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Mindfulness And Anxiety Symptoms: The Role Of Cognitive Reappraisal In Community Adults, Calla L. Pritulsky

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition worldwide and contributes to substantial societal costs, personal distress, and impairment (World Health Organization, 2023). Given its high prevalence, low treatment utilization, and modest response rates, identifying protective factors to inform prevention efforts is critical (Mamede et al., 2022; Mendelson & Eaton, 2018). Mindfulness, or the ability to nonjudgmentally pay attention to the present moment, comprises five key facets: observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity (Baer et al., 2006b). Although mindfulness is inversely associated with anxiety, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear (Desrosiers et al., 2013). Cognitive reappraisal, defined …

Evaluating Measurement Models Of Problematization: Connections With Identity Empowerment And Community Connectedness, Angel Long

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Consistent with Liberation theory, problematization is the process of creating critical reflection, a means by which critical consciousness occurs. It is a method for understanding issues faced by oppressed populations, while centering the perspective of these populations. Within Liberation spaces, problematization is critical for fostering critical consciousness, disrupting oppression, and promoting strength. However, problematization is a theoretical concept frame from narrative responses and lived experiences of marginalized individuals. There are few resources highlighting depictions of problematizing/critical consciousness and cultural strengths captured by measures of BIPOC community functioning. Therefore, there is a need to empirically evaluate major tenets of the concept …

Turning To The Sacred: The Role Of Religious/Spiritual Coping In Psychological Outcomes Of Childhood Interpersonal Trauma, Vanessa S. Tomasik

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are widespread and associated with significant and lasting psychological consequences, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and dissociation. Much of the existing literature has focused on adult trauma or narrowly examined childhood abuse and neglect, with comparatively limited attention given to other forms of childhood adversity such as witnessing intimate partner violence, parental separation, or household dysfunction. As a result, the differential psychological impact of distinct types of ACE exposure (i.e., maltreatment vs. household dysfunction) remains insufficiently understood. Emerging literature on coping identifies religious and spiritual (R/S) coping as an important factor in trauma adaptation. Positive R/S …

Medical Distrust And Willingness To Engage In Mental Healthcare: The Moderating Roles Of Mental Health Literacy And Stigma Among Rural Populations, Alex Cudd

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Healthcare and mental healthcare disparities among rural communities in the United States remain a persistent and growing public health concern, driven by both structural barriers and sociocultural factors that continue to compromise rural community members’ utilization of healthcare services. Though structural barriers to rural healthcare are well-documented, there are continued gaps in the literature related to the understanding of sociocultural mechanisms contributing to these disparities. The present study investigated the influence of medical distrust, mental health literacy, and perceived public stigma on attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among rural adults living within the United States. A sample of 240 …

The Effects Of Restorative Practices On Student Behavior And School Climate: A Case Study, Victoria Smith, M.A.T., Donna Governor, Ph.D, Carlise Womack-Wynne, Ed.D

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Schools have been seeking alternatives to punitive discipline measures. As an alternative, restorative practices offer healing, community, and relationships. This case study examined a middle school that had been implementing restorative practices since the 2019–2020 school year, three full years at the time of study. A mixed-methods design was used in order to investigate whether the implementation of restorative practices had resulted in a decrease of student misbehaviors and an increase in staff perceptions of school climate. Staff were interviewed (n = 19) and surveyed (n = 44). A thematic analysis was conducted on the interview data, and …

Are Accountability Courts In Georgia A Cost-Effective Public Health Policy Alternative?, Brian D. Graves, Orion Mowbray, Leaanne Derigne, Holly Lynde, Angel Ellis, Rachel Meyer

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of accountability courts in Georgia, presenting them as a viable alternative in public health policy.

Methods: The research utilized survey data collected from 37 court programs across 40 distinct accountability court programs; it was conducted by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government in collaboration with the Council of Accountability Court Judges. The analysis includes a comparative assessment of cost savings, benefits, and differences among various court types, specifically focusing on drug courts, DUI courts, mental health courts, family treatment courts, and veterans treatment courts.

Results: Results reveal that …

On The Origins Of Western Religion And Thought: How Do We Get Home?, The Philosophical Discussion Group

The Philosopher's Stone

• On the Origins of Western Religion and Thought: How do we get Home?

Defining Evidence-Based Practices From A Practitioner Perspective: An Analysis Of How The Peer Assisted School Transition (P.A.S.T.) Project Fits Within The Evidence-Based Practices Continuum, Afiya King, Hillarie Wise, Nakia Cross, Donna Dent, Andrew Jordan Williamson, Maysa Osman, Carlos A O Pavao

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study examines the implementation and evaluation of the Peer Assisted School Transition (P.A.S.T.) Project, an evidence-informed, peer-led intervention designed to prevent substance misuse among youth during key educational transitions. The study explores the effectiveness of the program in strengthening protective factors, reducing risk factors, and enhancing skills related to substance misuse prevention.

Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-surveys administered to fifth- and eighth-grade students to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups, interviews, and observations to provide contextual insight into program implementation …

Peer-Peer Mentoring In Undergraduate Medical Education (Ume): Scoping Review Of Us-Based Medical Schools, Sakshi Sehgal, Jordon Brinkley, Andrea Kadima, Sydney Wright, Nicole Winston Ms, Pharmd, Edd

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Mentorship plays a formative role in undergraduate medical education (UME) From shaping professional outcomes to developing longitudinal personal relationships, various forms of mentorship can influence student progress meaningfully, particularly for students from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds. Though faculty-student mentorship has been readily investigated, limited knowledge exists regarding peer-peer mentorship structures, particularly within UME in the American medical education model. This scoping review sought to investigate existing peer-peer mentorship models, as well as report on the need for further mentorship within this realm in UME.

Methods: This scoping review employed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. We conducted a systematic and comprehensive …

The Role Of Social Determinants Of Health In Hydroxyurea Adherence Among Persons With Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review, Doreen O. Ugwu, Lori L. Vick, Terika Williams, Aurela Nikaj, Seyi Omeh, Benjamin Becerra Dr., Tilicia Mayo-Gamble

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Objective: Georgia has one of the highest prevalences of sickle cell disease (SCD). For Georgians living with SCD, inadequate medication adherence is associated with important clinical outcomes. One important area that is understudied in SCD is the impact of social determinants of health (SDoH) on medication adherence. A foundational understanding of SDoH is needed to introduce, inform and carry out programs and interventions designed to facilitate hydroxyurea adherence through the state of Georgia.

Method: We conducted a systematic literature review to synthesize the literature on SDoH addressed in studies to improve hydroxyurea adherence in persons with SCD. SDoH were based …

History Happenings, Georgia Southern University

History: News & Publications

No abstract provided.

Operationally Ready Vs Gym Ready: Training For The Real Demands Of Tactical Work, Ben Jacobs

Tactical & Occupational Performance Conference

Tactical organizations are increasingly recognizing that readiness extends beyond fitness alone. Structured performance systems that integrate training, recovery, nutrition, and fatigue management can help departments improve resilience, reduce injuries, and sustain operational capability over an entire career.

Session's revolve around the concept of Tactical Readiness Architecture, a systems-based framework designed to help departments build structured, sustainable performance support for their personnel. Rather than focusing solely on workouts or individual habits, Tactical Readiness Architecture integrates training, recovery, nutrition, fatigue management, and data-informed monitoring into a cohesive readiness model.

The Readiness Reset: Sleep, Stress, And Pain Management For Tactical Performance, Lauren Fried

Tactical & Occupational Performance Conference

Tactical professionals operate in high-demand environments where sleep disruption, chronic stress, and persistent pain are often normalized, but these factors significantly affect readiness, resilience, and long-term performance. This session explores how sleep, stress, and pain interact at the physiological and neurological levels to influence decision-making, recovery, injury risk, and operational effectiveness in first responders and military personnel.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how nervous system regulation, circadian rhythms, and pain perception affect both physical and cognitive performance under stress. Drawing on current research and applied human performance principles, this session highlights practical, field-applicable strategies that tactical professionals and …

The Trauma Challenge: Are You Ready To Lead With Trust-Based Relational Intervention?, Tara Quinn-Schuldt Dr., Patrick Walker, Melinda Meadow, Megan Jance

Southeast Conference on School Climate

In today’s educational landscape, understanding trauma isn’t optional, it’s essential. The Cherokee County School District has transformed from trauma-aware to trauma-responsive through intentional implementation and the creation of its connectED cohort training model. Combining strategic district-wide staff, including administrators, teachers, school support personnel, nurses, and resource officers—we created a collective approach to improving school climate, culture, and overall student outcomes. This comprehensive model integrates mental health, attachment theory, behavior intervention, and trauma responsiveness into the educational environment. This session shares evidence-based tools, a trauma-responsiveness assessment template, and strategies to address contradictions and strengthen trauma-responsive practices.

Marketing As Practice: Resolving The Hunt-Anderson Stalemate Through Practice Theory, Stephen A. Lemay, Martin Svendsen

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This paper revisits methodological debates in marketing theory, tracing the progression from Sidney Levy’s work on symbolic consumption to the Hunt–Anderson empiricist–relativist debate. We argue that this debate rests on a category error: marketing has been misclassified as either a science or an interpretive discipline. Drawing on contemporary practice theory, we reconceptualize marketing as a professional practice oriented toward creating and managing exchange relationships within cultural contexts. This perspective resolves the Hunt–Anderson stalemate, clarifies the epistemological foundations of Consumer Culture Theory (CCT) and Transformative Consumer Research (TCR), and generates distinct research questions and methods. Through comparative exemplars, we show how …

“I” Or “We” In Times Of Crises: Should Marketers Use Individualist Or Collectivist Language When Times Are Tough?, Milad Hour, Golshad Parsimoghadam, Ali Jamei

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

During the pandemic, as people dealt with fatalities, lockdowns, and the psychological impact of reduced social interactions, some marketing messages still captured significant public attention. What was the key element contributing to the success of these communications during such challenging times? This study focuses on the role of collectivism as a stress-coping mechanism included within marketing communications. Analyzing approximately 56,000 brand-generated posts on Platform X, the research examines how the use of collectivist language (e.g., we, us, etc.) relates to message likability, particularly as the pandemic nears its peak. The findings reveal that collectivist terms are positively associated with the …

Strategic Sustainability In Fast-Fashion: Consumer Responses To Green Collections, Caroline Le Bon

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

The fashion industry has long been criticized for its detrimental environmental impact. As awareness grows, consumers acknowledge that their demand for variety at low prices has fueled the industry’s unethical practices, making sustainability a key concern for them and for companies. Although fast-fashion brands introduce sustainable collections, they continue to face criticism for prevalent greenwashing practices. Our research explores how integrating such collections into fast-fashion assortments influences consumer perception and purchase intention, depending on their involvement in both fashion and sustainability. Through our quantitative study, we find that implementing strategic sustainability through green collections alone is insufficient to convince environmentally …

Beyond The Shelf: How Reallocating Shelf Space To Emerging Brands Enhances Store Performance Through Dynamic Brand-Level Effects, Jesse Core, Ho Kim

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This study examines the effects of reallocating shelf space from established to emerging brands in the flavored malt beverage category, a fast-moving, impulse-driven product category. Using a 13-week field experiment in 16 U.S. grocery stores (six treated, ten control), we reallocated one shelf facing from an established to an emerging brand for four weeks before reverting the shelves to their original configuration. Then we analyzed weekly SKU-level data on sales with fixed-effects panel regressions. Results show that the shelf-space reallocation increased category sales by 21.2% during treatment and 27.6% after reversion, revealing persistent gains. At the brand level, emerging brands …

Fostering Student Inquiry With Perspective Taking And Music: The Geography Detective Activity, William Gary G. Cole

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

This article introduces the Geography Detective activity, an inquiry-based instructional strategy that integrates perspective taking and music to foster student engagement and disciplinary thinking in a ninth-grade World Geography classroom. Centered on the song “Cecilia” by The Mulligan Brothers, the activity invites students to analyze lyrics as historical evidence, investigate geographical and historical contexts, and construct evidence-based interpretations of time, place, and events embedded within the narrative. Through guided and open-ended inquiry, students adopt the role of “history detectives,” grappling with ambiguity, evaluating sources, and defending plausible conclusions rather than seeking predetermined answers. Grounded in research on inquiry-based learning, perspective …

Finding Your People, Finding Your Place: Institutional Collaborative Writing Groups As A Compassionate Approach To Developing A Professional Sotl Identity, Ruth L. Healey, Sean A. Morrissey, Mick Healey

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Practising the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) has been shown to help staff from non-traditional backgrounds (e.g. professional backgrounds) develop a sense of belonging within academia. This article examines how institutional collaborative writing groups support inexperienced SoTL practitioners in finding their place within their institution. Drawing on literature about SoTL identity and collaborative writing groups (CWGs), we consider how these CWGs assist colleagues in shaping their professional identities. We found that some staff did not see themselves as ‘academics’ or ‘researchers’, especially when their job emphasised teaching, such as ‘Teaching Fellow’. However, they strongly desired recognition and appreciation for …

The Impact Of A 14-Day Writing Challenge On Self-Regulation Skills, Nicole M. Mishnick, Ron Rhone, Kayla Reed

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This mixed-methods exploratory study, conducted with eight Ed.D. students at a single U.S. university, examines the impact of a 14-day writing challenge, an intervention designed to foster self-regulation and promote progress among doctoral students working on their dissertations. The writing challenge included daily writing tips, goal-setting prompts, and an opportunity for students to reflect on their writing practices. While exploratory, quantitative findings revealed significant growth in students’ use of goal-setting strategies and adaptive writing behavior. Qualitative analysis found that the writing challenge increased students' motivation, accountability, and self-awareness. The study findings suggest the environment created by the writing challenge positively …

Bayesian Or Frequentist? Testing The Association Between Statistical Approach In A Research Methods Class Project And Research Attitudes, Jacob B. Rode

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Research methods courses commonly include an empirical project. This quasi-experimental study examined whether using Bayesian statistics to analyze data would be associated with more positive student perceptions of research methods projects. At a private university in the U.S., two research methods courses were taught using frequentist statistics and two using Bayesian statistics for the project analyses. Students (N = 88) reported their attitudes towards research three times across the semester, and their perceptions of the project at the end of the course (Time 3). At Time 3, there were no significant differences between frequentist and Bayesian classes in their …

"Better Than A Boring Textbook": Studying Development Through Middle-Grade Literature, Heidi A. Sackreiter

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

College students are sometimes reluctant to purchase textbooks for various reasons, but they still must study the necessary content in a course or academic program. This Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research project examined college students’ perceptions of reading middle-grade novels in place of a traditional, formal textbook within an Adolescent Development course. All participants were part of a teacher education program at a four-year, public institution in the Midwest United States. Questionnaires were administered at the conclusion of two semesters, and respondents shared impressions about the middle-grade reading. Response to studying middle-grade novels instead of a textbook was …

Student Experience Of Ai-Driven Discussion Boards In An Undergraduate Course, Blake C. Colclasure, Jamie Greig, Taylor K. Ruth, Victoria Beasley

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Instructional platforms that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) are emerging in higher education. Scholarship of teaching and learning should not only examine student learning outcomes from the use of novel AI technologies but should also investigate student perceptions of these technologies. We employed the user experience (UX) framework to investigate students’ UX of the instructional AI-driven platform, Packback, as a mode for online discussion boards. A survey using the User Experience Questionnaire was developed and employed in a general elective arts and humanities undergraduate course offered online and in-person. Data from 96 undergraduate student responses were analyzed and large variability was …

Curriculum Negotiation: Supporting Student Autonomy To Enhance Student Engagement, Brenda L. Thomas, William Reynolds, Jonathan Ponce De Leon, Caroline Sorbara

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Student disengagement has become a prominent concern across higher education in the five years since the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet students who are engaged in learning tend to be more successful academically. Therefore, pedagogies that enhance student engagement increase the probability of students’ success. This qualitative study explored curriculum negotiation as one such pedagogy. Results demonstrated similar behavioral and cognitive engagement from students in traditional and negotiated classes, but greater affective and agentic engagement from those who negotiated the curriculum with their classmates. Additionally, more students in negotiated classes indicated transformative learning than students in traditionally taught classes. We examine the …

Deep Or Surface? Understanding Learning Approaches Among Undergraduate Students, Kelzang Tentsho, Jigme Wangchuk, Kencho Pelzom

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Student approaches to learning (SAL) have a significant impact on the quality of their learning and academic achievement. In this study, we examined the preferred learning approaches of undergraduate students and how these approaches change over time. The Revised Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) was administered to 75 students enrolled in the Anthropology program to evaluate students’ preferred learning approaches. The qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions involving 20 participants. Results showed a significantly higher deep score than surface score. Final year students had the highest deep approach score compared to other cohorts. The results also indicated that students …

The Growth And Influence Of Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning Publications, Duane Knudson

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Limited narrative reviews and bibliometric studies of SoTL were extended by a study of the size, growth, and bibliometric performance analysis of published research using three of the most comprehensive, next-generation database services. Multiple searches of Google Scholar, Dimensions, and OpenAlex were performed using nine keyword search combinations. Additional searches of ScopusÒ and Web of ScienceÔ were also performed. There has been exponential growth in indexed SoTL research since the early 2000s with up to 110,000 articles, chapters, and books indexed by Google Scholar. This body of research is larger than previously documented by reviews …

Effects Of A Context-Based Intervention On Sidelining Teacher Bias Towards Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Marisa Kortright

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

This study aims to investigate the impact of an empathetic intervention on pre-service teachers to minimize bias against students diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Behaviors typically associated with ADHD, such as inattention and hyperactivity, correspond to two primary categories that teachers identify as disruptive in the classroom (Sun & Shek, 2012). Numerous studies have demonstrated evidence of discrimination in the classroom against students diagnosed with ADHD (Cortnett-Ruiz & Hendricks, 1993; Metzger & Hamilton, 2021). Moreover, teachers frequently report feeling unprepared to support these students and experience increased stress levels (Green et al., 2002; Kirchhoff, 2023). Context-based interventions have successfully sidelined …

Assessing Decision Making Under Risk And Dynamic Task Environments In Humans, Dylan J. Cato

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

This research evaluates the theoretical foundations of recent embodied and enacted decision- making models(Baker., et al  2022) , specifically investigating whether "urgency" serves as a domain-general mechanism for reward-rate maximization. Across three experiments using a reward-performance contingency, we compare traditional decision-making frameworks with urgency-based theories to determine how participants navigate task demands and whether optimality assumptions hold (Reynaud, et al 2020). A primary focus involves testing whether motor excitability increases directly with evidence, or if "higher-level" deliberation occurs in parallel with se Using the Generalized Drift-Diffusion Model (GDDM) framework via PyDDM  (Shinn, et al 2020), we will …

Exploring Reaction Times In D1 Female Volleyball Players, Lydia Seymour

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

The purpose of this study was to examine reaction time in a group of Division I female volleyball athletes. Data was collected over a consecutive four-week timespan using the Dynavision D2 training system. The Dynavision D2 training system consists of a mounted board with a series of light-up buttons and a screen in the middle, also referred to as the t-scope. In this study, buttons would light up, at random, for one second at a time. Athletes were tasked to press each button as fast as possible before the next button would light up. In addition, the t-scope screen presented …