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The Current - Volume 35 Issue 4, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 4 - October 17, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 4 - October 17, 2024. 16 pages.

Young Children’S Mental Well-Being In Low-Income South African Settings: A Qualitative Study, Catherine E. Draper, Caylee J. Cook, Elizabeth A. Ankrah, Jesus A. Beltran, Franceli L. Cibrian, Jazette Johnson, Kimberley D. Lakes, Hanna Mofid, Lucretia Williams, Gillian R. Hayes

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

This qualitative study aimed to capture community perspectives of the risks and protective factors for social emotional development and mental health of young children in low-income South Africa settings, and was conducted as one component of a larger study with the ultimate aim of co-designing the Mazi Umntanakho (‘know your child’) digital tool. Twenty focus group discussions (n = 154, 97% female) were held with staff of community-based organisations (CBOs) and community health worker (CHW) programmes in urban and rural sites from four geographical regions. Data were analysed thematically, and grouped according to components of nurturing care (responsive caregiving, safety …

Crime Against The Homeless Population: Barriers And Strategies From Washington, Dc Housing Services Case Managers, Stephanie Strianse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness is a widespread concern across the United States, especially in Washington, DC. The homeless population experiences victimization at alarming rates compared to their housed counterparts; however, these instances of crime against this population are often unreported. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the barriers to reporting crime against the homeless population and the strategies to reduce those barriers from the perspective of housing services case managers in Washington, DC. Lenoir’s social exclusion theory was the theoretical framework for this study. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 11 housing services case managers who work with …

How Does The Reauthorization Of The Farm Bill Impact Snap?, Colleen Heflin, Camille Barbin

Center for Policy Research

From 2021 to 2023, food insecurity in the United States increased from 10.2% to 13.5%, and food inflation rose to nearly 20%. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - the largest food assistance program, in the U.S. is funded and governed by the Farm Bill – a multi-year federal omnibus bill that provides agriculture and nutrition program funding. The 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2024, and while funding for SNAP has been extended through a Continuing Resolution, program reauthorization is needed. Negotiations on a new Farm Bill have included SNAP proposals to limit state discretion on work requirements …

Conforming To The Image Of Christ: Addressing Spiritual Immaturity Utilizing Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling In A Rural Church Context, Leonard Carpenter Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Strong and healthy churches are made up of strong and healthy disciples. The ministry context for this qualitative action research project was the Saint Mark Missionary Baptist Church, a predominately Black congregation located in the Pea Ridge community of Brewton, Alabama. The problem was some members at Saint Mark engaged in spiritually immature actions that evoked immature reactions which yielded unhealthy relationships. To address the problem, the researcher developed and implemented the “Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling Program” (SBPCP), a strategic Christian ministry that provided participants one-on-one pastoral counseling opportunities for the purpose of building up spiritually healthier Christians. SBPCP consisted …

An Ethnically Balanced Male Perspective Towards Police Officers Seeking Mental Health Counseling: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Arturo Parra

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study will aim to understand an ethnically balanced male perspective toward police officers seeking mental health counseling. Police Officers are routinely exposed to stressful and traumatic events, leading to acute and chronic disorders, mental illnesses, suicide ideation, and suicide, as research has indicated. Mental health counseling can play an essential role in intervention into mental health illness, providing critical tools to police officers to handle stress and potential mental illness. However, reluctance among the police community to seek mental health counseling continues to be prevalent. Possible cause for this reluctance are suggested through research as a direct result …

Absent Fathers And The Propensity Of Criminal Behaviors Among Children Later In Life, India Kewanna Holmes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological research was to investigate the experiences of young adults raised by one caregiver and how the lack of fathers in the household impacted their decision-making processes concerning engaging in criminal behaviors. The following inquiry guided the research: What are the effects of fatherlessness on decision-making in young adults, and how is it related to criminal behavior? Semi-structured interviews of 15 participants, aged 18 to 26, were used as the primary data collection method. The interview instrument consisted of ten items, and responses were analyzed using coding and thematic analysis. The study's findings revealed several …

Investigating The Effects Of Mindful Eating, Self-Compassion, Emotion Regulation, And Spiritual Experience On Compassion Satisfaction And Burnout Among Christian Counselors, Andrew D. Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is crucial, in the effort to understand and to be intentional in positively affecting professional quality of life, to examine and balance the impacts of job demands. Nearly four decades ago, Figley introduced the concept of secondary victimization, which when unmitigated leads to compassion fatigue and burnout (Figley, 1988, 1995). Analyses show rates as between 46 and 83% of mental healthcare professionals face unique work environments relating to psychopathological symptoms and lower work satisfaction (Almadani et al., 2022; Lluch et al., 2022; Mollica et al., 2021; Morelen et al., 2022; Stebnicki, 2017; Unjai et al., 2022). Accessing and utilizing …

Developing Resiliency Body Armor Through Psychological And Spiritual Means: How U.S. States' Icac Personnel Cope With Secondary Traumatic Stress, Jameson Lee Denagel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Global online child sex abuse and exploitation is rising due to the immense accessibility of the internet, and it takes specially trained and devoted investigators to combat the problem. However, combating these heinous crimes can create traumatic events for investigators, resulting in secondary traumatic stress. This quantitative correlative study examined the psychological and spiritual coping strategies to develop a resiliency body armor concerning Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force personnel (ICAC-TF) working on child sexual exploitation investigations. The theoretical framework combined the concepts of Resiliency Theory, psychology body armor, and spiritual body armor to create resiliency body armor. The study …

Student Loan Policies And Payments During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Closing The Gap Or Widening Inequalities?, Jason Jabbari, Takeshi Terada, Haotian Zheng, Stephen Roll

Journal of Student Financial Aid

Student debt was specifically addressed in the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through forbearance polices. However, not all individuals were eligible for forbearance, and it is possible that forbearance would leave some feeling further behind. Yet, little is known about student loan debt over the course of the pandemic, especially in relationship to forbearance policies, loan payments, and household financial stability. Leveraging a representative longitudinal survey of households during the pandemic, we use descriptive regression techniques to explore changes in loan balances throughout the pandemic, as well as the relationships among student loan policies, payments, and measures of …

Purchase Intention Of Halal Product: An Applied Study In Lebanon, Soumaya Kaakour

Al Jinan الجنان

Halal is a topic that touches on both business and trade as well as religion. This study aims to investigate the following factors (religiosity, attitude, subjective norms, control behavior, Halal certification and perceived availability) that could affect the purchase intention of Halal products in Lebanese context. The research offers explanations for each variable in the suggested model. Following that, in the first quarter of 2022, data was collected from 202 respondents in Lebanon using an online survey form. SPSS version 20 was applied to test the generated data. Results indicates that the following variables (religiosity, attitude, subjective norms, perceived availability, …

Understanding The Role Of Perceived Racial Discrimination On Adolescent Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jill V. Klosky, Delia Lang, Briana Woods-Jaeger, Julie Gazmararian

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Abstract

Background: Adolescent mental health declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Racial discrimination, which may negatively affect adolescent mental health, has increased. This study sought to understand whether pre-pandemic reports of racial discrimination predicted changes in adolescent depression, anxiety, and self-esteem from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Two online surveys were administered at two public high schools in semi-rural, north-central Georgia; one in Spring 2020, just before the closing of public schools due to COVID-19; the other to the same students in Fall 2020.

Results: Most participants were White (62%) and the majority (88%), reported the same or better …

No. 11: Food Insecurity And South Sudanese Urban Refugees In Kenya, Cherie Enns, Samuel Owuor, Abbey Lin, Jacqueline Fanta, Cobby Achieng, William Kolong, Kristin Swardh

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already precarious situation of urban South Sudanese refugees living in Nairobi and Nakuru, Kenya. The pandemic not only increased food insecurity but also disrupted livelihoods and exacerbated socio-economic vulnerabilities that were already significant. These refugees faced limited access to support mechanisms typically available in refugee camps, with inadequate government response and interruptions to remittance flows. Urban refugees were hit especially hard due to the absence of organized support frameworks, leaving them more exposed to the pandemic’s impacts.

This policy brief examines the critical challenges faced by urban South Sudanese refugees in terms of food security …

No. 07: Pandemic Impacts On Migrant Food Security In Nanjing, China, Fei Xu, Taiyang Zhong, Jonathan Crush

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant disparities in food security, particularly among migrant populations in urban settings. Migrant workers, often occupying precarious, low-paying jobs, experienced disruptions to their food access due to job losses, mobility restrictions, and social exclusion during the pandemic. This policy brief highlights key findings from MiFOOD research conducted in Nanjing during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed heightened levels of food insecurity among migrant households. Migrants were less likely to access online food systems due to technological barriers and exclusion from government aid programs. This brief provides recommendations to enhance food security resilience, including …

No. 08: Addressing Food Insecurity Among Central American Migrants In Mexico, Tiana Bakić Hayden

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

Central American migrants living in Mexico City face unique challenges that contribute to heightened food insecurity, with issues stemming from incomplete documentation, social isolation, and precarious legal status. This brief examines these barriers and how they exacerbate food insecurity among migrant populations who reside in Mexico’s urban areas, particularly those from the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador). Migrants face bureaucratic, social, and economic obstacles that limit their access to food, housing, and employment. The brief recommends policy changes aimed at improving documentation processes, enhancing social support networks, and addressing migrants’ specific food security needs.

No. 06: Enhancing Rural-Urban Linkages Through Food Remittances, Elizabeth Opiyo Onyango, Jonathan Crush, Samuel Owuor

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

In many rapidly urbanizing African countries, food remittances from rural to urban areas play a vital role in maintaining rural-urban linkages. In Nairobi, Kenya, half of all households, regardless of migration status, receive food remittances from rural areas. Contrary to conventional beliefs, these food transfers are not solely linked to migration or poverty. Instead, they appear to be a long-standing, integral part of urban household resilience, especially for better-off households. As urbanization intensifies, policymakers should recognize the role of food remittances in ensuring food security for both migrants and non-migrant households. This brief explores key challenges such as economic inequality, …

Gender And Sexuality Awareness In Medical Education And Practice: Mixed Methods Study, Rola Khamisy-Farah, Eden Biras, Rabie Shehadeh, Ruba Tuma, Hisham Atwan, Anna Siri, Manlio Converti, Francesco Chirico, Łukasz Szarpak, Carlo Biz, Raymond Farah, Nicola Bragazzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The integration of gender and sexuality awareness in health care is increasingly recognized as vital for patient outcomes. Despite this, there is a notable lack of comprehensive data on the current state of physicians' training and perceptions in these areas, leading to a gap in targeted educational interventions and optimal health care delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The study's aim was to explore the experiences and perceptions of attending and resident physicians regarding the inclusion of gender and sexuality content in medical school curricula and professional practice in Israel.

METHODS: This cross-sectional survey targeted a diverse group of physicians across various specializations …

A Behavioral Analysis Of Brisby, The Jacksonville Zoo And Gardens’ Double Wattled Southern Cassowary, Gabriel J. Springer

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Previous studies have demonstrated the uniqueness and importance of wild type Southern Cassowary behaviors in relation to their rainforest ecosystem. The primary goal of this observational study was to determine if the behavior exhibited by a Southern Cassowary residing at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens was comparative to the observed behavior of wild Southern Cassowaries. The secondary goal was to observe individual behavioral traits of the focus individual, Brisby. It was hypothesized that Southern Cassowaries residing in captivity would still exhibit stereotypical behaviors similar to those residing in native rainforest habitats and the documented foraging behavior that supports the ecological …

No. 29: Translocal Households, Rural-Urban Links And Migrant Food Security In South Africa, Jonathan Crush, Godfrey Tawodzera, Maria Salamone

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

This paper revisits the issue of rural-urban links in post-apartheid South Africa, challenging the assumption that the end of apartheid would lead to rapid urbanization and the dissolution of circular migration. Despite the abolition of influx controls and the significant increase in the urban population from 33% in 1980 to 55% in 2011 among black South Africans, rural-urban ties and flows have proven resilient. The persistence of circular migration is evident in the continuous flow of people, goods, and remittances between urban and rural areas. This paper draws on a survey of over 800 Eastern Cape migrants in Cape Town, …

No. 28: Male Circular Migration, Rural-Urban And Gender Dynamics, And Food Security In India, Chetan Choithani

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

This paper examines the ways in which male circular migration as a household livelihood strategy affects food access among rural households in India. Circular male labor migration is the dominant form of labor mobility in many parts of India. This migration pattern creates important rural-urban linkages through income transfers and alters the gender power relations within the migrant-sending households. Drawing on empirical research in Siwan district in the eastern state of Bihar, this paper analyzes the influence of these dynamics of migration on household food security, with the larger objective of bridging the divide that currently exists between migration and …

Top Downloaded Items In Uni Scholarworks, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Library Documents & Reports (entire collection)

No abstract provided.

Adolescents' Perceptions Of Food Outlets In The School Neighbourhood And Their Unhealthy Snacking Behaviour On The Way To And From School, Margaretha Liliana Situmorang, Sandra Mandic, Michael Keall, Melody Smith, Niamh Donnellan, Kirsten J. Coppell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To understand the relationship between adolescents' unhealthy snacking behaviour during their school journey and their perceived and objective measures of food outlet availability in the school neighbourhood. Design: A cross-sectional survey enquired about socio-demographic information, school transport modes, perceived presence of food outlets in the school neighbourhood and unhealthy food purchase and consumption on the school journey. A geographical information system analysis of the food outlets within 500 m and 1000 m school buffers was undertaken. Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed modelling. Setting: All twelve secondary schools in Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand, March 2020-June 2022. Participants: Adolescents …

Primary Prevention And Motivational Interviewing: Patterns In Athletic Training, Mark C. West, Justin P. Young, Matthew J. Rivera, Kenneth E. Games

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: The BOC practice analysis defines the first domain as Risk Reduction, Wellness and Health Literacy including, “Promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors with effective education and communication.” There is limited evidence on primary prevention measures athletic trainers (ATs) use to address health-related behaviors. Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based patient-centered style of communication used to help patients modify detrimental health behaviors to improve health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore knowledge and practice patterns of primary prevention and motivational interviewing in athletic training. Methods: We used a cross-sectional, web-based survey (Qualtrics, Provo, UT). The survey contained demographic questions, …

Agricultural Producers' Perceptions Of Stressors: A Study On Controllability And Persistency, Mary Nelson Robertson, Devon Mills, Brice A. Fortinberry, Mary Marshall Waller, Hunter H. Thompson, Marina Denny, David Buys

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Farm stress negatively impacts agricultural producers’ (APs) physical and mental health. The average age of agricultural producers has increased in every USDA agricultural census since 1945, and the stressors may be either or both caused or exacerbated by increasing age. The Cooperative Extension Service is well-known for working with APs and is well-equipped to address these concerns for this aging population. To better understand farm-related stressors, this study examines APs’ and Extension agents’ perceptions of major stressors faced by APs. Focus groups were held to identify stressors and determine the controllability and persistency of those stressors. The mean age of …

Smyly's Aftercare Service: A History And A Celebration.

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Stigma Experience Of Men With Eating Disorders: A Scoping Review, Rachael Maloney, Louise Lunney, Olivia-Mari Lennox, Elena Vaughan, Colette Kelly

Journal of Social Care

This scoping review aimed to synthesise the literature concerning the stigma experiences of men with eating disorders. Seven databases were searched using relevant keywords and subject headings. Following deduplication, articles published since 2000 were screened against eligibility criteria. Key information was charted and analysed using descriptive statistics and deductive content analysis. The final sample (n=9) was synthesised under four categories of stigma experiences within the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework. Internalised stigma was the most prevalent stigma experience across the included studies. This review suggests that men with eating disorders experience stigma in many forms and across various contexts, including …

Beyond Assistance: Amplifying The Lived Experiences Of Marginalized Communities Navigating Support Service Systems In Mississippi, Karla Mccullough, Rodney Washington, Angela A. Omondi

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background

Perceived dehumanizing experiences when interacting with social assistance caseworkers and providers can contribute to negative perceptions of the service system that may impede enrollment and retention of families in need thereby contributing to health disparities.

Purpose

This study aimed to use secondary analysis of qualitative data to explore the interaction between social services workers/providers and recipients from the perspectives of families seeking social support services in Mississippi.

Methods

This study analyzed secondary qualitative data from a sample of (n=15) representatives in Mississippi. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Results

Participants reported perceived dehumanized experiences such …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of An Integrated Nutrition Education Curriculum And The Impact On Preschoolers' Food Liking, Alicia Stapp, Laurel Lambert, Georgianna Mann, Kaitlyn Sills, Kenya Wolff

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Nutrition education during early childhood that includes experiential learning, modeling, and family engagement can support lifelong healthy eating habits.

Purpose: The present study examined the impact of a nutrition-integrated, 32-week supplemental curriculum entitled Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies, and Communities on children’s exposure to fruits and vegetables, ability to identify fruits and vegetables, liking of fruit and vegetables, and teachers’ perceptions of the curriculum.

Methods: A pre- and post- fruit and vegetable pictorial Likert survey was administered to 261 Pre-K4 children. To investigate teachers’ perceptions of the curriculum, a post-intervention focus group was conducted with 19 teachers.

Results: Significant differences …

Social Determinants Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Dementia: The Mississippi Landscape, Kenneth R. Butler Jr., Denise Lafferty, Stacee B. Naylor, Kimberly C. Tarver Md

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are those conditions in the environment where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, physical and cognitive functions, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Numerous social factors are significant contributors to the development and progression of various diseases. Recently, much attention has focused on assessing the impact of social factors on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The objective of this commentary is to describe and assess the SDOH that have been associated with increased risk of ADRD in the context of the social environment in …