Digital Commons Network^™

Silver Linings Playlist: Exploring The Effectiveness Of Music As An Emotion Regulation Tool, Caitlin Fountain

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Music not only entertains listeners, but it also evokes emotions and facilitates emotion regulation (Gabrielsson, 2001; Krahe & Bienick, 2012). Specifically, music helps listeners to express their emotions and alter their mood through cognitive reappraisal (Chin & Rickard, 2014; Witvliet & Vrana, 2007). Listening to music also enhances relaxation and reduces physiological arousal after experiencing a stressful event (Yehuda, 2011). Stress often involves an influx of negative emotions, which when left unmitigated, may result in fewer positive emotions, increased depression, and maladaptive coping (Flynn & Rudolph, 2010; Lazenby et al., 2019). While music appears to be an effective stress management …

A Refreshing Change: Safeguarding Mothers And Children From Pfas Exposure, Emmanuela Nwaonumah, Alisha Riggins, Emmanuel Azu, Oluwatoyin Ayo-Farai, Joanne Chopak-Foss, Logan Cowan, Atin Adhikari

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

The Strong Families Program: Utility Of Telehealth Parenting Skills Psychoeducation, Grace C. Prosperi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Externalizing behaviors in children are a common problem experienced by many parents. If untreated, externalizing behaviors are associated with more serious consequences (Hann, 2012). Parents of children with behavior issues also report higher levels of stress (Dumas et al., 2009). Parenting stress is related to lower life satisfaction for parents and increased negative outcomes for children living in the home. Parent training programs, incorporating attachment building and discipline strategies, combat childhood externalizing behaviors in clinical settings. While reducing childhood externalizing behaviors is the main aim of parent training, there are other benefits to gaining parenting skills such as increased familial …

Factors Associated With Patient Portal Utilization, Preventive Services Utilization, And Health Promoting Behaviors Among Adults In The United States, Elizabeth Ayangunna

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Nearly 60% of adults in the United States are estimated to have one or more chronic conditions, necessitating strategies to improve the health status of persons with chronic disease. Given that health information technology (HIT) is considered highly valuable for superior disease management, it is imperative to examine how HIT use can improve health behaviors, which can in turn improve health status. This study aimed to examine if there was an association between patient portal utilization and the use of preventive services & health-promoting behaviors. Also, this study examined the influence of self-efficacy on preventive health behaviors among adults …

Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Of First-Year University Students, Kylie A. Roberts

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The early college years represent a specific period in a student’s life that is crucial for their development. Approximately one in three college students meet the criteria for a mental health problem (Eisenberg et al., 2013). Universities have unique opportunities for identifying risk and delivering prevention or intervention strategies to students in need. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with First-Year University students’ help-seeking behaviors for university-based mental health services. H₁: There will be group differences between gender and race/ethnicity on help-seeking behaviors, knowledge barriers of services or providers and perceived stigma. H_{2 …}

Assessing The Influence Of Gender Equity In The Us State Legislatures On Prenatal Healthcare Utilization, Prachi Joshi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Prenatal care is crucial for achieving public health and primary healthcare objectives. It is one of the goals of Healthy People 2030, which is the US federal initiative to improve the health and well-being of people nationwide. Unfortunately, despite the lofty goals, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. In 2020, the maternal mortality rate in the US was 24 deaths per 100,000 live births, more than three times the rate in most high-income countries. What is concerning is that it is getting worse. Seven hundred women die of pregnancy-related complications. Among them, black and …

Implicit Beliefs About Anxiety And The Relationship With Competitive Anxiety Intensity And Direction, Luca M. Ziegler

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

During the Fall of 2021, 45% of male and 72% of female student-athletes reported overwhelming anxiety at least once a month (NCAA, 2021). In addition to affecting an individual’s well-being, anxiety may negatively impact athletic performance (Edwards & Hardy, 1996). To better understand the impact of anxiety on athletic performance and develop effective interventions, both the intensity and direction of symptoms experienced must be considered. Incremental beliefs have been shown to be related to desirable performance outcomes and increased well-being in various populations (Danthony et al., 2020; Dweck, 2008), and may provide an effective intervention to interpret anxiety as more …

Executive Function & Self-Regulation In Preschool Age Children: Mindfulness Intervention, Larissa Lamarca

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Executive function is an umbrella term used in psychology to define a number of cognitive processes that are important for success in daily life. Both self-awareness, being able to focus one’s thoughts and behavior, and self-regulation, being able to manage emotional and behavioral responses, are important components of executive function. Between three- and five-years of age, children begin developing such skills rapidly which are necessary for school readiness. This study recruited children participants from four local preschools to test for improvement in attention and self-regulatory skills. Two schools completed a mindful yoga activity for five consecutive days, while a second …

It's Not A Phobia: Reducing Transnegativity Using Imagined Intergroup Contact, Rachel Cook

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The present study evaluated the efficacy of a novel imagined intergroup contact procedure in reducing feelings of transnegativity held by cisgender individuals. The intervention, based on the Fast Friends Procedure (Aron et al., 1997), has participants interact with a fictional transgender person who answers questions about himself; participants then write a free-response answer to the question for themselves. The current hypotheses were that the imagined intergroup contact procedure would (1) reduce feelings of transnegativity, (2) reduce feelings of contact apprehension toward transgender people, and (3) increase feelings of self-other overlap between cisgender people and a transgender target. In Study 1, …

For Black Girls, By Black Girls: Examining The Experiences Of Black Women In Historically White Learning Spaces And Reimagining Spaces With Our Needs In Mind, Florence Takeshia Brown

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the experiences of Black women in historically white learning spaces and our needs in reimaged learning spaces developed for us. The conceptual framework for this study was Black Feminist Thought, critical geography, and Afrofuturism. Using sister circle methodology, participants discussed the simultaneous racialized and gendered experiences that Black women navigate in learning spaces and how technology and Afrofuturism could be beneficial in creating spaces for Black women. Despite our achievements in academic spaces, Black women experience microaggressive environments that have traumatic impacts on our psychological health and our overall experiences in learning environments. Our successes are acts …

Addressing Breast Health Disparities Among Recent, Established African-Born Immigrant Women And Second-Generation Americans In Prince George County, Maryland, Omolola Okunromade

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Breast health disparities and underutilization of screening methods are major concerns in the United States (US), particularly affecting Black women who experience lower survival rates and advanced diagnoses. Despite the rapid growth of the African-born immigrant population, breast health among this group in the US is notably under-examined. This study aims to investigate the breast health knowledge and practices of first-generation African-born immigrants and second-generation immigrant women of African descent, aiming to understand the distinctive attributes of this group and the impact of acculturation on this public health issue.

Methods: Interviews were conducted among First Generation African immigrants and …

What Could Go Wrong? Patient And Hospital Characteristics Associated With Pediatric Quality Of Inpatient Care And Pediatric Adverse Events, Michael H. Samawi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study aims to analyze associations between hospital and patient characteristics with pediatric adverse events (PAE) in the inpatient hospital setting, utilizing the framework of pediatric quality indicators (PDIs) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicators. Three PDIs were identified and utilized for this purpose: NQI 03 Neonatal Blood Stream Infection, PDI 09 Postoperative Respiratory Failure, and PDI 10 Postoperative Sepsis. The data used for the study is based on an analysis of discharge data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kid’s Inpatient Databases (KID) for the year 2019. The findings contribute to the growing …

First Impressions: Engage Your Students Starting With The Syllabus!, Virginia (Ginger) B. Wickline, Drew Appleby

SoTL Commons Conference

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Educating Undergraduate Student Leaders: A Study Of Learning In A Leadership Program Of A National Fraternity, Meghan Grace, Pietro Antonio Sasso, Kim E. Bullington, Dawn Wiese

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Leadership development experiences have long been touted as necessary and positive for promoting the practice of effective leadership. Yet, little has been presented about the effectiveness of leadership development programs sponsored, designed, and implemented by membership-based organizations, like fraternities and sororities. This study examines the efficacy of a national fraternity sponsored leadership development program for chapter presidents in facilitating a meaningful developmental experience and encouraging long-term learning gains. Data collected at three intervals throughout the year in which program attendees were in office were analyzed using ANOVA and t-tests to identify the specific areas in which students reported learning …

Minimizing The Ratchet Effect: Why Reciprocity Preserves Customer Satisfaction In Service Environments, Kyle A. Huggins, Val Larsen

AMTP Proceedings 2023

This paper focuses on a fundamental problem for marketers: the ratchet effect. The ratchet effect occurs when actual service performance is perceived to be significantly higher than service expectations, causing dissonance and resulting consumer guilt. If left unattended, consumers relieve their guilt by increasing the perceived state of expectations for subsequent visits. Known as the ratchet effect, this causes a dilemma for the service business as they consistently strive to improve service performance. Using equity theory, our experimental study explores whether businesses can break the ratchet effect by providing mechanisms of reciprocity for consumers to respond at little or no …

K-8 Preservice Teachers' Numeracy (Number Sense) Knowledge, Gregory Chamblee, Tuyin An, Ha Nguyen, Eryn Michelle Maher, Heidi Eisenreich, David Rogerson

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Georgia Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators

The Georgia Numeracy Project Individual Knowledge Assessment of Number (IKAN) written assessment is a video-based assessment used in Georgia to assess Grades 4-8 numeracy mastery. IKAN written pre/post assessment data were collected spring and fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters at a Georgia instituion of higher education in a Foundations of Numbers and Operations course to assess K-8 preservice teachers mathematics numeracy knowledge. Students' numeracy knowledge increased during the course but almost all students did not complete the course with the highest possible stage scores. These data support the assertation a content course can positively impact student knowledge. These data …

Graduate Catalog, Georgia Southern University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Toward Modernization: Using Strategic Development To Address Deficits In The Juvenile Justice System, David A. Mcleod, Emily A. Roberts

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

The Juvenile Justice System was established on the premise of rehabilitative action for behaviors that have led youth to the criminal justice system. However, the system has increasingly moved away from this original concept toward a punitive model. The authors present how this movement resulted in the devolution of human rights for the youth involved, a decrease in public safety, and a radical departure from fiscal responsibility related to the theoretical origins of rehabilitation. Studies on topics ranging from costs of correctional centers to trauma experienced by youth in these systems, along with many others, are compared to identify specific …

Advancing Protective And Promotive Factors Through The Magic City Acceptance Academy, Matthew Fifolt, D. Keith Gurley, Dwayne White

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

Introduction: In 2021, leaders in Birmingham, Alabama established one of the first LGBTQ-affirming charter school in the United States to serve students who have dropped out, are not thriving in traditional schools, or are enrolled in home-school programs.

Methods: Using deductive analysis, our research team filtered data through the five pre-defined themes of the Youth Thrive Framework: (a) youth resilience, (b) social connections, (c) knowledge of adolescent development, (d) concrete support in times of need, and (e) cognitive and social-emotional competence.

Results: Study findings suggest that MCAA’s innovative and adaptive approaches to curriculum, discipline, and student engagement align with the …

Teaching And Learning In Art And Design: Results And Reflections On Two Sotl Projects Within A New Master Of Art, Rebecca Layson, Diana Gregory

SoTL Commons Conference

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Put Yourself In My Shoes: Active Learning And Perspective-Taking In A First Year Honors Transition Course, April Tallant

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

Intersectionality Of Self-Reported Food Insecurity And Perceived Stress Of College Students At A Land-Grant Southeastern Higher Education Institution During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kendra Oonorasak, Makenzie Barr, Michael Pennell, Dylan Hardesty, Kotomi Yokokura, Samantha Udarbe, Tammy Stephenson

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

College food insecurity (FI) and poor psychosocial health are prevalent public health issues in the U.S., yet often overlooked. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, repercussions on these critical inequity issues remain unclear. During the summer months of 2020, this cross-sectional survey examined associations between students’ self-reported FI and perceived stress (PSS-10), one aspect of poor psychosocial health. An anonymous online survey was distributed to a convenience sample of college students at a land grant institution of higher education in the southeastern U.S., and $10 e-gift card was provided to survey respondents. The survey response rate was 26.2% (n=235) and participants were …

Emotion Recognition Skills In College Students: Do Gender, Skin Tone, And College Major Affect Emotion Recognition?, Kaylee M. Mccook

Honors College Theses

Humans constantly express emotions both consciously and unconsciously; these emotions are constantly being perceived by those around us. The ability to understand nonverbal expressions and body language is key for successful social interactions in private and professional life. This research assessed 174 students on their ability to perceive emotions from nonverbal cues in faces and postures. The first hypothesis stated there would be a difference in the ability to perceive nonverbal language based on the gender of the viewer was partially supported. I found that women made fewer mistakes than men when observing sets of facial stimuli. A non-significant difference …

Relationship Between School Climate And Student Achievement In Middle Schools, Brad Boykin

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Administrators are charged with making decisions and implementing strategies to improve a school’s climate and student achievement. Because school climate and student achievement are interrelated, it would benefit administrators to understand which areas of school climate have the greatest impact on student achievement. The State of Georgia measures school climate and achievement with its school accountability measure, College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). This study employed a quantitative research design using archival data from CCRPI over two years to examine the relationship between school climate and student achievement. The researcher used Pearson’s r correlation and multiple regression analysis to …

A “Post” Pandemic(S) Village Check-In: Pulse Checks And Recommendations For A Hard Re-Set In Education, Jarvais J. Jackson, Alesia Mickle Moldavan, Anne Valauri

Elementary & Special Education: Faculty Publications

Utilizing the lens of the “pandemic as portal” (Roy, 2020; Souto-Manning, 2021) and the need for a “hard re-set” (Ladson-Billings, 2021) of our current education system, this literature synthesis engages with head, health, and home to consider what a new normal could look like as we take a “village check-in” of each area. For head, we consider the systemic barriers to equitable academic achievement that have long been in place for Black and Brown students. When considering health, we look at the impact of the pandemic on teacher well-being and how this may impact their ability to teach effectively and …

Role Play: Actualizing The Iep Meeting For Pre-Service Teachers, Courtney A. Toledo

Elementary & Special Education: Faculty Publications

Teacher preparation programs provide numerous teaching and learning opportunities for pre-service teachers; however, participating in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is not an experience that can be guaranteed. Leading and participating in IEP meetings are a responsibility that all special education teachers will be held accountable for, but many pre-service teachers will never be able to observe a real IEP meeting before entering the field. In this qualitative case study, the researcher utilizes a simulated IEP meeting to provide pre-service teachers with experience in participating in an IEP meeting prior to entering the profession. The case study method is …

Implementation Of Extra Credit Quizzes As A Teaching Tool In General Chemistry, Eric Johnson

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

High Impact Practices: Faculty Perceptions And Barriers To Implementation, Virginia (Ginger) B. Wickline, Rami Haddad, Padmini Shankar, Karelle Aiken

SoTL Commons Conference

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A Negotiated Curriculum: Giving Students Choice And Voice, Brenda Thomas

SoTL Commons Conference

Implementing a negotiated curriculum entails sharing power with students by giving them the autonomy to make decisions of varying degrees about curriculum and pedagogical practices. It is a relational pedagogy that increases student agency and engagement, enhances inclusion and belonging, and models democratic dialogue. Teaching with students as partners rather than to students as objects holds transformational power for instructors as well as students. This session will explore the results of a 3-year research project that examined students’ engagement in learning during their participation in a negotiated curriculum. Session participants will hear how one faculty member implements this approach, reflect …

Georgia Southern Magazine, Georgia Southern University

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