Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Values In The Treatment Of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Single-Case Experimental Design, Nicole Stumpp

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Borderline personality disorder impacts roughly 1.6% of the general population yet only a quarter of people with BPD are able to access treatment. Understanding the mechanisms that promote behavior change in treatment is crucial for improving care for this population. Experiential avoidance has been linked to risky behaviors, a prevalent and debilitating symptom observed in BPD. Values identification may be a fruitful avenue for engaging experiential avoidance in treatment. The goal of the present study is to understand the unique and combined effects of values identification and behavior change skills (i.e., opposite actions, exposure) on experiential avoidance (target), maladaptive behavior …

Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Single-Session Mechanism-Focused Intervention For Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors, Martina Fruhbauerova

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Suicide remains a critical public health concern, with increasing rates and millions experiencing suicidal ideation annually. Although evidence-based treatments exist, many are time-intensive, underutilized, and often inaccessible to high-risk individuals, especially those recently discharged from inpatient psychiatric care. Brief, scalable interventions targeting core psychological mechanisms implicated in suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are needed. This study evaluated a novel Single Session Mechanism-Focused Intervention (SSMFI) designed to reduce hopelessness and negative perceptions of social relatedness among adults hospitalized for STBs. In a randomized controlled trial (N = 38) conducted on two inpatient psychiatric units, participants were assigned to either the SSMFI …

Championing Reproductive And Perinatal Health With The Recovery Community: Improving Access To Healthcare And Health Promotion Resources To Support Recovery, Hartley C. Feld, Alex Elswick, Jeremy Byard, Whitney Beckett, Amanda Fallin-Bennett

Nursing Faculty Publications

Peer recovery support services are instrumental in the promotion of long-term recovery primarily by focusing on building the recovery capital of people with substance use disorders. Women may have specific health-related needs that are not generally part of recovery support staff training. Our team co-created a model by training people with lived experience as coaches to promote the health of women with SUD during the critical period of their reproductive years when mortality from overdose risk is high and can be compounded by issues surrounding pregnancy. We explored the outcomes of a small pilot test of this model to promote …

Challenges And Lessons Learned While Conducting A Diabetes Prevention Program Among Black Churches During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Erika R. Karle, Destiny Cozart, Bassema Abu Farsakh, Victor Afolayan, Treasure Ebikwo, Maranda Brooks, Lovoria B. Williams

Nursing Faculty Publications

We share our experiences conducting a 5-year randomized controlled diabetes prevention project among 20 Black churches in central Kentucky during the COVID-19 pandemic and offer strategies to inform future church-based interventions. Researchers have long recognized the potential to reach Black adults in church settings for health promotion interventions and have implemented trials within this socially rich setting. However, there is a dearth of literature that describes the challenges and lessons learned while conducting these trials. We describe the challenges we experienced and the strategies we used to overcome them to successfully conduct the trial. During the study, we maintained detailed …

Hpv Self-Sampling Promotion Among African American (Aa) And Sub-Saharan African (Sai) Immigrant Women: Adaptation And Usability Testing, Adebola Adegboyega, Gia Mudd-Martin, Nancy Schoenberg, Mark Dignan

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) rates have declined nationally but rates remain high in Black women with most cases occurring among unscreened and under-screened women. This paper describes the adaptation, acceptability, and useability of an education intervention, “Health is Wealth: A Cervical Health Intervention”, to promote cervical screening and reduce perceived barriers to CC screening among two subgroups of Black women: African American (AA) and sub-Saharan African immigrant (SAI) women.

Methods: In this paper, we describe the process of adapting the Health is Wealth intervention using the Barrera and Castro adaptation framework. The iterative adaptation process included formative focus groups (n …

An Ethnography Of Love Jihad: The Governance Of Interfaith Marriages In Times Of Hindutva, Snehal Sharma

Theses and Dissertations--Gender and Women's Studies

My doctoral research focuses on the violations of human and citizenship rights of women and religiously marginalized communities (based on religious differences) in the backdrop of right-wing movements in India. I assess the Hindu nationalist propaganda named “love jihad” to demonstrate the way it weaponizes religious exogamy. This propaganda legitimizes violence against Indian religious minorities and women as it claims that marriages between Hindu women and Muslim men are acts of terrorism against Hindus with the sole aim of increasing the Muslim population using Hindu women's bodies. I have used ethnographic research methods to explore the legal process of interfaith …

How To Eat Right And Why We Ask That Question, Heather N. Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Gender and Women's Studies

What does it mean to “eat right?” The notion is, of course, culturally, historically, nationally, politically, ethnically, and class determined. For the purposes of this project, however, I am particularly interested in changing notions of what it means to “eat right” within the post-World War II to the early new millennium American context, as such notions are represented within the prescriptions of popular culture. I turn to popular culture because this is the commons of the hegemonic call to “normalcy”—this is where we all learn to imitate, aspire, or rebel against a generic American consumer-self in conformity with the biases, …

Alternative Visions Of Swedish State Feminism, Lukas Bullock

Theses and Dissertations--Gender and Women's Studies

Sweden has been lifted as a prominent example of a successful feminist policy enactor, and has built credibility as a humanitarian actor both domestically and transnationally. Simultaneously, intersectionally marginalized groups have attested to patterns of social exclusion and feelings of political disenfranchisement in Swedish society, calling into question Sweden’s reputation for feminist exceptionalism. This dissertation project centers on unpacking this dynamic by examining how Swedish gender equality policymaking institutions design and implement feminist policy, and how those efforts are interpreted and contested by intersectionally marginalized groups of Afro-Swedish feminist activists. Drawing from a mixed-methods framework that includes feminist ethnography (interviews, …

Relevance And Reciprocity: Fostering Meaningful Inquiry In The Social Studies Classroom, Christy Cartner

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This dissertation investigates the factors contributing to students' perceptions of meaningful inquiry. After using the C3 Framework and designing instruction using the Inquiry Design Model for a decade, I wanted to better understand the students' experience to fine-tune how I implement inquiry in the classroom.

Article 1 was written for Social Education and describes the year of IDM blueprints that I designed to loop the concept of equality through units spanning the social studies disciplines of sociology, history, civics, geography, and economics. Through designing and facilitating these inquiries, I discovered my problem of practice, which was how to better engage …

International School Leaders’ Lived Experiences Of Crises And Perceptions Of Trust, Shary L. Marshall

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

International school leaders worldwide have navigated their schools through a variety of crises. Their unique lived experiences offer insights into the role of trust in leadership, particularly during times of crisis.

This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of 12 experienced international school leaders. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Using the theoretical lenses of authentic leadership, sensemaking, loose coupling, and crisis leadership, this study illuminates the central role of trust in leading schools through crises.

Three significant themes emerged from the analysis. First, trust is foundational to leadership and is built through intentional, transparent …

Leadership Vision For Technology Use Post Covid-19, David J. Lucian

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The integration of 1:1 devices in K–12 education has been widely debated for over two decades, yet few studies have addressed the rapid implementation that occurred post–COVID-19. This study examined a K–8 school in an urban Title I district that, prior to the pandemic, lacked the funding and infrastructure for a 1:1 model. Federal relief funding enabled a swift transition to virtual learning, catalyzing long-term shifts toward 21st-century instructional practices. Using a Mixed-Methods Action Research (MMAR) design, this study explored teacher experiences, challenges, and support needs during the transition. Data collection included interviews with middle school teachers and an analysis …

The Use Of Peer-To-Peer Observation And Feedback Cycles To Address Factors Impacting Perceived Professional Self-Efficacy Of School Librarians In A Kentucky School District: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, Kelli D. Reno

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Research has shown that the school librarian occupies a unique and singular role in school settings. As such, their belief in their ability to master professional competencies is often self-referential and subject to negative influence from external organizational forces. This Mixed-Methods Action Research study explored the effect targeted institutional support for professional practice, via Peer-to-Peer Observation and Feedback cycles, has on perceptions of professional self-efficacy among the school librarians in one district.

A literature review focused on self-efficacy theory and school library research relating to role perception, organizational positioning, professional competencies, and job satisfaction anchored the diagnosis phase of this …

Psychological Impacts In Exercise Riders And Professional Jockeys Following Injury, Kelley M. Renner

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

One of the most well-known equestrian sports, horse racing, is not only a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy, but also a vital part of its culture, with professional jockeys playing an essential role in the local communities and traditions that define the state. Despite its popularity and financial impact, mental health challenges within the sport have continually been shrouded in silence and ignored in research (Ball et al., 2007). Equally concerning is the high injury prevalence, and psychological impact of these injuries (e.g., psychological distress, depression, anxiety, loss of identity, and self-esteem (King et al., 2022; Losty et al., 2019; McConn-Palfreyman …

"Bridging The Gulf" Perception And Experiences Of Arab Gulf International Female Students' Engagement Process In The U.S. Higher Education Institutions., Nouf Kh Almazyan

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This study explores the engagement experiences of international female Arab Gulf students while studying in U.S. higher education institutions. Thus, a phenomenological approach through a qualitative research design was applied to collect data based on semi-structured interviews with eleven female participants from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman. The researcher conducted the interviews to ascertain how these students perceive and experience academic, social, and cultural engagements and the factors influencing their adjustment and integration into American university communities. During the data collection process, concrete measures were taken to establish the credibility and trustworthiness of the research findings. Data were analyzed using …

Middle-Level Central Office Leadership In A Turbulent Edu-Political Climate, Bonnie Fineman

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This study investigates how middle-level central office leaders navigate the challenges of an increasingly turbulent educational-political (edu-political) climate shaped by The Trump Effect—a political phenomenon that emerged during Donald Trump’s 2015 campaign and continued beyond his first presidency. Research has suggested that this effect has contributed to a distressing school environment, creating an educational leadership crisis across the United States. Grounded in the theory of Districts as Institutional Actors (DIA) and systems thinking, this research explores two key questions: 1) How do middle-level central office leaders do their jobs in the current edu-political climate?, and 2) How do middle-level central …

Innovative Biomechanical And Engineering-Based Assessments Of Hip Mechanics In Individuals With Hip-Related Pain, Holly M. Stanze

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Individuals with hip-related pain exhibit altered movement patterns, and worse fear of movement (kinesiophobia), compared to asymptomatic controls. Exacerbation of hip pain during movement and the role of hip symptom duration may help further our understanding of specific movement patterns that are associated with hip-related pain. A better understanding of the potential connections between hip-related symptom duration, kinesiophobia, hip pain during movement, and lower limb mechanics in those with hip-related pain may allow for more efficient referrals to clinicians and lead to more effective rehabilitation. In addition, the impact of hip-related pain on intra-articular hip loading patterns is not well …

Exploring College Students’ Motivation For Physical Activity: Applications Of Self-Determination Theory And The Role Of Health And Wellness Education, Anne Russell Blevins

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This dissertation includes three pieces of writing that aim to show the importance of physical activity for all ages but specifically college-aged students. The first piece of writing (Chapter 2) includes a teaching tip written for the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Research has shown that dance was a subject of the past and many teachers did not feel comfortable teaching it. This practical piece was written to help show K-12 physical education teachers effective ways to involve students in physical activity specifically through teaching dance, mainly through using the “Teaching Dance for Understanding” model.

The second section …

Proximity And Density Of Tobacco Retail Locations To Kentucky Schools And The Relationship To Youth Perceptions Of Harm And Susceptibility To E-Cigarette Use, Hannah Cardona

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Purpose: To explore the potential relationship between tobacco retailer proximity/density around Kentucky elementary, middle, and high schools, and students’ perceptions, perceived norms, susceptibility to, and use of e-cigarettes. Design: A mixed-methods analysis of youth’s self-reported survey results and geographical data. Setting: 106 Kentucky elementary, middle, and high schools which participated in #iCANendthetrend’s tobacco education program between September 2023 and May 2024. Subjects: Convenience sample of students from Ky schools (N = 7,823) Measures: Items assessing e-cigarette use, susceptibility, perceptions, and perceived norms. Analysis: ANOVA tests used to compare responses of elementary, middle, and high school students. Chi-squared tests were used …

Factors Impacting The Educational Environment Of A Phd Student After Experiencing Intimate Partner Abuse: An Autoethnography, Cadie B. Hall

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

This autoethnography examines the impact of intimate partner violence on the educational outcomes of a PhD student. Through a qualitative study of personal narratives and media and document analysis, this research explores the challenges faced by a survivor of assault during an online graduate program, including physical and mental well-being, academic performance, the impact of social support structures, and responses from the University of Kentucky. By integrating lived experiences with existing literature, the study identifies gaps in university policies and offers recommendations for creating more supportive educational environments for online graduate students who have endured intimate partner violence. This work …

Recipient Experiences Of Donor-Funded College Scholarships: “I Don't Know What You Want To Know About Me. I Don't Know What I Know About You.”, Teresa Waddle Gotthardt

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This qualitative study explores the experience of receiving donor-funded scholarship support facilitated through a higher education institution, especially when the recipient has interacted with the donor of the funding. This recipient-and-donor-interaction is common at American post-secondary institutions in the form of written thank you notes and attendance at donor recognition events. This research addressed the following questions: How do donor-funded scholarship recipients experience this funding? How do donor-funded scholarship recipients experience interaction with the donor of the scholarship? These questions were explored through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 recent alumni from five private universities and colleges who received donor-funded scholarships …

Social Control And Inclusive Freedom: An Embedded Single Case Study Of Campus Expression At A Southern Public University, Christopher J. Ciarcia

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This study examines how staff at a Southern public university experienced and interpreted their participation in the institution’s Open Expression Support Team (OEST), a campus initiative designed to maintain an educational environment where students feel free to engage in freedom of speech and expression without fear of intimidation or coercion. Using an embedded single-case study design, the research draws on interviews, documents, and observations to explore the OEST’s role in supporting inclusive freedom (Ben-Porath, 2017), which emphasizes the balance of free expression and inclusion in higher education.

Findings reveal that the OEST functions as a mechanism of social control, employing …

“Always Looking Over Your Shoulder”: College Students' Experiences With Codes Of Conduct At Evangelical Colleges & Universities, Kayla B. Powell

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This qualitative research study investigated the experiences of college students enrolled at evangelical institutions that are affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and require students to follow an extensive code of conduct. These codes extend beyond academic expectations and mandate behavior in all aspects of daily life. Students who fail to comply are subject to a range of punishments as severe as expulsion. Sixteen traditional-aged undergraduate students from across the U.S. participated in semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using thematic analysis. Students described varied personal convictions regarding the rules; some earnestly strove to obey their campus …

“Hard To Rememeber, Then Hard To Forget:” A Qualitative Exploration Into The Attitudes And Lived Experiences Of Black People With Black Names, Destin L. Mizelle

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Naming practices within the Black American community are vibrant and deeply rooted in cultural traditions and shared values. Much like other ethnic groups, these names tell stories, reflect heritage, and connect individuals to their community, making each choice meaningful and significant. However, due to the systemic effects of anti-Blackness, Black Americans often have a complex relationship with their names. While previous research has primarily utilized quantitative methodologies focusing on the negative associations and consequences of having a Black name, this study aims to amplify the voices of Black people who possess Black names. Using reflexive thematic analysis, this qualitative study …

From Ads To Enrollment: Understanding How Targeted Marketing Affects College Choice, John W. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the perceived impact of targeted marketing on college choice. Research on college choice is an established area of scholarship that explores the variables that are at work when a student chooses to attend a college or university. Given that the enrollment landscape for higher education continues to be competitive, colleges and universities are doing what they can to “stand out” among the competition in a crowded marketing and advertising space. And, as technology improves, segmenting and personalizing marketing to reach the right students at the right time is becoming more commonplace …

Pathways To Financial Wellness: Using Intersectionality Theory To Understand Black Women’S Financial Socialization, Courtney J. Wright

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Black women experience high levels of financial vulnerability and consistently exhibit poor financial outcomes across the literature; however, few studies have investigated Black women’s financial socialization processes and outcomes. As a function of gendered racial marginalization, Black women occupy a unique standpoint that may influence their financial socialization experiences. Therefore, research that investigates Black women’s financial socialization and perceived financial capability, responsibility, and well-being is warranted.

Within this dual-manuscript style dissertation, the first manuscript investigates the sources, content, and methods of Black women’s family financial socialization messages. Using a critical-constructivist research paradigm and Reflexive Thematic Analysis for data analysis, findings …

Students Participating As Ambassadors For Research In Kentucky (Spark): A Health Equity Undergraduate Research Training Program, Ariel A. Arthur, Rebecca L. Delacerda Allen, Fidelis Y. Sesenu, Maxwell A. Groznik, Carrie B. Oser, Madeline Dunfee, Philip A. Kern, Nancy Schoenberg

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky (SPARK) program provides novel health equity research training and targeted mentorship for undergraduates, particularly those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral research and workforce. SPARK aims to address inadequate diversity in the medical and scientific research fields by providing comprehensive research mentorship and skill-building. Unlike most existing research training programs that are brief, focus on laboratory research, or are limited to graduate students and junior faculty, SPARK delivers a 16-month intensive behavioral and population health science training, equipping students with needed tools to conceptualize, plan, execute, and analyze their …

Preserving Student Life: Uk Libraries' Experience With "Wildcat Histories", Ruth E. Bryan, Taylor C. Leigh

Library Presentations

The University of Kentucky University Libraries University Archivist and the Modern and Classical Languages Librarian share their experiences, successes, and challenges with preserving student life and partnering with the University of Kentucky Latino Student Union through their six-year "Wildcat Histories" project. Topics include website and social media preservation and description, managing a small grant from Project STAND, and outreach to student organizations. Speaker notes are available upon request.

Smart Systems For Employing Iot Devices For Monitoring And Control Of Electric Vehicle Residential Charging, Grant M. Fischer, Steven B. Poore, Rosemary E. Alden, Donovin D. Lewis, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road continues to increase, the rise in power demand may pose challenges, especially for the localized grid capacity during peak load events. This paper briefly reviews methods of power monitoring and load shedding such as smart charging and load management systems. An internet-of-things (IoT) power monitoring system is proposed for high-resolution power monitoring and control of J1772 standard level 2 EV charging systems to provide detailed data to enable future studies on EV grid integration. Additionally, a hardware test bench (HTB) including a DC battery emulator, oscilloscope, and commercial EV charger …

Impact Of State Abortion Policies On Family Medicine Practice And Training After Dobbs V Jackson Women’S Health Organization, Karen L. Roper, Sarah Jane Robbins, Philip Day, Grace Shih, Neelima Kale

UK CARES Faculty Publications

PURPOSE The Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs) Supreme Court decision revoked the constitutional right to abortion. Now, restrictive state abortion laws may con- tribute to the shortage and strain already felt in primary care practice, especially related to the provision of reproductive health care. The purpose of this study is to evaluate perceived impacts of state abortion legislation on family medicine clinicians’ practice and medical edu- cation regarding reproductive health care.

METHODS Ten questions were added to the 2022 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance general membership survey to evaluate impact on relevant themes in reproductive …

Potato, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.