Digital Commons Network^™

Testing The Effects Of Mindfulness Meditation In Reducing Music Performance Anxiety As Measured By Cortisol And Self-Report, Anya E. Shorey

Honors Program Theses

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a debilitating and career-threatening phenomenon that occurs for many musicians in a public performance setting. As a hormonal measure of stress, cortisol has been shown to increase in musicians who are about to perform in front of an audience. It is important to study ways to keep stress within an optimal range before public performance to help musicians keep their cognitions, behaviors, and autonomic arousal at levels that help rather than hinder their performance. Mindfulness in the form of a brief guided meditation and as yoga has been shown to reduce self-reported anxiety in musicians. …

Literature Review: The Role Of Inflammatory Biomarkers In The Connections Between Sleep And Chronic Health Conditions, Madeline Walker

Honors Program Theses

Decades of research has shown that sleep plays a vital role in our health, and disruptions in sleep can have long term detrimental effects on our lives (Yoo, 2007). The recommended amount of sleep by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) for adults is between 7-9 hours each night (NSF, 2020). It is common knowledge that too few hours of sleep are unhealthy, but scientists are only beginning to understand the mechanisms that explain the connections between sleep patterns and health outcomes (CDC, 2011). Additionally, recent research has shown that excess sleep can be just as detrimental, if not more, to …

The Impact Of School-Based Mindfulness Programs On The Externalizing Behavior Of Students, Madison Ruhlmann

Honors Program Theses

Interventions involving mindfulness in schools are becoming increasingly commonplace. Mindfulness is a way of directing attention towards the present moment without passing judgement, and has been adapted as a psychological treatment over the past forty years. The goal of this review is to summarize how schools have used interventions featuring mindfulness; and particularly the impact on externalizing behavior in the classroom. Online database search techniques were utilized in the collection and analysis of these studies. The findings of this review show that mindfulness interventions may be valuable in the reduction of externalizing behavior in the classroom, but the current research …

The Impact Of Severe Mental Health On Peers In Supporting Roles: A Look At Secondary Trauma And College Students, Courtney Tripp-Stuck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Evidence indicates directors of college counseling centers and those in student affairs roles have observed a steep increase in the number of severe mental health crises on their campuses, thereby also impacting student leaders and those in helping roles as counseling centers try to adapt to the influx of need (Kitzrow, 2003; CAS, 1999). Additionally, there is evidence to support students are more likely to turn to peers first when experiencing mental health crises than they are to seek out professional help (Drum, Brownson, Burton-Denmark, Smith, & Roberts, 2009; Gallagher, 2013). The goal of this study is to examine whether …

Hi God: An Autoethnography Of Loneliness In Graduate School, Grace Elisabeth Mertz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

I may have started college too early. My fifteen-year-old homeschooled mind could not have predicted the identity shift that higher education would demand of me. I did not expect academia to be filled with people who shared my background and beliefs, but I was, in many ways, unprepared for the way my Christianity would be challenged in the classroom and in my professors’ offices. After seven years of education within the structures of academia, I certainly have not lost my faith, but the way I think about, talk about, and practice it has tangibly changed. The questions I ask of …

Effects Of A Sport Nutrition Education Intervention On Nutritional Knowledge, Dietary Behaviors, And Self-Efficacy In Ncaa Division I Softball Players, Kylie Wilson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Optimal nutrition is vital in sport. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a sport nutrition education intervention (SNEI) on nutritional knowledge, dietary behaviors, nutritional self-efficacy, body composition, and performance in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I female softball players, and to measure retention and effects of this knowledge after the SNEI period. Seven participants were assessed using a Dietary Behaviors and Nutritional Knowledge questionnaire, Self-Efficacy questionnaire, BodPod measurement, exit velocity, and weekly intention surveys. Two-way mixed repeated ANOVAs were used to determine the impact of a five-week SNEI on an intervention group as compared to …

Pluralistic Ignorance Of Campus Norms, Evan Stilgenbauer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Changes on college campuses and movements such as #MeToo have highlighted problem behaviors such as sexual assault. Many problems and behaviors related to and including sexual assault can be attributed to misperceptions of norms and peer beliefs, which can lead individuals to act in ways they would not normally condone. It is unclear whether #MeToo or other changes over time may have affected perceptions of norms and their relation to problematic behaviors that perpetuate sexual assault.

There were three goals for the current study. My first goal was to assess the difference among perceived norms and actual norms in a …

Young Athletes' Perceptions Of Playing Through Pain, Aubri Keesee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Throughout the early career of an athlete, they are introduced and socialized into the sport ethic culture of risk of playing through pain. The purpose of this paper was to examine factors thought to influence young athletes’ conformity to the sport ethic by playing through pain. These factors included: athletic identity, fear of failure, and perceived pressure from important others to play through pain (Jessiman-Perreault & Godley, 2016; Nixon, 1994). The researcher contacted sport club organizations, recreational clubs, and school principals to seek cooperation. Participants included 140 male and female athletes aged 11-18 years old. Participants completed the Risk of …

Through Their Eyes: Exploring The Relationship Between College Females' Body Perceptions And Recreation Center Messaging, Sydney Leigh Ann Cindrich

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study aimed to investigate the influence that recreation center promotional messaging had on college females’ body perceptions. Body perceptions among young adult females have been linked to mental health (McKay, 2013; Miner-Rubino, Twenge, & Fredrickson, 2002). Female participants 18 to 25 years of age (N = 137, Mage = 20.41) from a mid-sized, Midwestern university completed two separate body perception questionnaires. These questionnaires assessed body appreciation (functionality) and body shame (objectification). Participants were divided into three groups and shown a collage of recreation center messages that were portraying one of three conditions (a) body functionality, (b) self-objectification, or (c) …

The Influence Of State Political Orientation On Firm Environmental Practices, Trisha Coberly

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the correlation between the political environment of the state where a company is headquartered and the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices. Additionally, I add firm specific factors as moderating variables to see if they will positively or negatively influence this relationship. Although there is an abundance of research on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its effects on firm performance this paper will look more narrowly at the environmental aspect of CSR and use state political orientation as the independent variable with firm characteristics acting as the moderating variables. Our results conclude that …

Spectral Time: How Gérard Grisey’S Concept Of Musical Time Is Still Relevant Today, Isaac Raymond Smith

Honors Program Theses

This paper analyzes and compares the music of two composers, Gérard Grisey and Magnus Lindberg, focusing on how each treats the passage of time in his music. These composers were deliberately selected because Grisey helped launch the spectral music movement in the 1970s and 80s, while Lindberg is still alive and writing music today. Though Grisey is not as well-known of a composer as others during that time, this paper strives to show how his ideas concerning the passage of time in music influenced the music of his students and other composers, even those who do not claim to be …

How To Create A Radically Inclusive Math Classroom With Regards To Gender And Sexual Orientation, Alexa Devore

Honors Program Theses

An extensive literature review was conducted to analyze how a secondary mathematics teacher can best support female and LGBTQ students. While extensive research has been conducted about the gender gap in STEM, concerning female students, little research has been done that includes LGBTQ students. While female students have made great improvements in mathematics participation and achievement, there is still work to be done. LGBTQ students face similar difficulties as female students but have not received the same attention and research as female students. This research indicates there are more things teachers should be doing to support students who have been …

Adapting Instruments, Not Students: A Study Of Adaptive Musical Instruments, Cheyanne Maria Chapin

Honors Program Theses

The purposes of this study were to (1) create a categorized listing of adaptive instruments divided into categories that can help music therapists decide which clients can utilize them and for what purposes and (2) evaluate the anticipated enjoyment and sound rating of a select number of adaptive electronic instruments. For Part 1 of this study, children with special needs, with the help of their parents, were invited to take part in a questionnaire related to the impression of four select adaptive instruments (Light Block, Skoog, JamBoxx, SpecDrums). Participants were asked to watch videos of the four instruments and rate …

Caregivers' Perceptions Of Literacy Toolbox For Children In Foster Care, Raelynn Meade

Honors Program Theses

At any given time, there are about 443,000 children in foster care system in the United States (Morton, 2015). When children reside in a home that lacks temporary stability or safety, foster care is a family-supported service to ensure children are placed in safe and stable homes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). At no fault to their caregivers, 35% to 73% of children in the foster care system experience language delays. This occurrence is significantly higher than the 6% to 15% seen in children who are not raised in foster care (Krier, Green, & Kruger, 2018; Stock …

Prompted Reflective Thinking And Implications For Mathematics Teacher Efficacy In An Elementary Mathematics Methods Course, Brooke Krejci

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Although student-centered mathematics instruction, rooted in constructivism (NCTM, 2014), enhances students’ deep understanding of mathematics, many teachers fail to implement this approach, continuing to use more traditional, procedural instruction (Paolucci, 2015). One reason for these difficulties may be related to their teaching selfefficacy, or a person’s beliefs about their ability to complete a task. Wyatt’s (2016) expanded teacher self-efficacy model incorporates the reflective cycle and emphasizes the importance of reflection in the development of teacher self-efficacy.

This study explored whether encouraging reflection in pre-service teachers may indirectly increase their use of student-centered methods in mathematics by increasing their self-efficacy. The …

Challenging Social Systems Under The Threat Of Pollution: Replication And Extension Of Eadeh And Chang (2019), Dylan J. Pieper

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

I replicated and extended Eadeh and Chang (2019; Study 2) who found that reading a story about pollution harming a child increased self-reported liberalism and increased support for environmental regulation policies through greater negative affect (i.e., anger and disgust) (Hypothesis 1). Eadeh and Chang’s (2019) threat-affordance model posits that perceived threat can increase greater support for liberalism or greater support for conservatism, depending on the type of threat. In contrast, Jost and colleagues’ (2003) system justification theory posits that perceived threat asymmetrically predicts greater support for conservatism and greater systemsupporting collective action. This article advances a synthesis of these two …

Vietnam: A Soldier's Story, Ryan Charles Villarreal

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Vietnam era was highly turbulent. Both in the United States and around the world. It was called the turbulent 60s for a reason. This is a story not about politics, military tactics, or the history of American involvement in Southeast Asia. This is a narrative that talks about the American soldier who went to Vietnam. It is important to understand who they were, why they went there, and what happened to them in Vietnam. It is duly important to comprehend their returns home. Therefore, this is a blend of social and cultural history that tells a story about Vietnam, …

Pathways Behavioral Services, Anna Clark

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

This spring, I am satisfying my psychology cooperative education internship at Pathways Behavioral Services. They offer a variety of services including mental health therapy, addiction treatment, and medication assisted treatment. I am working as a chemical dependency technician in the Pathways Residential Unit. My job consists of supervising clients and interacting with them in various ways. I will explain what my typical work day is like and what I have learned in the process. Working with Pathways Behavioral Services has given me new experiences and knowledge that have helped prepare me to pursue my master's degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Effects Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Mental Health, Lauren Mcmichael

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's Disease may be associated with dietary imbalances currently seen in the average Western diet. The increase in intake of omega-6 fatty acids is a point of concern, as evidence links disproportionate intake with inhibited neural membrane function and increased inflammation. This paper reviews evidence related to problems associated with decreased omega-3 fatty acid intake in the average Western diet. Evidence connects omega-3 supplementation with alleviation of symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, and defiant behavior. Further research may be warranted regarding the degree of omega-3 deficiency in given populations of interest, such as the …

The Mediating Role Of Sleep In The Link Between Attachment Styles And Conflict Styles In Romantic Relationships, Alyssa Mccoy, Dilbur D. Arsiwalla

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The goal of this study was to examine if sleep quality (e.g., onset latency, efficiency, daytime sleepiness) mediates the links between insecure attachment styles and conflict communication styles (i.e., criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling). About 244 undergraduate students answered questions about sleep, attachment style characteristics, and conflict characteristics in their current or previous romantic relationships. Sleep was found to explain the relationship between attachment styles and conflict communication styles when flooding was used as an indicator for stonewalling. However, further research is needed to better understand why people with insecure attachment styles tend to use negative styles of conflict communication.

Mercyone Therapy Rooms, Natalie Bohnsack

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

My poster will be about my volunteer work with MercyOne along with information regarding occupational therapy. I will discuss the tasks I completed at MercyOne and what I observed while in the therapy area. In addition, I will include a section about what occupational therapy is. I will do research on food therapy since that is a useful technique occupational therapist utilize and I believe others should be educated on. At the end, I will include my future plans to become a pediatric occupational therapist.

The Mediating Role Of Sleep In The Associations Of Adult Attachment And Self Disclosure In Romantic Relationships, Elizabeth Way, Dilbur D. Arsiwalla

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Research has shown that adult attachment style predicts self disclosure in relationships (Chen, Hi, Shi, & Chen, 2019 as cited in Collins and Allard, 2007). Previous research has also pointed to a positive relationship between healthy attachment and well-being, as well as sleep quality (Escolas, Hildebrandt, Maiers, Baker, & Mason, 2013 via Verdecia, Jean-Louis, Zizi, Casimir, & Browne, 2009). The purpose of this study was to examine sleep as a possible mediator between attachment styles and self disclosure. The current sample consisted of 202 participants recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Results indicated that sleep quality (indicated by sleepiness and …

The Role Of Cognitive Neuropsychology In Emergency Medicine, Nia Mcclendon

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Over the past year, I have worked as an Emergency Room Scribe. One of the most striking peculiarities I have noticed is that when the emergency room grows busier, the number of admittances rises as well. While it seemed to be a coincidence at first, after a review of the literature I have learned that it is a well-known phenomenon. Understanding physicians' decision-making involves aspects of medicine, neuroscience, and psychology, as well as an extensive understanding of how stress impacts the brain.

Mercyone: Patient Advocate, Kaitlyn Bahlmann

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

MercyOne Sartori Hospital Kaitlyn Bahlmann For my cooperative education internship, I decided to volunteer as a patient advocate on the medical/surgical floor of Sartori Hospital in Cedar Falls. My poster will describe my experience interacting with and helping surgical patients have a better hospital stay. It’ll explain the purpose of volunteers and the psychological benefits that they provide for patients and their families. Volunteering at the hospital has given me direct patient contact experience and supplemented my other healthcare experiences as a pre-physician’s assistant student.

Using Self-Reflection And Community Engagement Opportunities To Combat Social Justice Issues, Dionna Williams, Catherine Zeman

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center at the University of Northern Iowa funds an environmental equity internship program designed to challenge students to revision sustainability from an equity perspective and leave an impact on the interns and community. Interns are challenged to understand the systems analysis of issues using formal systems thinking approaches (Meadows, 2008), inculcating practices that allows them to tackle challenging equity and social justice implications, High vs. Low context communication and leadership styles (Vellnagel, 2013; Hall 1976), and understand environmental health disparities that exist using approaches such as understanding the naturome/nurturome, exposome and multiple expo-zones (Hall …

Cedar Bend Humane Society Pre-Professional Experience, Cassidy Crosser

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Cedar Bend Humane Society is an animal shelter in Waterloo, Iowa that helps cats, dogs, and small pets find permanent homes. CBHS offers over a dozen different services to the public; these services include spaying and neutering, microchipping, and group visits for school aged children. I adopted my dog, Scooby, from CBHS in 2018 and he exhibited some undesirable behavior, which inspired me to focus my attention on how to extinguish avoidance-motivated aggression.

Attitudes Towards Latinx Student Support On Uni Campus, Shelby Loomis

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

UNI strives to be an inclusive university. The purpose of this study is to look at the attitudes and beliefs on UNI students about more support for Latinx students on campus. We asked UNI students questions about Latinx students and if they believe UNI should do more for these students. We expect that UNI students are unaware that there is minimal support for Latinx students and may not see it as a priority. Based on these results UNI should consider implementing ways to be more inclusive for Latinx students.

Childserve, Olivia Ritter

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

My poster will be about ChildServe, a non-profit organization that partners with families throughout Iowa to serve children with special needs (e.g., developmental delays, disabilities, acquired injuries, and mental health issues). Since I was able to intern in many different places, my poster will include their motto, the services they offer, and how one kiddo can be impacted in just one day. The pictures included will give a good insight to what attracts families from all over Iowa to this amazing program.

The Function Of Nssi: Differences By Adhd Symptom Endorsement, Mackenzie L. Dallenbach

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a relatively new subject in psychopathology, as it is listed as a Condition for Further Study (APA, 2013). Impulsivity is a risk factor for NSSI, and is a core feature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggesting that the two might be linked. The current exploratory study focused on the function of NSSI in college students with and without elevated ADHD symptoms. The preliminary results from a small sample (N = 42) suggest that the reported function of NSSI might vary based on ADHD symptoms. Affect regulation was commonly listed as the rational for NSSI among the elevated …

Nssi Stigma Toward Adolescent Girls And Boys, Mackenzie L. Dallenbach

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a relatively new subject of attention for psychopathology researchers, and is listed as a Condition for Further Study in the DSM-5 (APA, 2013). Current research on NSSI has utilized primarily female participants, limiting generalizability. Additionally, little research has been conducted with NSSI stigma. Thus, the current study examined whether two things influenced NSSI stigma: the sex of an individual engaging in it, and participant familiarity with NSSI. The results revealed that sex did not influence stigma. Further, there was no correlation between familiarity and NSSI stigma.