles, the sources …

The Effects Of Income On Infant Health: Evidence From The Coal Boom And Bust, Chu Gek Chew

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

An individual’s health at birth is an important component in human capital accumulation, posing significant implications both in the short- and long-run. I investigate how infant health outcomes were impacted during a period of successive positive and negative economic shocks led by the coal industry between the 1970s to 1990s. Using exogenous variation within counties’ pre-existing coal reserves, I instrument for the changes in economic opportunities during the coal boom and bust. I find some limited evidence that an increase in income improves infant health outcomes. The incidence of low birthweight is decreasing in earnings growth, and effects are stronger …

The Role Of Self Esteem Upon The Recovery Of Eating Disordered Patients, Samanta Flores Velazquez

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Eating disorders such as anorexia-nervosa, bulimia-nervosa, and binge-eating disorders are detrimental to overall health and well-being. The demands of beauty ideals and attitudes impact young adults negatively as they attempt to meet societal beauty standards. The need for approval, fitting in with the community, and confidence drive the behaviors of people in negative ways. In recent years, the modernization of social media has contributed to dieting cultures, the thin ideal, harmful weight-loss practices, and the cycle to use the body as a means to control or repent. External factors affect the risk of eating disorders which contribute to the challenge …

Interventions Of Eating Habits And Healthy Behaviors, Diego Armando Mazariegos Espinosa

Undergraduate Honors Theses

About thirty to fifty percent of college students report having negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, hopelessness, shame, fear, and more. And over seventy percent feel exhausted or overwhelmed by schoolwork. According to scholarly research, these emotions pose obstacles during college life impacting the eating habits and healthy behaviors of college students. These habits can have a possibility of bringing lifelong issues in social, educational, and self-esteem aspects. Technology has revolutionized the world in a spectacular way in a short period of time. As students today have access to all sorts of technology like phones and computers, the …

Leveraging Data Analytics For Enchanced Economics Prediction: A Study Of Predictive Models And Economics Indicators, Janelle Rueda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is intended to investigate the lack of use of data analytics in predicting and managing the impacts of economic crises. This project investigates what economic key factors can be used to create a framework model and evaluate the effectiveness of the key economic indicator being tested as early warning signs. The project uses programs such as Excel, RStudio, and Tableau for the collection of historical data, and regression analysis to determine if certain economic indicators have a statistically significant correlation with GDP, that may help enforce systems in place to help us mitigate economic crises …

Exploring Factors That Contribute To Poverty Among Singleparent Households Headed By Latinas: A Qualitative Study, Jeffrey M. Balencia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Despite the new strategies and programs being developed and implemented, poverty still finds itself at a continuous increase yearly (Banovcinova et al., 2014). Families have been found to be the most susceptible group compared to everyone else due to the many factors they face that can affect them. By using the information provided by other articles, gaps identified is there are lack of studies on the factors that contribute to poverty among singleparent households headed by Latinas. Objective: This exploratory study aims to identify contributing factors to poverty among single-parent households headed by Latinas. Method: Qualitative data will be …

Impact Of Crime On Interstate Transport Operations In Northcentral Nigeria, Muhammed Etudaiye Ohida

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The study investigated the impact of crime on interstate road transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study relies on descriptive statistics to describe the features of the populations. 200 questionnaires were purposefully administered to the four major interstate motor parks in the capital of some north-central states (i.e., Minna, Lokoja, Benue, and Lafia) using random sampling techniques. The gathered data was analysed using percentages and charts, while the T-test statistics were used to test the study hypothesis. The result shows that there is a statistically significant influence of crimes on interstate transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study concluded that …

Exploring The Relationship Between Suicidal Behavior And Obesity Among Young Hispanic Adults In The United States, Nadeen Salhadar

Theses and Dissertations

The rates of obesity and suicidal behavior have continued to increase over the years among young adults in the United States. Previous research has indicated a relationship between obesity and suicidal behavior, primarily among women, yet minimal research has been done to examine factors that explain this relationship (i.e., mediators). This study investigated the role of depression, body dissatisfaction, body shame and guilt, insomnia, physical health, and social anxiety on obesity and suicidal ideation among 209 college-aged Latina women. The researcher hypothesized that there would be an indirect relationship between obesity and suicidal behavior through multiple variables. Mediation analyses via …

Exploring The Relationship Between Intrinsic Capacity And Social Participation In Healthy Ageing: Evidence From Singapore, Li Ling Cheong, William Tov, Robin Wai Munn Choo, Micah Tan, Lay Khoon Lau, Wee Shiong Lim, Yew Yoong Ding, Paulin Tay Straughan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Objective: The World Health Organization has identified intrinsic capacity and functional ability as key constructs in enabling healthy ageing. However, functional ability is distinct from actual levels of social and physical participation, which research has shown to be associated with health and wellbeing. This study distinguishes between functional ability and actual levels of social and physical participation, and utilizes the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework to examine the relationship between IC and the two constructs. Methods: This study utilizes cross-sectional self-reported data from a nationally representative panel of Singapore residents aged 56–75 (N = 6,434). We performed …

The Effect Of Food Preference On The Efficacy Of The High-Probability Instructional Sequence To Treat Food Selectivity, Christina Marie Sheppard

Theses and Dissertations

Food selectivity involves avoiding certain foods based on type, texture, brand, smell, temperature, or presentation, and it affects 80% of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Although several antecedent-based and consequence-based behavioral interventions exist to increase acceptance and consumption of food in this population, one antecedent-based intervention that has shown promise both within and outside of a feeding context is the high-probability instructional sequence, which consists of the delivery of three high-probability instructions before delivery of a low-probability instruction. The high-probability sequence is used to increase compliance with instructions that have a low probability of completion (e.g., taking a bite …

Navigating Eating Disorders Through Counseling, Alyssa M. Pelella

Senior Honors Theses

Many different characteristics are involved in eating disorders, each of which helps show that counseling is important to the recovery process. An eating disorder that goes untreated can lead to a higher degree of symptoms over time, like the use of waist trainers, laxatives, and calorie counting. These factors can cause guilt in an individual and can hinder relationships. Males are often overlooked in eating disorder instances, as is the Napoleon complex. Athletes are typically at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder as they are constantly working out, and many times are focused on a goal to fit …

The Effect Of Employment Shocks On Earnings: Evidence From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Giovanny A. Martinez Rodriguez

Economics Honors Projects

Economic research has documented significant short, medium, and long-term labor market consequences following recessions (Goodman & Mance, 2011; Yagan, 2017; Farber, 2011). The Covid-19 recession triggered an unprecedented economic downturn, disproportionately impacting employment in industries with high concentrations of low-income and female workers. In this paper, I leverage the substantial spatial variation in employment shocks to examine their effects on earnings and employment outcomes in both the short and medium terms. I find remarkably stable trends in earnings and employment when comparing counties experiencing high employment shocks with those that did not. Although these results differ from previous recessions, they …

Brand Media And Health Perceptions: A Thematic Analysis Of Generational Differences, Julie Irene Diaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the influence of brand identity and media on shaping evolving perceptions of health across generations. The three generations considered are Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. The initial hypothesis predicted the popular media and brands that each generation interacts with are most likely to influence their perception. Additionally, the health brands most popular with each generation would influence their overall health perception, based on the identity and values of the brand. A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups to gather data about health perceptions, brand identity, media influence, and holistic health. The findings suggest that individuals …

Beyond Opioids: The Role Of Polysubstance Exposure In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Treatment And Hospitalization, Caelyn Harrison

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the impact of prenatal polysubstance exposure, specifically focusing on the need for pharmacological treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and the duration of their hospital stay. A retrospective analysis of 462 infants, including 121 exposed to polysubstances during pregnancy, showed significant associations between polysubstance exposure and adverse neonatal outcomes. Infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure were more likely to require pharmacological treatment for NAS (52.8%) compared to non-exposed infants (38.7%), as determined by chi-square analysis (χ²(1, N = 462) = 7.36, p = .007). Additionally, infants exposed to polysubstances experienced longer hospital stays on average (M = 14.88 …

Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Foster Youth Independent Living Programs In The State Of California, Ingrid Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Foster youth transitioning into adulthood often confront a myriad of challenges stemming from limited social capital and unstable support systems. The transition out of foster care, particularly for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), is fraught with barriers including disconnection from familial ties, inadequate knowledge regarding higher education, financial instability, unemployment, and housing insecurity. In 2021, approximately 4,920 foster children aged out of the system, facing the option to participate in extended care programs designed to facilitate their transition into independent living. Despite these programs, many youths struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Key legislation, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and …

Unintended Consequences: How Direct Cash Payments To Families Experiencing Poverty Lowered Child Poverty Rates In The United States, Wayne Dunn

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child poverty has adverse effects for the children who experience it and it has long term social and economic consequences into adulthood. This policy analysis looks at the policy choices America has made in addressing child poverty and what effects, if any, those policies have had. After reviewing traditional in-kind policy options for addressing child poverty, this article focuses on the decreases in the child poverty rate that occurred with the passage of pandemic era legislation that provided direct cash assistance to all Americans. Because the assistance programs only happened in two consecutive years and were terminated at the end …

Burnout Among Mental Health Professionals In Northern California: A Mixed-Methods Study, Sade Butler

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout, characterized by prolonged emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, is a widespread issue affecting millions of professionals in the United States and globally. Previous research has not adequately addressed the phenomenon of burnout, particularly in California. This study took a mixed-methods approach to determine the scope of, contributing factors to, and coping strategies for burnout among mental health professionals in Northern California. A sample of 93 mental health professionals completed a survey that contained both closed-ended and open-ended questions on burnout. Descriptive statistics indicated that 89.2% of participants experienced a moderate to severe level of burnout at work. Meanwhile, thematic …

Foster Care Alumni And Their Experiences Coping With Life After Care From The Perspective Of Pertinent Professionals, Nancy Morales

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Background: Children in foster care face significant challenges, and their transition to independent living presents even greater difficulties, such as securing housing, accessing healthcare, and achieving financial independence. Although recent policy reforms, such as increased emphasis on family reunification and support services, have aimed to improve the outcomes of foster care, alumni of the system continue to face disproportionately high rates of mental health disorders, substance abuse, and social instability. Existing literature highlights the significant barriers foster youth encounter during and after their time in care, yet there remains a critical gap in understanding the experiences of these individuals …

The Proverbial Milk And Honey: Frontier, Racial Lines, And The Development Of California Foodways, Ahlys Gandara

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis proposes that the development of foodways in the state of California occurred concurrently with the development and failures of Americanization and the American frontier. This is done with respect to the fact that California has a much longer history than that of the United States. While foodways are often discussed and examined within the ideas of nationalization, this becomes harder to do within the United States as there is no unifying idea of a national identity and any attempts to do so were hampered by the lack of consensus as to a singular identity. This is especially true …

Barriers Individuals And Families Experience Utilizing Anti-Poverty Programs, Miranda C. Dube'

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This proposed study aims to explore the barriers experienced by residents of the High Desert communities. Using a quantitative method approach, the proposed research will employ surveys to provide a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes experienced by the High Desert residents. Participants will be selected within the High Desert communities, aged 18 years or older, who have or are currently experiencing poverty. The findings from this proposed study would contribute to bridging gaps in understanding the barriers residents of the High Desert experience. By identifying factors that suppress successfully utilizing anti-poverty programs, this research proposal would aim to inform the …

Exploring The Factors That Influence Telehealth Usage Among Immigrants In The United States: A Mixed Methods Study, Jose M. Garcia-Castañeda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Immigrants in the United States continue to face barriers in accessing healthcare services which are rooted in systemic inequities, cultural disconnects, and language-related challenges. The growing presence of telehealth services has offered new opportunities to expand access, but it has also highlighted new barriers which are language proficiency and digital literacy which could increase the gap in services for already marginalized populations. These barriers are factors that influence outcomes such as delayed care, reduced preventative care, and overall poorer health outcomes. The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Service Use (Andersen, 1995) provides a useful framework in understanding how predisposing, …

Case Management Is Essential In A School-Based Setting, Estrella G. Moreno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Case management in a school-based setting is an integral part in helping students overcome barriers by providing support services. These support services include meeting their physiological needs like food, shelter, and clothing. When students lack necessities, it prevents them from focusing on their academics. Therefore, developing feasible plans to address students’ needs is vital to a student’s continued academic success. The research question is as follows: What percentage of students who are referred to case management services end up having their needs successfully met? This study examined the number of students among the K-12 student population in Colton Joint …

Rhetorics Of Vigilance: Refracting Discourses In Technologies Of Self-Managed Health & Wellness, Haley Swartz

All Dissertations

Rhetorics of Vigilance explores the limits of feminist health rhetorics by examining technologies that promote women’s self-managed health and wellness practices. By establishing a corpus of personal health technologies and associated texts including mobile health applications, pelvic floor training devices, and perimenopause information shared on social media, this dissertation analyzes how discourses refract––redirected and often distorted––to implicate women in persistent self-monitoring. Drawing from interdisciplinary scholarship on women’s health from feminist rhetorical studies, rhetorics of health and medicine, science and technology studies, and digital studies, I theorize rhetorics of vigilance as a framework through which women understand and interpret issues …

A Research Report: What Are The Challenges That Refugee Women Experience When Seeking Healthcare Related To Pregnancy In The United States?, Manuela Krieger-Adi

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background

Refugees in the United States, including African refugee women, face many challenges in seeking healthcare after moving to the United States to resettle. It is urgent and essential to look into some of the health challenges the refugee community faces here in Omaha, Nebraska, that prevent them from seeking healthcare, especially when pregnant. This Capstone research project aims to focus on African refugee women, specifically in Omaha, Nebraska, and the challenges they face seeking healthcare related to pregnancy.

Methods

This research report involved five in-depth interviews conducted over Zoom. The target population was refugee mothers who had given …

Improving Nutrition Outcomes Through Enhanced Allocative Efficiency Of Investments In 24 High Risk Counties In Kenya: An Optima Nutrition Modelling Study, Morris Ogero, Nick Scott, Veronica Kirogo, Anthony Ngugi

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction ;Undernutrition remains a significant global challenge, severely impacting children’s development and growth. To address this, the Sustainable Development Goals target a substantial reduction in stunting and wasting by 2025. Achieving these goals requires scaling up evidence-based nutritional interventions; however, limited budgets pose challenges in funding all necessary programs. To assist policymakers in making informed decisions, the World Bank developed the Optima Nutrition Modelling tool, which optimizes the allocation of nutrition investments. Kenya, with its high prevalence of stunting, was the focus of this study. Using the Optima Nutrition model, we aimed to (1) assess the impact of scaling up …

From Activity To Adaptability: Systematic Review On Elevating Adolescent Resilience Through Physical Activity, Kaylee Cowdrey

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The recent increase in mental health concerns among teens showcases the need for accessible solutions that help buffer against psychopathology and build resilience. This systematic literature review looks at various studies to see how physical activity can positively affect resilience in adolescents by enhancing their emotional regulation, self-efficacy, self-esteem, social connections, and brain function. Literature published since 2010 from databases, including APA PsycInfo, PubMed, and Google Scholar, was collected for this analysis. The results of the review found that as adolescents engage in physical activity, there is improvement in coping skills by enhancing emotional regulation, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and social connectedness …

Nebraska's Preparedness For A Growing Diverse Aging Population: A Survey Of Area Agencies On Aging, Vince Barger

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This paper aims to examine the current efforts of Nebraska’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to serve a growing diverse population of older adults (United States Census Bureau, 2023). This project is comprised of a survey created to gauge the thoughts and opinions of Nebraska AAA employees supplemented by a comprehensive literature review. The findings of the literature review indicate the need for an understanding of the importance of diversity and how it affects individual life experiences. The survey revealed that the AAAs are already making changes to reflect the population shift that is currently happening, such as specific programs …

Addressing Structural Violence In Eastern Nebraska Through The Assessment Of Mortality Profiles, Victoria M. Pate

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Humanitarian forensics has recently expanded to include the examination of forensic casework demographics within the medicolegal community. Additionally, it is proposed that research and data collection should look beyond the individual case report to address public health, crime vulnerabilities, and marginalization at local and national levels to advocate for policy changes protecting against institutionalized violence. With the utilization of quantitative and qualitative methods, 294 case reports provided by Nebraska police departments, between the years of 2014-2024, were analyzed to conceptualize mortality vulnerabilities and the ways in which forensic anthropologists can aid in community action. Pearson’s Chi-Square and one-way Analysis of …

Parkinson’S Disease Pathophysiology And Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy Between Subthalamic Nucleus And Globus Pallidus Interna Deep Brain Stimulation: A Student’S Perspective, Peter C. Solimando Ii

Anthropology

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is becoming an increasingly common neurodegenerative disease across the world, presenting with both debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms that progressively worsen throughout the course of the disease. Prominent motor symptoms include tremors, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and postural/gait instabilities, while common non-motor symptoms include fatigue, pain, autonomic dysfunction (i.e., bowel and bladder dysfunction), mood disorders, and dementia. The advent of modern medical management of PD has introduced several different medications, the most popular being levodopa, that have shown success in reducing the severity of motor symptoms, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Throughout disease progression, however, …

Social Identity And Eating Behaviors: How Cultural Norms Impact Disordered Eating, Cierrah J. Fulenwider

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs), such as frequent dieting, emotional eating, and obsessive “clean eating,” are increasingly prevalent in our society and have been linked to significant physical and psychological health risks. However, the role of sociocultural influences, such as discrimination and social media, are often overlooked. This study examined the relationship between disordered eating behaviors and perceived discriminatory experiences, social media use, physical self-description, and attitudes toward eating among undergraduate college students. The sample consisted of 110 undergraduate students. Participants completed an electronic survey comprised of the Everyday Discrimination Scale-S (EDS-S), Social Media Usage Scale (SMUS), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), …