Digital Commons Network^™

Treating Social Media Addiction In Adolescents: A Scoping Review With Implications For Music Therapy Practice, Roman D. Swain

Theses and Dissertations--Music

With the rapid expansion of online connectivity, concerns have emerged regarding the influence of digital interactions on adolescents’ real-world relationships and mental health. Social media use can expose adolescents to harmful content and disrupt the brain’s pleasure centers, increasing the risk of developing addictive patterns of use. Such disruptions may interfere with daily functioning and contribute to negative mental health outcomes. Given the impact of music on the brain’s reward system, music therapy may offer a beneficial approach for helping adolescents develop mindfulness of social media use and strengthen offline social connections. This thesis presents a scoping review of current …

Evaluating The Acceptability Of Ptsd Treatment Among Justice-Involved Women In Kentucky With Histories Of Opioid Use, Jesse P. Mccann

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Rates of trauma and PTSD as well as histories of opioid use are high among justice-involved women, particularly in Kentucky. However, there are many barriers to receiving treatment. There is a pressing need for brief, trauma-focused interventions that can be more feasibly delivered in jail or prison settings as well as by community clinicians serving women on probation or parole. This study explores the acceptability of treatment for PTSD, particularly Written Exposure Therapy (WET), among justice-involved women on probation or parole with a history of illicit or nonmedical prescription opioid use. The research aims to deepen our understanding of factors …

The Impact Of Victim Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) On Legal Decision-Making In A Rape Trial, Mary M. Levi

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Prior psychology and law research has investigated juror perceptions of victims and defendants with mental health issues. However, one factor that has yet to be fully examined empirically is how the presentation of a victim who developed a mental health disorder, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), following a rape impacts legal decision-making. Understanding this impact is crucial considering over 36 million individuals in the United States report being a victim of rape in their lifetime, many of which report developing psychological disorders following the crime. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate how presenting mock jurors with victim testimony …

Unveiling Secrecy: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Proceedings, Taylor Bettis

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Grand juries have faced heightened scrutiny in recent decades following high-profile cases involving police use of lethal force against Black civilians. In 2020, Police officers killed Breonna Taylor while executing a search warrant at her home. Despite widespread public outcry, it remains unclear how prosecutors failed to indict the officers involved on charges directly related to her death. Guided by critical race theory, procedural justice, and theories of authority, the current project used reflexive thematic analysis to examine the Breonna Taylor grand jury proceedings. We identified two main themes: structural influences and narrative influences. Structural influences examine how prosecutorial authority, …

A Dual Process Model Perspective On Associations Between Parent And Offspring Problem Drinking, Karallyn E. Fitisone

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Parental problem drinking (PPD) is a well-established risk factor for adolescent alcohol use, yet the complex mechanisms involved remain underexplored. The present study addresses this critical gap by examining how PPD, parent emotion socialization, and emerging adult problem drinking are associated within the framework of the Dual Process Model of Substance Use. Participants were 2,036 undergraduates who completed an online survey assessing PPD, retrospective reports of parental reactions to their negative emotions in childhood, and students’ current levels of problem drinking, negative urgency, negative emotional reactivity, and emotion-regulation difficulties. Structural equation modeling was used to clarify the roles of emotion-related …

Distinct Odorant Receptor Response Patterns To Aliphatic Odorants In Freely Behaving Mice, Claire A. De March, Patrick Breheny, William B. Titlow, Hiroaki Matsunami, Timothy S. Mcclintock

Physiology Faculty Publications

In mammals, odors are encoded by a combinatorial code determined by the pattern of responses across hundreds of odorant receptors expressed monogenically and monoallelically in olfactory sensory neurons. The compositions of these receptor response patterns are largely unknown and overlap between them has yet to be explored. Activity-dependent reporter gene expression in freely behaving S100a5-tauGFP mice allowed capture of activated olfactory sensory neurons and identified 168 receptors responsive to moderate concentrations of 1 or more of 12 aliphatic (5 to 8 carbons) ketones, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. These 12 response patterns are remarkably different, with only 19% of the receptors …

Feeding- And Light-Cycle Synergistically Regulate Mouse Blood Pressure Daily Rhythm Via Bmal1-Dependent And Independent Mechanisms, Tianfei Hou, Wen Su, Aaron Chacon, An-Hsuan Lin, Zhenheng Guo, Ming C. Gong

Physiology Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular health requires the orchestration of the daily rhythm of blood pressure (BP), which responds to changes in light exposure and dietary patterns. Whether rhythmic light and feeding can modulate daily BP rhythm directly or via modulating intrinsic core clock gene Bmal1 is unknown. Using inducible global Bmal1 knockout mice (iBmal1KO), we explored the impact of rhythmic light, rhythmic feeding, or their combination on various physiological parameters. Daily rhythms of BP, heart rate, and locomotor activity were monitored via radiotelemetry, while food intake patterns were tracked using the BioDAQ system. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and energy expenditure (EE) were assessed …

Methylome–Proteome Integration After Late-Life Voluntary Exercise Training Reveals Regulation And Target Information For Improved Skeletal Muscle Health, Toby L Chambers, Andrea Dimet-Wiley, Alexander R Keeble, Amin Haghani, Wen-Juo Lo, Gyumin Kang, Robert Brooke, Steve Horvath, Christopher S Fry, Stanley J Watowich, Yuan Wen, Kevin A Murach

Physiology Faculty Publications

Abstract: Exercise is a potent stimulus for combatting skeletal muscle ageing. To study the effects of exercise on muscle in a preclinical setting, we developed a combined endurance–resistance training stimulus for mice called progressive weighted wheel running (PoWeR). PoWeR improves molecular, biochemical, cellular and functional characteristics of skeletal muscle and promotes aspects of partial epigenetic reprogramming when performed late in life (22–24 months of age). In this investigation, we leveraged pan-mammalian DNA methylome arrays and tandem mass-spectrometry proteomics in skeletal muscle to provide detailed information on late-life PoWeR adaptations in female mice relative to age-matched sedentary controls (n = 7–10 …

Programmable Scanning Diffuse Speckle Contrast Imaging Of Cerebral Blood Flow, Faezeh Akbari, Xuhui Liu, Fatemeh Hamedi, Mehrana Mohtasebi, Li Chen, Lei Chen, Guoqiang Yu

Physiology Faculty Publications

Significance: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging is crucial for diagnosing cerebrovascular diseases. However, existing large neuroimaging techniques with high cost, low sampling rate, and poor mobility make them unsuitable for continuous and longitudinal CBF monitoring at the bedside. Aim: We aimed to develop a low-cost, portable, programmable scanning diffuse speckle contrast imaging (PS-DSCI) technology for fast, high-density, and depth-sensitive imaging of CBF in rodents. Approach: The PS-DSCI employed a programmable digital micromirror device (DMD) for remote line-shaped laser (785 nm) scanning on tissue surface and synchronized a 2D camera for capturing boundary diffuse laser speckle contrasts. New algorithms were developed …

Racial And Rural Disparities In Financial Toxicity And Healthcare Transitions Among Adolescent And Young Adult Cancer Survivors In Kentucky, Jean S. Edward, Brent J. Shelton, Lauren Corum, Haafsah Fariduddin, Katie Brown, John A. D’Orazio, Kimberly D. Northrip

Physiology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, especially racial/ethnic minorities and rural residents are particularly vulnerable to financial toxicity due to limited healthcare access, socioeconomic disparities, and cultural/language barriers. These social determinants of health compound financial hardship and contribute to poor healthcare transitions from pediatric to adult care, leading to worse outcomes and higher mortality rates. Methods: Our cross-sectional survey study examined racial (Black vs White) and geographic (rural vs urban) disparities in financial toxicity and healthcare transition outcomes among 260 adolescent and young adult cancer survivors through the Kentucky Cancer Registry. Survey data were collected on financial toxicity, healthcare …

Alternate Quantification Approaches For Cold-Induced Vasodilation In Human Glabrous Skin, J. A. Stout, D. E. Gerow, P. C. Clegg, K. Metzler-Wilson, T. E. Wilson

Physiology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) is a counterintuitive focal increase in glabrous skin blood flow during cold exposure with unclear local and neural mechanisms. Methods: We tested 12 (8 men, 4 women) healthy subjects’ laser-Doppler flux (LDF; just proximal to the nailbed) and arterial blood pressure (ABP) on a beat-by-beat basis. The experimental hand was exposed to warm (10 min 35°C) and then cold (30 min 8°C) water immersion and the contralateral control hand experienced 22°C–23°C air throughout. We analyzed beat-by-beat oscillations in LDF and ABP via a fast-Fourier transform (FFT) and transfer function analysis (TFA) of LDF to ABP. Results: …

Gastrocnemius Myofiber Type And Mitochondrial Alterations Associated With Peripheral Artery Disease Severity, Kate Kosmac, Rena Dana Wang, Jada Stewart, Parminder Kaur, Ahmed Ismaeel, Haseeb Ahsan, Lisa Hartnell, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden, Mary M. Mcdermott, Robert L. Sufit, Luigi Ferrucci, Charlotte A. Peterson

Physiology Faculty Publications

The extent of walking impairment varies among individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD), which may reflect differences in the adaptability of lower extremity muscles to ischemia-reperfusion injury characteristic of the disease. Analyses of gastrocnemius muscle biopsies from 113 individuals with PAD [mean ankle-brachial index (ABI) = 0.65 ± 0.13, 38 (33.6%) women, 76 (67.2%) Black] showed a wide range of myofiber type distributions (9.6%-82.6% type 1 myofibers). The abundance of oxidative type 1 myofibers negatively correlated with ABI (r = −0.22, P = 0.02), a measure of PAD severity. The abundance of type 1 myofibers also negatively correlated to 2a/x …

Inter-Rater Reliability Of Muscle Ultrasonography Performed By Multidisciplinary Novice Sonographers In The Evaluation Of Critically Ill Patients With Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy, Felipe González-Seguel, Vinh Q. Tran, Chaitanya Anil Pal, Zan T. Shareef, Hayley P. Israel, Arimitsu Horikawa-Strakovsky, Yuan Wen, Benjamin R. Griffin, Javier A. Neyra, J. Pedro Teixeira, Kirby P. Mayer

Physiology Faculty Publications

Early diagnosis of muscle wasting in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury requiring continuous kidney replacement therapy (AKI-CKRT) may improve outcomes via timely rehabilitation and nutrition. Muscle ultrasound (MUS) has recently gained traction for assessing muscle atrophy in the intensive care unit (ICU) but requires training to achieve reproducibility. We evaluated the inter-rater reliability of MUS in patients with AKI-CKRT performed by multidisciplinary raters including nephrologists. Two blinded independent raters used portable ultrasound to acquire images of the rectus femoris (RF). All raters were clinicians routinely caring for patients with CKRT in the ICU and were initially novices in …

Neuro293, Joshua T. Moses, Fahad B. Shah, Nicholas M. Mcvay, Dylan E. Capes, Christopher C. Bosse-Joseph, Jocelyn Salazar, Victoria K. Slone, John E. Eberth, Jonathan Satin, Andrew N. Stewart

Physiology Faculty Publications

Efficient interrogation of neurobiology remains bottlenecked by obtaining mature neurons. Immortalized cell lines still require lengthy differentiation periods to obtain neuron-like cells, which may not efficiently differentiate and are challenging to transfect with plasmids relative to other cell lines such as HEK-293's. To overcome challenges with limited access to cells that express mature neuronal proteins, we knocked out the RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) from HEK-293's to create a novel neuron-like cell, which we name Neuro293. RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analyses revealed a significant upregulation of genes associated with neurobiology and membrane excitability including pre-/post-synaptic proteins, voltage gated ion channels, neuron-cytoskeleton, as …

Sex-Based Differences In The Long-Term Fate Of Hippocampal Neurons Born After A Traumatic Brain Injury, Hannah C. Downing, Ashley B. Glover, Jessica E. Gebhardt, Katherine L. Thompson, Kathryn E. Saatman

Physiology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in an early loss of immature hippocampal granule cells and the activation of typically quiescent neural stem cells (NSCs) in the dentate gyrus. Activation of NSCs leads to a robust increase in proliferation and generation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), supporting restoration of the immature neuron population of over a period of 1–2 weeks. However, it is unclear if neurons born early after injury develop normally, survive long-term and functionally integrate into the hippocampal network. Although adult hippocampal neurogenesis is regulated in a sex-dependent manner, the majority of pre-clinical TBI studies lack the …

Skeletal Muscle Stem Cell Mitochondria Are Transferred To Muscle Fibers In Response To A Hypertrophic Stimulus, Jensen Goh, Julia G. Williams, Sarah E. Ogle, Jai K. Joshi, Logan N. Scott, Benjamin Burke, Alex R. Keeble, Nicholas T. Thomas, Christopher S. Fry, Ahmed Ismaeel, John J. Mccarthy

Physiology Faculty Publications

The fusion of skeletal muscle stem cell (MuSC) to myofibers during hypertrophy has exclusively focused on the transfer of the MuSC nucleus, leaving the fate of other MuSC organelles, such as mitochondria, largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to determine whether MuSCs transfer their mitochondria upon myofiber fusion in response to a hypertrophic stimulus. To achieve this goal, we specifically labeled MuSC mitochondria with Dendra2 fluorescence by crossing the MuSC-specific CreER (Pax7^CreER/CreER) mouse with the Rosa26-Dendra2 mouse to generate the Pax7-Dendra2 mouse. To induce the fusion of MuSC to myofibers, Pax7-Dendra2 mice underwent synergist ablation surgery …

All-Cause And Exacerbation-Related Readmissions In Thrombotic Microangiopathy Requiring Plasmapheresis: A Population-Based Cohort Study, Alexander R. Thebert, Toru Yoshino, Sae X. Morita, Misa Ito, Ayman Qasrawi, Hirotaka Kato

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a serious condition characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, with high exacerbation rates. This study examined all-cause and exacerbation-related readmission risks among patients hospitalized with TMA requiring plasmapheresis.

Materials and Methods: Secondary analysis of the 2020 Nationwide Readmission Database was conducted, including discharge data from non-federal hospitals in 31 U.S. states. Patients aged 18 years or older admitted non-electively with a primary or secondary diagnosis of TMA requiring plasmapheresis were included. Exacerbation-related readmission was defined as subsequent admission requiring plasmapheresis within 7 or 30 days after the original discharge. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox …

Clonal Hematopoiesis Of Indeterminate Potential And The Risk Of Cognitive Impairment In The Women’S Health Initiative Memory Study, Yasminka A. Jakubek, Aaron P. Smith, Xiaoyan I. Leng, Megan E. Hall, Daniel Ezzat, Yash Pershad, Jason M. Collins, Md Mesbah Uddin, David W. Fardo, Pradeep Natarajan, Alexander G. Bick, Jacob O. Kitzman, Michael C. Honigberg, Kathleen M. Hayden, Joann E. Manson, Siddhartha Jaiswal, Eric A. Whitsel, Alexander P. Reiner

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) confers an increased risk of several chronic aging-related diseases. Paradoxically, CHIP was associated with lower risk of dementia in recent studies.

METHODS

We examined associations between baseline CHIP and incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or probable dementia in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. CHIP was detected using blood-based targeted sequencing. Cox proportional hazards models examined time to onset of cognitive impairment, adjusting for traditional risk factors.

RESULTS

Using a conventional variant allele fraction (VAF) threshold of 2%, CHIP was not associated with incident cognitive impairment. The presence of larger CHIP clone (VAF …

Dual Biologic Therapy Induces Remission In Refractory Crohn’S Disease With Vedolizumab And Ustekinumab, Syed Adeel Hassan, Courtney Perry, Patrick Carey, Durham Colohan, Mohamed Gebril Eltaher, Nabila Dawoud, Mahmoud Elkammar, Waqas Rasheed, Casie Mayne, Amy Stuffelbeam, Deborah R. Auer Flomenhoft, Terrence A. Barrett

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Despite advancements in the therapeutic armamentarium for Crohn’s disease (CD), biologic and small molecule monotherapies are associated with sub-optimal response and remission rates. Utilizing dual biologic therapy (DBT) holds the potential to increase efficacy in the treatment of refractory or partially responsive CD. Evidence pertaining to this strategy remains limited. Methods

We retrospectively examined refractory CD patients treated with a combination of ustekinumab and vedolizumab. Outcomes to DBT at week (wk) 52 were compared to monotherapy. The primary outcome constituted corticosteroid-free remission. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, infections, hospitalizations, surgeries, treatment persistence, and disease clearance. Results

Sixteen of 21 …

Characterization Of Municipal Solid Waste Using Machine Learning Based Imaging And Chemical Analysis, Enyonam Ahadzi

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023-billion-ton report, the United States generates nearly 300 million tons of municipal solid waste every year. More than 50% of that waste is underutilized and ends up in landfills. This poses serious public health and environmental risks. But beyond the environmental and health implications, this is also a wasted opportunity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that, for every 100 lbs of waste we throw away, about 85% can be used as fuel or for electricity generation. However, its complex and heterogeneous nature poses challenges for efficient sorting and valorization in waste to …

Valorizing Municipal Solid Waste For Sustainable Aviation Fuel And Polyhydroxyalkanoate Bioplastics: Pyrolysis And Microbial Pathways, Emon Das

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The escalating global burden of municipal solid waste (MSW), projected to reach 3.88 billion tons annually by 2050, calls for innovative valorization strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and promote a circular bioeconomy. This thesis investigates the conversion of MSW into two high-value products: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics. Chapter one presents comprehensive physicochemical characterization and pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis of MSW feedstocks. The physicochemical results reveal that densification enhances handling and storage properties, while pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis indicates that plastic-rich MSW streams produce bio-oils with favorable hydrocarbon profiles suitable for SAF production, potentially contributing to decarbonization efforts in the aviation …

An Exploration Of Ibdp Coordinator Leadership In Southeastern U.S. Public High Schools, Raymond W. Scheetz Jr.

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Along with its brand, vision, and curricula, International Baccalaureate (IB) provides member schools with requirements and expectations, such as implementing a program coordinator. However, the need for flexibility that would allow for global implementation leaves the nature of IB’s required program coordinator positions subject to local discretion in many ways. However, while increasing in numbers globally, IB Diploma Programs are still not widely implemented in public high schools throughout the U.S. Southeast. As a result, the position of an IBDP coordinator is unusual in such schools in the region. Also, the IBDP coordinator position has not been substantially defined or …

How Elementary Schools Support Families In Mandatory Middle School Choice: A Comparative Case Study, Eleni Filippatos

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This dissertation examines the role of New York City elementary school leaders in shaping fifth graders' middle school choice processes in two public schools serving predominantly economically disadvantaged, Latino families. As school choice increasingly influences students' academic trajectories, understanding how leaders engage families in this decision-making process is essential for promoting educational equity. The study explored how public elementary school principals, counselors, and teachers support families during the universal middle school application process.

Using a qualitative comparative case study design, I conducted semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis to compare leadership practices at two demographically similar elementary schools with …

Smart Qos-Aware Resource Management For Edge Intelligence Systems, Minoo Hosseinzadeh

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

There are several definitions for Smart Cities. One common key point of these definitions is that smart cities are technologically advanced cities which connect everything in a complex urban environment including infrastructure, information, and even people to cope with the crucial problems linked with the urban life such as traffic, pollution, city crowding, health, and poverty. Central to this vision are the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data, where interconnected devices with sensors collect vast amounts of data for informed decision-making. However, the rapid expansion of IoT devices challenges efficient data processing while meeting diverse Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements; for …

Tiered Coalition Formation Game Variants, Stability, And Simulation, Nathan Arnold

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Tiered coalition formation games (TCFGs) have been proposed for modeling the ordering of power in intransitive structures. Furthering our understanding of the usefulness of this concept requires a close examination of this game and its variants, as well as the delineation between stability concepts and methods of finding stable outcomes. Derived from a simulation of the performance of characters in the games Pokémon Red and Blue Versions, we present an approximation of its power structure found via machine learning. We compare our findings to the community consensus ranking presented on a fan-run website, and further comment on the stability of …

Optimization, Machine Learning, And Networking Solutions For Cyber-Physical Systems, Xu Tao

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) represent a transformative paradigm that integrates sensing, computation, and actuation through networked systems to enable intelligent, context-aware applications across various domains. Despite their growing potential, CPS still face critical challenges, particularly in maintaining reliable, low-latency communication and efficient data processing in resource-constrained and dynamic environments. These challenges are further magnified in rural or remote deployments, where traditional network infrastructure is often unavailable or unreliable. This dissertation addresses these challenges through the development of optimization and inference algorithms that enhance network performance in Software-Defined Networks (SDN), using techniques such as reinforcement learning and network tomography for efficient routing. …

Development Of Software For Genetic Distances, Genotyping, And Phylogenetics Using Rna-Seq Data, Andrew C. Tapia

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

This dissertation concerns a new application of RNA-seq data—computation of pairwise genetic distance matrices. RNA-seq captures sequences of RNA molecules in some cells or tissues of interest. RNA-seq provides data are well-suited to studies examining gene expression, and its use for this purpose is currently widespread. A pairwise genetic distance matrix, the main topic of this dissertation, quantifies differences in the genomes of every pair of samples (e.g., individuals) in a given set. Genetic distance matrices are versatile; they can be used for various kinds of downstream analyses, including genotyping, phylogenetics, and genetic diversity measurement. Although DNA sequence data are …

Covid-19 Impacts On Refugee-Serving Ngos In Clarkston And The Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Georgia, United States, Ghazal Khaksari

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

This study provides a unique anthropological perspective on how technology, language, NGO staff, and culture intersect during emergency times, which can affect NGOs’ abilities to reach and help communities. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of equality in digital access and of available and culturally competent interpreters in reducing the gap between NGOs and refugee communities. The digital divide has played a fundamental role during the pandemic, often leading to other problems for both NGOs and refugees. This issue has taken a variety of forms in terms of access to education, language classes, community cohesion, and communication with and …

Communities Of Stone Toolmakers Along The Lower Cumberland And Tennessee Rivers, Vanessa N. Hanvey

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

Concurrently occupied between circa 8,600-8,200 cal B.P., the Canton (15Tr1), Lawrence (15Tr33), Morrisroe (15Lv156), and Whalen (15Ly48) sites have similar stone tool assemblages. Though the sites are situated close to one another within the lower Tennessee and Cumberland River watersheds, the connection between the people who occupied each site remains unclear. Extensive lithic deposits representing all stages of tool manufacture were identified at both the Canton and Lawrence sites, and previous lithic analyses show that similar raw materials were being accessed by stone toolmakers at all four sites. To investigate the relationship between the people who occupied these sites, this …

“It’S An Honor To Be In This Body”: A Black Feminist Grounded Theory Of Embodiment Among Black Womxn Yoga Practitioners (Bwyps), Natalie Malone

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

Black womxn (i.e., individuals whose experiences align with Black girlhood/womanhood or whose bodies are perceived as Black, female, womanly, femme, or a combination) experience significant health and well-being challenges that may hinder their embodiment. Yoga is a complementary therapy that may help Black womxn improve their embodiment. This dissertation qualitatively explores the processes Black womxn yoga practitioners (BWYPs) engage in to cultivate positive embodiment. Participants were N=30 Black womxn who were short- (≤ five years; n=11), medium- (five–10 years; n=10), and long-term (>11 years; n=9) yoga practitioners. Participants completed individual interviews as part of the …