Digital Commons Network^™

Health Infographics: An Examination Of Breastfeeding Infographics From The World Health Organization, Naadiyahtu Iddrisu

Communication ETDs

This thesis employed a qualitative thematic analysis and the representational, interpersonal, and compositional functions of visual analysis approaches to examine the World Health Organization breastfeeding infographics published between 2019–2023 through the lens of two health promotion models: the Enabling Environment for Breastfeeding Model, and the Social and Ecological Model. A total of 59 infographics were analyzed. The findings revealed that breastfeeding infographics have called for creating an enabling environment that supports breastfeeding by emphasizing breastfeeding as a shared or collective responsibility. Again, mothers were the main target audience of breastfeeding infographics. Also, the use of multiple racial colors - White, …

The Well-Being Of College Students Who Participate In A Regular Yoga Nidra Practice, Angie Clark

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

College students experience significant stress, which affects their health and executive functioning. The purpose of this study was to explore if students could improve their well-being through a yoga nidra intervention. Yoga nidra is a deep relaxation practice with conscious awareness. Twelve students from a Midwestern college campus participated in a yoga nidra non-credit class. Students were expected to participate in two yoga nidra sessions per week for 50-minutes per session over the course of 12-weeks for a total of 24-yoga nidra sessions. The study was conducted through an action research qualitative study. Participants completed pre- and post-reflections on their …

Msw Portfolio, Mallory Phillips

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

From Mobilization To Politicization: Understanding Political Dynamics Of Community-Based Urban Food Security Policy In City Of Makassar, Sudarmono Sudarmono

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Since decentralization was reinforced in 1999, local politicians have exploited local policies to enhance their popularity and electability. In this study, I describe the implementation of a food security policy to demonstrate how the local arena had undergone massive political dynamics through unintegrated food governance demonstrated by local governments in Makassar City. This article aims to analyze the dynamic of urban food policy implemented by the municipality from 2013 to 2023. A qualitative approach had been employed through a case study of the implementation of food security policy. Data were collected by snowball method to eminent informants. Also, focus group …

A Needs Assessment Of Extension Staff To Implement Inclusive Programming For Adults With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, E. Andrew Pitchford, Christine Hradek, Jody Gatewood, Debra M. Sellers

Journal of Extension

This study is a needs assessment of Extension staff in the state of Iowa to implement inclusive programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Electronic surveys were completed by Extension staff on their attitudes and beliefs toward people with IDD, inclusive programming, and training needs. Results showed that Extension staff had positive views, but that staff reporting personal experience with people with IDD had more positive attitudes and beliefs (p

Using Multimedia To Help Agricultural Producers Communicate With Consumers About Gmos, Stacey F. Stearns, Jennifer E. Cushman, Joseph A. Bonelli, Bonnie E. Burr

Journal of Extension

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their uses are often misunderstood. Consumers are regularly unsure what GMOs are, or if they are safe for consumption and the environment. Contradictory and sometimes inaccurate information is available from numerous sources, and challenges consumers and others to separate the facts from sensationalized stories. Agricultural producers often communicate with consumers, neighbors, and members of the general public; however, they do not have information to share about GMOs. Multimedia resources can provide agricultural producers with science-based information to share with consumers. Agricultural communicators and Extension educators can create science-based multimedia resources to bridge the communication gap.

Female Medical Students’ Lived Experiences Of Financial Stress And Coping, Untara Shaikh, Dr. Kimberlee Bonura

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Financial stress is a pervasive concern among medical students, with documented associations with adverse physical health, psychological morbidity, and ineffective coping. This study focuses on understanding the financial stressors female medical students face and the coping strategies they employ. While financial stress and coping mechanisms have been explored in the literature, a notable gap exists in understanding these dynamics among female students.

The study employed a phenomenological research approach to obtain data from the respondents, where data collection involved face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The Adaptation Model of Nursing, complemented by Lazarus and Folkman's Coping Theory, was a comprehensive framework for analyzing …

Brains Over Bronze, Natalia L. Williams

Whittier Scholars Program

While we as a society have made great strides in rewarding and praising athletes for the shows of great physical display, there is a lack of support or awareness of the mental health aspects of competition, especially at the college and professional level. This project illuminates the dire need for mental health resources and training. Athletes undergo a number of pressures and challenges in their work life as well as their personal development. Through literature review, this symposium aims to offer insight on the experiences of college and professional athletes, then providing mental health and psychological skills training resources that …

Relationship Between Self-Concept And Self-Compassion Scores And Weight-Loss Surgery Outcomes In Women, Christine Curry-Tuthill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a global health concern associated with a multitude of psychosocial issues, including emotional dysregulation, depression, low self-esteem, social isolation, and economic issues related to bias. Weight loss surgery is generally considered to be an effective treatment; however, insufficient weight loss and weight regain are not uncommon. Because self-compassion and self-concept are psychological and social constructs that have been shown to influence obesity and health, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between weight loss surgery outcomes and these two concepts to obtain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind suboptimal weight loss. The theoretical framework …

Losing It: Anti-Fat Bias And Implications For Counselors, Kate Bailey

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Anti-fat bias and stigma can be pervasive in the United States and can impact almost every aspect of culture in the U.S. Counselors are likely not exempt from holding anti-fat bias. Yet, anti-fat bias is often overlooked as an issue worthy of attention in a profession dedicated to advocacy. Anti-fat bias can negatively affect larger-bodied clients in the counselor/client relationship when counselors are unaware of the anti-fat bias that they hold. Using a framework of liberatory consciousness (awareness, analysis, action, and accountability) counselors may reduce the harm caused in the counselor/client relationship regarding anti-fat bias.

Wellbeing In The Caribbean: Exploring Wellness In Afro-Caribbean Populations, Lynnquell S. Gardiner

Dissertations, 2020-current

Research on Caribbean individuals’ mental health and wellness is scarce in the literature, especially for those residing in Caribbean regions. The purpose of these studies was to examine local definitions of wellness and explore the role of nature for Afro-Caribbean (AC) individuals who make up most of the Caribbean’s population. Using two popular wellness models, relevance of application was explored for use with AC women participants. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was further used to explore participants definitions of wellness, existing strengths, and challenges in maintaining balance as it relates to wellness. Family connection, rest, and being in nature were significant …

Fading Reinforcement Within High-Probability Request Sequences, Morgan Mabery

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Following Mace at al.’s (1988) seminal article, which first established the efficacy of the high-probability request sequence, further research on the high-p sequence has examined the factors which impact the effectiveness of the sequence. Wilder et al.’s (2015) research supports that the use of programmed reinforcement within high-p sequences is critically important for the procedure’s effectiveness. Some research has supported the efficacy of fading the number of high-p requests presented while maintaining responding, yet no research thus far has examined the use of fading reinforcement and its effects on maintenance of responding. The present study aimed to replicate the findings …

Exploring The Link Between Self-Distancing And “Stress Is Enhancing” Mindsets, Kyle Green

Masters Theses, 2020-current

While stress is generally framed as debilitating, past research has shown that adopting a mindset that focuses on the positive aspects of stress, referred to as a “stress is enhancing” mindset, can improve the ways in which one engages in stressful experiences. Researchers in this area have called for further investigation of the ways in which “stress is enhancing” mindsets are adopted. This study sought to explore the practice of self-distancing as a potential mechanism. It was hypothesized that participants who were instructed to write about a personally relevant future stressor from a distanced, third-person perspective would have more positive …

Impact Of Parent Reported Adverse Experiences And Other Family Stressors On Child Development And Home Visitation Participation Among Immigrant Families, Fithi Andom

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines variations in early childhood developmental and socioemotional health as well as level of participation in home visitation among recent immigrant families according to reports of adverse experiences (including poverty, intimate partner violence (IPV), and prior history of child protective services (CPS) involvement), maternal depression, and parent–child relationship measures. The period of early childhood is dependent on positive parenting to support optimum development, but parenting may be particularly sensitive to the detrimental influences of adverse experiences. Less is known about how the relationship between parenting, adverse experiences, and child development may differ for immigrant families. Home visitation has …

Breaking Barriers And Cultivating Collaborative Partnerships For The Torero Renaissance Scholars Program, Ti'shaun Allen

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

There is a high global demand for institutions to implement and maintain supportive programming for system-impacted students. System-impacted students are those who identify as former foster youth, homeless or at risk for homelessness, emancipated minors, or students in legal guardianships. My action research aimed to understand how to improve the Torero Renaissance Scholars (TRS) program model, delivery, and infrastructure to increase student engagement, program awareness, and partner collaboration at the University of San Diego (USD). TRS is a supportive program that assists students who are system-impacted. Findings from qualitative semi-structured 1:1 interviews, group conversations, and focus groups suggested increased employment …

Transitions Of Pa Safe-House Garden Bed, Christian Tait, Molly Garrahy, Lauren Mcdougal, Amanda Pennett

Final Reports in ENST 411: Environmental Community Projects

The non-profit organization, Transitions of PA allows those in crisis, particularly domestic abuse victims, to find support and resources through providing temporary residence at one of Transitions’ three safehouses. We have built a raised garden bed as a therapeutic resource for the Lewisburg safehouse guests, with principles of sustainable gardening in mind. The act of gardening becomes a form of therapy as the connection to the natural elements and intentionality behind sustainable gardening methods have significant mental health benefits. Beyond acting as a therapeutic activity, community gardening has been proven to support social connections and act as a pathway to …

Sleep, Eat, Repeat: An Examination Of The Influence Of Sleep And Biological Sex On Eating-Related Inhibitory Control In Overweight Emerging Adults, Shelby Mika Seipert-Raine

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Lower inhibitory control has been shown to associate with greater risk for obesity in adolescence. On average, females have moderately higher rates of behavioral inhibitory control than males. These difference in inhibitory control across sex may influence overeating and development of obesity. This study examined whether sleep duration and sleep quality are associated with food-related inhibitory control and whether this association is moderated by biological sex. Methods: A total of 59 emerging adults ages 18 to 25 (37 males, 22 females) who had a BMI within the overweight or obese categories (BMI ≥25) completed self-report measures of eating and …

Socioeconomic Constraints On Low-Income Individuals' Perceptions Toward Food Safety, Uyen Thuy Xuan Phan, Cuc Thuy Thi Tran, Nguyet Minh Thi Nguyen

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Food safety has emerged as a critical concern in Vietnam, posing a significant threat to public health due to the prevalence of unsafe foods in the market. Among those most vulnerable to contaminated foods, low-income individuals are significantly affected. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of food safety among this demographic, utilizing qualitative and quantitative approaches, including focus groups, survey questionnaires, and behavioral experiments using steamed bun as a stimulus. Participants were generally from low-income classes with certain variations in household monthly income. Results from focus groups and the survey highlighted that the factors influencing food purchases included perception …

The Economic Impacts Of Social Activism And Corporate Social Responsibility On Food Fraud, Anubrata Deka, Amalia Yiannaka, Konstantinos Giannakas

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

The study examines the relationship between the corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments of a food firm, an activist’s incentive to target the firm to uncover and deter fraudulent behavior, and the firm’s incentive to commit food fraud. Specifically, we develop a game theoretic model to analyze the strategic interaction between a food firm that decides whether to provide a credence food attribute and whether to misrepresent the quality of its product, and an activist who decides whether to monitor the firm and launch a campaign to uncover and remove false/misleading quality claims. We further examine the effect of CSR and …

Barriers And Facilitators To Adherence To Behavioral Weight Loss Interventions Among Hispanic/Latina Women, Catalina R. Pacheco

Psychology ETDs

Behavioral weight loss (BWL) interventions can help combat obesity and related diseases, but rates of adherence are often low among Hispanic/Latina women. This study explored barriers and facilitators to adherence among this population. Fourteen women attended focus groups and were asked to identify barriers and facilitators to self-monitoring of food and exercise (SM). They additionally were asked to identify body image-related barriers and facilitators to adherence to meeting diet and exercise goals. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Major suggestions relevant to SM were to intervene on multiple levels (i.e., community, group, individual), incorporate mental healthcare, reduce the burden of …

School Social Workers Conducting Home Visits: Practice And Perceptions, Sadie K. Kinnarney

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

School districts are serving populations of students being faced with more multiplex sets of individual, school, family, and community level risk factors (Berzin & O’Connor, 2010; Boske & Benavente-McEnery, 2010; Frey et al., 2012; Kelly et al., 2010). Many children are unable to respond effectively to the school setting due to the stress in their family’s lives and the stressors in their home environment (Openshaw, 2008). There is knowledge that social and environmental constraints can negatively affect a child’s role in an educational setting and a student’s capability to learn tends to be challenged if their emotional and physical needs …

Longitudinal Effects Of Adolescent Digital Media Use On Sleep, Cardiometabolic Health, And Mental Health, Caroline Watson

All ETDs from UAB

Background Digital media use has become an integral part of society and may contribute to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, particularly among adolescents. However, few studies have examined the longitudinal effects of adolescent digital media use across the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. As adolescents present as a highrisk group for the adverse effects of digital media use on mental and physical health, the present studies identified digital media use trajectories from adolescence into young adulthood and examined these trajectories as predictors of sleep duration, cardiometabolic health, and mental health outcomes in young adulthood. Methods Participants (Mage=15.53; 56.86% …

Embodied Queerness: Exploring Cultural Dimensions Of Asian Queer Body Narratives, A Literature Review, Wanyi Huang

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The author explores the Asian queer narrative by investing in related articles and literature on body art in this capstone thesis. In the thesis, body art is identified as a way of self-expression that serves as a creative outlet for play, artistic expression, and advocacy. The concept of body modifications, such as tattoos or piercings, can be viewed as acts of resistance to challenging societal norms. In a larger scope, it can also include changing body shape, such as fitness and cosmetic surgery (Pitts, 2000). People engage in body modification practices to express themselves to the world, show creativity, and …

Evaluating Neanderthal Depopulation With Direct Neanderthal And Châtelperronian Radiocarbon Data, Thomas K. Lyman

Honors Thesis

Homo sapiens neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) inhabited Eurasia approximately 350,000 years ago before experiencing population decline and disappearing from the archaeological record around 40,000 years ago (Yaworsky et al. 1). Radiocarbon dating has played a major role in establishing the timing of the last Neanderthals by both dating their skeletal remains and animal bones associated with their material culture. Widely discussed in the context of the last Neanderthals are the Châtelperronian stratigraphic layers as they possibly contain the last of Neanderthal material culture in regions of France and Spain. Whether the Châtelperronian should be attributed to Neanderthals or Anatomically Modern Humans (AMHs) …

The Relationship Between Amygdala And Orbitofrontal Cortex Volume In The Context Of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Rahul Alla

Honors Scholar Theses

Disobedient and rebellious attitude in children is on the rise and this type of behavior is categorized as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). ODD in children can be identified as a persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior or vindictiveness toward others according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5, Fifth Edition) of Mental Disorders.1 Children with ODD typically have difficulty regulating and processing their emotions. Issues with regulating emotions is defined as the process by which individuals “influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express them”.2 Dysregulation of emotions …

Facilitators And Barriers To Implementing Effective Interprofessional Education: A Mixed Methods Study Of Academic Health Institutions With Centralized Interprofessional Education Administrative Structures, Liliana Bronner

Theses & Dissertations

Interprofessional education (IPE) is pivotal in preparing future healthcare professionals for collaborative practice, yet its effective implementation remains challenging. The purpose of this mixed methods study of multiple academic health institution cases was to explore and understand how early and late IPE adopters perceive effective IPE implementation in academic health institutions. Combining frameworks for complex innovation implementation and curriculum development with surveys and interviews reveals the facilitators and barriers of effective IPE implementation. Consistent with the framework for complex innovation implementation, leadership and administrative support, resource allocation, logistical planning, and program evaluation emerged as key facilitators of effective IPE implementation. …

Social Needs Screenings Programs: Factors For Success, Varun Jayanti, Akshay Krishnan, Zachary Goldberg, Md, David Nash, Md, Mba

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Abstract

Introduction: In January 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented Health Quality Measure (HQM) 487, which required participating hospitals to annually screen admitted patients for the 5 domains of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). These requirements allowed hospitals to develop individualized, but compliant, screening programs. Previous SDOH screening research has focused on measurement tools, but not the mechanisms of screening present in various hospitals.

Research Objectives: This study will investigate the mechanism(s) for a social needs screening program (which is reflective of underlying SDOH disparity) in a large, multi-hospital academic health system in the Northeastern …

Identifying High-Value Tactical Livestock Decisions On A Mixed Enterprise Farm In A Variable Environment, Michael Young, John Young, Ross S. Kingwell, Philip E. Vercoe

Animal production and livestock research articles

Context

Australia is renowned for its climate variation, featuring years with drought and years with floods, which result in significant production and profit variability. Accordingly, to maximise profitability, dryland farming systems need to be dynamically managed in response to unfolding weather conditions.

Aims

The aim of this study is to identify and quantify optimal tactical livestock management for different weather-years.

Methods

This study employed a whole-farm optimisation model to analyse a representative mixed enterprise farm located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Using this model, we investigated the economic significance of five key livestock management tactics. These included …

Impact Of Exposure To Coal Plants On Birth Weight: Evidence From India Coal Plant Capacity, Deborah Nakkungu

Theses and Dissertations

Air pollution in developing nations presents a significant health threat; India's reliance on coal to meet increasing electricity demands and the non-compliance of coal plants with emission regulations worsen air pollution, resulting in considerable health risks. In this paper, I estimate the effect of exposure to coal plants on birth weight using data from the 2019-21 Demographic Health Survey (DHS) and the Central Electricity Authority's data on coal plants in India. A linear regression controls for confounding factors, including village and birth cohort effects, as well as birth and household variables. I find that an additional gigawatt (GW) increase in …

Student-Parent Needs: A Study At Coastal Carolina University, Breton Poster

Honors Theses

This article focuses on Student-Parents as an under-represented group on Coastal Carolina University’s (CCU) campus. Student-Parents face many additional difficulties in their college experience, compared to traditional students. The goal of this study is to bring attention to the needs of student-parents on CCU’s campus and determine how certain stress factors related to being a student-parent can influence their college experience. We found that a majority of student-parents on CCU’s campus faced high levels of financial stress, academic stress, and social stress. As a result, we suggest providing additional resources for student-parents to use on CCU’s campus to help combat …