Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Potential Psychological, Behavioral, And Physiological Predictors Of Human Flourishing In Division 1 Athletes: Toward A More Comprehensive Mental Health Screening, Derek Aaron Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has created numerous task forces and guidelines to address the rise in mental health challenges faced by student-athletes. However, these efforts have largely focused on identifying psychopathology rather than promoting flourishing. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive utility of self-report and objective measures of human flourishing among NCAA Division I student-athletes at initial screening (i.e., preparticipation exam). This retrospective, cross-sectional, correlational study analyzed archival data from 92 student-athletes from 13 different sports. Measures included the Secure Flourishing Index (SFI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ), and Power …

How Veterans With Ptsd Experience Symptom Improvement From Social Support, Patti "Lori" Beisner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social support is a concept that is simple to grasp, yet subjective in nature and difficult to describe. Current research abounds reporting the positive impact of social support upon veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies describe the phenomenon of social support for combat veterans, which they attribute to PTSD symptom improvement. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in research by exploring the lived experiences of veterans who have improved symptoms that they attribute to support they have received. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight combat veterans who self-reported PTSD symptom improvement due to …

Examining How The Frequency Of Artificial Intelligence Use In The Workplace Relates To Employee Self-Efficacy And Job Satisfaction, Dalton R. Vail

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Artificial intelligence is a prominent topic in society. Its adoption in the healthcare sector has occurred rapidly. Nonetheless, much existing research focuses on clinical healthcare professionals, thereby overlooking those in non-clinical roles. Non-clinical roles make up a small portion of the healthcare industry, but they account for a large share of burnout in the field. This quantitative study aimed to explore the relationships among artificial intelligence, job satisfaction, and self-efficacy. It posited that these variables are interconnected concerning artificial intelligence in a non-clinical context. Furthermore, the study sought to determine whether job satisfaction and self-efficacy are influenced by how often …

A Self-Efficacy Study Of Sibshop Programs On Family Systems: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Milisa R. Fowler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to investigate how sibling support workshops SIBSHOPs influence families, with special attention to self-efficacy of participating families. SIBSHOPs were developed to support siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing a platform to exchange and share their thoughts, learn new things, and develop coping strategies. This study examines the experiences of participants and their families in SIBSHOPs to understand how the workshops affect family dynamics, sibling relationships, and individual self-efficacy. Through interviews and thematic analysis, the study examines the perceived effectiveness of SIBSHOPs in enhancing participants’ self-efficacy within the context …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Gun Violence On Psychological Functioning And Perceived Psychosocial Supports In St. Louis’S Marginalized And Underserved Communities, Desirae Mecole Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies gun violence as a leading public health concern in the United States. Marginalized and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by poverty and crime, including firearm violence. Gun violence exposure has been linked to complex trauma, anxiety, substance use disorders, and depression. St. Louis, Missouri, has one of the highest rates of gun violence and mortality in the nation; however, research lacks an understanding of the psychological toll. Limited phenomenological research has examined how adults residing in marginalized and underserved communities experience gun violence exposure psychologically and perceive psychosocial supports. This study …

The Experiences Of African American Married Couples In Blended Families: A Descriptive Case Study, Tia Jones Medine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to describe the perceived influence of emotional regulation and marriage quality regarding custody conflicts for 13 married African American husbands and wives navigating co-parenting dynamics. The theory guiding this study was Family Systems Theory by Dr. Murray Bowen, which explains how external relational stress and internal emotional boundaries directly impact marital stability and family systems. Data collection methods comprised separate semi-structured interviews, three reflective journal prompts, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted using Reflexive Thematic Analysis to identify primary codes and recurring themes. The findings revealed that participants experienced …

A Qualitative Case Study Of Law Enforcement Supervisors’ Perspectives On Agency Efforts To Identify And Prevent Extremism Among Active-Duty Officers, Enoch D. Irvine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The presence of political extremism among active-duty law enforcement represents a very real threat to the safety of citizens and the integrity of the policing profession. The purpose of this study was to have law enforcement supervisors describe what their agencies are doing to identify and prevent political extremism among active-duty officers in Utah. Law enforcement supervisors from three specifically chosen case-study agencies were invited to participate via a combination of semi-structured in-person interviews and an online survey. The findings of this study demonstrate the challenges law enforcement supervisors face in addressing extremism among officers while thoroughly highlighting the lack …

Burnout And Job Performance Among Working Mothers: The Moderating Roles Of Servant Leadership And Perceived Organizational Support, Claudia Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Working mothers frequently navigate competing work and family demands that increase vulnerability to burnout and may affect job performance. Despite these challenges, working mothers remain underrepresented in organizational research examining burnout and performance outcomes. Limited studies have explored how perceived organizational support (POS) and servant leadership influence the burnout-performance relationship across the individual dimensions of burnout. This quantitative correlational study examined the relationships between burnout and job performance among working mothers in the United States and tested whether POS and servant leadership moderated these relationships individually and jointly. The sample included 86 full-time working mothers recruited through convenience and snowball …

The Literacy Link: Connecting Parents Who Are Incarcerated With Their Young Children Through Reading Aloud, Mary Campbell Wood, Heidi Ungrodt, Pamela Wedig-Kirsch, Ronda Davis, Jacqueline Buck, Lindsay A Weymouth

Journal of Extension

Parental incarceration is consequential for children. Outreach strategies can maintain parent–child relationships during incarceration. The Literacy Link connects parents in jail and prison with their children through two strategies: a dialogic reading workshop and a recorded book reading program. Over 3 years, we implemented these strategies with parents in jails and prisons located in 12 counties. We surveyed parents and the caregivers with whom children live during their parents' incarceration. Parents reported improvements in attitudes and confidence related to reading aloud. Most parents and caregivers reported that these strategies provided a connection between parents and children during incarceration.

Blue Economy, Climate Risk, And Fisherfolks: An Inquiry Into The State Narrative Of Blue Economy And Right Of Fisherfolks, S.Mohammed Irshad Smi

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

The blue economy is an extension of finance capital into the coast and is a larger frontier expansion project. This capital is confronted with climate risks as well. The blue economy creates new economic zones, which fall into a risk zone in which output and productivity deplete over time. The blue economy projects conflict with the declining fisheries resources, which puts the fishing community's life at risk. The policies that promote the blue economy often neglect the resource-dependent communities across the coastal areas.

Valuation Methods And Their Relevance In Achieving Marine Protected Areas Targets: A Systematic Review, Jacob Ankamah, Stephen Hynes, Daragh O'Leary

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

The prolific human-induced pressures on marine ecosystems leading to negative externalities such as beach erosion, biodiversity loss, and climate change are matters of global concern. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have emerged as a tool to conserve marine biodiversity and support human livelihoods. This paper reviews the global research landscape, the evolution of concepts and the relevance of valuation techniques related to the assessment of the contribution of MPAs to societal welfare. The review indicates that less than 3% of the wider MPA literature explores the economic valuation of MPA designation. Of those, there is an obvious preference for non-market-based methods …

Barriers To Mental Health Treatment In A Rural County: Perceptions From Local Service Providers, Jennifer Cantu

Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

Though the prevalence of mental health issues is similar in rural and urban areas, it has been found that those living in rural areas experience significant disparities related to mental health treatment. This qualitative study examined how professionals’ perceptions of barriers to mental health is a rural county in Texas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with service providers across health, social service, and community settings. A thematic analysis of the data found that the county experienced a shortage of mental health providers, limited transportation, high out-of-pocket costs, gaps in insurance, and inconsistent broadband access, which could limit the effectiveness of telehealth. …

Adult Sexual Grooming Needs Its Own Model: A Critical Conceptual Analysis, Christin M. Aletky

Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

Adult sexual grooming (ASG) is understudied, conceptually ambiguous, and often conflated with child sexual grooming (CSG). Existing models rely heavily on child-centered frameworks, limiting the field’s ability to recognize the adult-specific dynamics of manipulation, coercive control, and institutional vulnerability. This paper examines the limitations of current definitions and argues that ASG requires its own conceptual foundation. Drawing on the literature, the paper highlights three core distinctions between ASG and CSG: the erosion of meaningful consent in adult contexts, the relational ambiguity inherent in roles such as mentor, pastor, supervisor, or professor, and the influence of rigid power structures that legitimize …

Beyond Screening In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Domain-Standardized, Measure-Flexible Framework For Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment, Etiane Navarro

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder in which cognitive, behavioral, language, and social-cognitive changes may occur across clinical phenotypes, including the ALS-frontotemporal spectrum. Neuropsychological assessment is important for characterizing nonmotor manifestations and identifying changes relevant to autonomy, everyday functioning, and clinical management. This systematic review examined literature identified through APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and supplementary searching to characterize neuropsychological domains, measures, phenotype-related findings, and disease-specific limitations relevant to comprehensive assessment. Two hundred records underwent title and abstract screening, 150 reports were reviewed in full text, and 61 resources were retained for synthesis. ALS-specific screening instruments, including …

Sdrc Update (Volume 7, Issue 4), Dlsu Social Development Research Center

SDRC Publications

The October 2026 issue of SDRC Update highlights research on child development and Filipino nursing knowledge, alongside the contributions of researchers and emerging scholars. This issue features the validation of the enhanced and expanded Philippine Early Learning and Development Standards (PELDS) for children from birth to 8 years old. It also showcases the Narsolohiyang Pilipino project, which examines Filipino experiences and ways of knowing as foundations for nursing knowledge through a decolonial lens. The Researcher Spotlight features Dr. Carmelita I. Quebengco, recipient of the 2026 Evolutio Socialis Distinguished Researcher Award, highlighting her contributions to indigenous education and community development. The …

Representation Of Beauty: Gendered Discourses In Czech And Indonesian Advertisements, Indah Kurnia Herliani, Nurenzia Yannuar, Yusnita Febrianti, Ahmad Faizuddin

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

Beauty advertising is a public multimodal site in which gendered beauty ideals are made visible and linked to consumption. This study examines how beauty is constructed in the linguistic landscape (LL) of public advertisements in two localized urban settings: Olomouc, the Czech Republic, and Malang, Indonesia. We combine LL as the spatial and sociolinguistic framework, multimodal analysis through Cheong's (2004) Generic Structure Potential (GSP), and Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA), operationalized through Fairclough's (1992) three-dimensional model. Rather than treating the two sites as representative of their countries or regions, we use them as comparative case studies to examine how similar …

Creative Conversations: The Un-Meeting As An Approach To Agricultural Extension Communication, Jessica R. Spence, Eric K. Kaufman, Megan M. Seibel, Jean A. Parrella, Crystal Tyler-Mackey, Benjamin B. Grove, Bolane Adebayo, Olamide Olowoyo, Sonika Poudel, Stephanie Zhu, Michael Gutter

Journal of Extension

The agricultural industry increasingly faces complex challenges that require diverse stakeholder input, and traditional meeting approaches often limit engagement and perpetuate top-down dynamics that can inhibit effective problem-solving. This article explores the ``un-meeting'' format as an alternative, highlighting its ability to foster inclusive, participant-driven discussions that encourage collaborative brainstorming and actionable outcomes. Based on our experience with a statewide agriculture summit, we discuss the principles underlying un-meetings, the facilitation process, and the practical implications for Extension professionals. Recommendations include the importance of knowledgeable facilitators, a large team for effective management, and limiting session cycles to maintain focus and depth in …

Latino Perceptions Of Nature, Recreation, And Community Engagement In Wasatch And Summit Counties, Utah, Elsa Perez, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Lewis Kogan, Isaac Helton

All Current Publications

This fact sheet presents results from a Utah State University study on Latino perceptions of nature, recreation, and community engagement in Utah's Wasatch and Summit counties and barriers to accessing programming. It also includes tips for increasing Latino participation in nature programs.

Muscle Shoals: A Plan For The Use Of The United States Properties On The Tennessee Power By Private Industry For Of "The Manufacture Of Fertilizers And Other Useful Products", Muscle Shoals Commission, United States Government Printing Office Washington: 1931

Documents

A plan created by the Muscle Shoals commission for instituting a series of fertilizer production operations in the Tennessee Valley area. In addition to written analysis, the document contains multiple images, illustrations, charts, graphs, and maps of the area to illustrate the reasoning of the plan.

Although the plan was never fully brought to fruition, it represents a crucial piece of agricultural and infrastructural history in the Shoals, Alabama alongside existent history on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the development of the nitrate plants.

“I’M Never Enough”: Associations Of Childhood Emotional Abuse Subtypes With Overweight Preoccupation And Dietary Restraint Among Women, Kayla Queen, Megan Sweeney, David A. Frederick

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Childhood emotional abuse from authority figures encompasses verbal abuse, emotional rejection, and overexpectations. Although global emotional abuse is an established correlate of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, the unique roles of these specific subtypes remain underexamined. Across two studies of adult women recruited from CloudResearch (Ns = 2566; 824), we evaluated associations between authority figure abuse subtypes, body image, and dietary restraint. Bivariate correlations revealed that all subtypes related to poorer body image and higher restraint. Hierarchical regressions demonstrated that emotional abuse subtypes explained incremental variance across outcomes beyond demographic factors. When modeled simultaneously, overexpectations emerged as the …

Advancing Equity Through Mentorship: Supporting Racialized Immigrant And International Students In Canadian Higher Education, Cecilia Bukutu Phd, Viola Manokore Dr, Michael Safo Ofori

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Mentorship initiatives have increasingly supported racialized students in Canada, yet gaps remain in addressing their intersectional needs. This study examines the experiences of Black postsecondary immigrant, refugee, and international students in the Mentorship and Resilience Project (MRP), a racially concordant mentorship initiative. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, data were drawn from interviews, focus groups, and post-workshop surveys. Guided by Anti-Black Racism and Intersectionality frameworks, the study explores how institutional diversity discourses may operate as non-performative practices that obscure structural inequities. Findings show students faced intersecting challenges related to migration status, race, and gender, marked by tensions between invisibility and hypervisibility. …

Job Satisfaction Among Librarians In South-West, Nigeria, Gladys Irene Ogunleye Mrs, Peter Olufemi Owoeye Mr, Ojo Adereolu, Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study examined job satisfaction among university librarians in Southwest Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design of the correlational type was adopted for the study. The population comprised university librarians in public and private universities in Southwest Nigeria, while a sample of 180 librarians was drawn from six selected universities using a multi-stage sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Job Satisfaction among University Librarians Questionnaire (JSULQ),” which was validated through face and content validation by experts in Library and Information Science and Educational Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the instrument was established using …

I Think, Therefore I Am I Am, Therefore I Think, Zrinka Tomašić

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This work is bringing forward questions about animal, plant, inanimate objects (including AI and molecules, atoms and subatomic particles) and even post-mortem consciousness. It gives examples and researches that are made and still being made. It connects the real examples with the philosophic thought past and present, Western and Chinese. It even mentions the research assignment about plant consciousness that is suitable for school children to do. And, although it has so many examples in biology, philosophy, physics and other fields, in the end it asks a question „Are they really conscious“ to every reader to reflect on. To come …

Web-Mapping Viewers To Enhance Environmental Education And Watershed Planning, Austin L Holland, John Strauser, Eric Olson

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals have been using web-based geographic information system (GIS) viewers to aid in education, outreach, and planning. This article highlights the Center for Land Use Education's new Watershed & Conservation Planning Web-Viewer, which was created in collaboration with Extension Lakes using publicly available GIS data. The tool has two objectives: to enhance public education on the relationship between land and water resources and to support the use of geospatial data in conservation planning. This article outlines the justification for the tool, its usefulness, and a path forward for those who can create their own version for their region or …

“Salvation Must Be Communicated”: An Ecumenical Reading Of The Place Of The Lion, Avery-Claire Galloway

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

While previous scholarship has cautioned against a reductive tendency in the analysis of Charles Williams’s work, this paper offers an analysis that explores the importantly multiplicable nature of meaning used in one of Williams’s most bizarre novels, The Place of the Lion. A close reading of a remark from the novel’s heroine that “salvation must be communicated” provides a lens by which the entire novel can be read, revealing how Williams presents a specific, culture-centered version of Christianity where communication leads to a salvation that is more cultural than doctrinal, more than the erasure of sins, but an experience …

Small Changes, Big Impact: Affordable Ways To Implement Universal Design, Karlene T. Clark, Hannah Beebe

Librarian Posters and Presentations

Adjusting your library for Universal Design doesn’t have to break the bank! There are strategies for making library spaces more accessible with little to no cost. This program will discuss practical accessibility ideas, including free and low-cost changes. Presenters will also provide aspirational ideas for bigger budgets. Topics include digital spaces, physical spaces, and event planning.

Resources Shaping Science Teachers' Design And Implementation Of Scientific Argumentation Instruction: A Systematic Review, Nannan Fan, Eric A. Kirk, Minghui Zhu, Troy D. Sadler

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Scientific argumentation is a core scientific practice recognized by multiple national science standards, yet many science teachers experience challenges integrating it into their classrooms. This systematic review examined the resources identified by research as shaping teachers’ argumentation instruction and how these resources were reported to support teachers’ classroom practice. Guided by an adapted version of the Pedagogical Design Capacity Framework, we analyzed 79 empirical studies published between 1983 and 2025. Resources were categorized as personal, instructional, or contextual, and their specific supportive aspects were grouped according to their reported contributions. Personal resources included teachers’ beliefs, knowledge of argumentation, and pedagogical …

Community-Based Water Management Through Cultural Ecosystem Services: Traditional Wisdom And Modern Adaptation In Senjoyo Spring, Indonesia, Puji Winarti, Sri Haryani, Sri Wardani, Langlang Handayani

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Small-scale freshwater ecosystems play vital ecological and cultural roles. However, community-based water management (CBWM) often lacks a clear analytical approach to integrating cultural ecosystem services (CES) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), limiting the practical understanding of culturally grounded governance. To address this gap, this qualitative study explores the interactions between CES and TEK, analyzes their roles within CBWM, and identifies their implications for sustainable water governance. The integration between cultural value and local ecological knowledge makes Senjoyo Spring an appropriate location for this study. Data were collected through interviews with 20 key informants, field observations, forum group discussions (FGDs), and …

‘There Is No Continuity’: Assessment Of Pre-Service Teachers' Ability To Analyse Historical Sources In Two Ghanaian Public Universities, Anitha Oforiwah Adu-Boahen

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The paper examined student-teachers’ understanding of change and continuity in History. Using a convergent parallel mixed method approach, one hundred and thirty-five (135) student-teachers from two public universities examined images depicting classroom settings in Ghana’s educational system from different periods. Respondents were expected to show and explain the continuities and changes in the different periods in Ghanaian history. They were to focus on the disparities in ‘change’ and ‘continuities’ in classroom settings in the Ghanaian educational system over time. Again, student-teachers were expected to transform their knowledge of these changes into historical understanding by writing an interpretation from the sources. …

Book Review: "Burning Matters: Life, Labor, And E-Waste Pyropolitics In Ghana" By Peter C. Little, Natalie Gabriela Tobing

Antropologi Indonesia

“Burning Matters: Life, Labor, and E-waste Pyropolitics in Ghana” is written by Peter C. Little, published in 2021 through Oxford University Press. This book is an experiment in electronic waste (e-waste) anthropology. It focuses on e-waste embodiment—an understanding of urban waste as it is imagined and experienced by the situated, laboring, and contaminated bodies enduring toxic struggles and how the e-waste workers navigate various urban environmental health science and waste management interventions (2021). E-waste, in simplest terms, is defined as discarded devices with electronic circuits and devices, using electricity in some capacity and having integrated circuits or microchips in order …