Digital Commons Network^™

April 30, 2025 General Faculty Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

How Do Children Learn How To Learn? Promoting Early Development At Home Through Play: A Scoping Review, Annika J. Larson

Senior Theses

Early childhood is a critical time in human development, during which children are discovering and practicing countless skills, from basic motor and language skills to problem-solving, self-regulation, memory, and other foundational abilities like literacy and math skills. From infancy through childhood, play is thought to be the primary condition under which most early skills are developed and perfected. During this time, young children are especially vulnerable to adversity and negative environmental influences due to their brains’ high plasticity; adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact an individual well beyond early childhood, specifically in early skills deficits. Play is known to be a …

The Impact Of Discretion On Human Service Workers Supporting The Health Of Unaccompanied Minors In Foster Care, Diana M. Clark

Senior Theses

Unaccompanied children (UCs) are a vulnerable population that enters government custody and accesses healthcare via the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)'s system of care. While prior research has focused on generating policy recommendations to improve healthcare services available to UCs both in ORR custody and following release from custody, this thesis will instead expand upon the experiences of staff members working at ORR-contracted agencies. These workers make decisions that have short- and long-term implications on the health and wellbeing of UCs. Drawing from 65 in-depth interviews with human service workers in ORR-contracted voluntary agencies, this thesis uses street-level bureaucracy framework …

"Health Gatekeepers": The Influence Of Women On Health Practices In Rural, Central Appalachia, Reese Lycan

Senior Theses

Women have historically assumed leadership roles in familial and community health promotion, intervention, and facilitation. While the role of women in family health is globally understood and the historical importance of female leadership has been documented, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding the role of women as “health gatekeepers”. Furthermore, when considering the Appalachian region, there are limited studies regarding women’s place in leadership as far as health is concerned. Therefore, this study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological framework to explore the lived experiences of women in relation to their family and community’s health in rural, Central Appalachia- a region …

Barriers In Receiving A Diagnosis Of Sanfilippo Syndrome: Perceptions From Healthcare Providers And Caregivers, Cassidy Lena

Theses and Dissertations

Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III) is a rare, degenerative condition characterized by symptoms impacting neurological functioning, behavior, and quality of life. Diagnosis is often not made until three to six years of age, but comprehensive and effective symptom management have been reported to optimize patient longevity. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to diagnosis and the corresponding impact on patients. This study surveyed healthcare providers and caregivers of individuals with Sanfilippo syndrome. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to assess provider knowledge and comfortability in managing Sanfilippo syndrome. Additionally, it explored caregiver perspectives on healthcare system navigation, …

Equity In Maternal Journeys: Maternal Health Care Experiences Among Black Mothers In South Carolina, Julisa Grace Tindall

Theses and Dissertations

Black women in the United States experience disproportionately adverse maternal health outcomes, particularly in the Southeast. This dissertation examines the maternal health care experiences and resilience strategies of Black mothers in South Carolina through a qualitative study grounded in critical race theory, Black feminist thought, resilience theory, and ecological systems theory. It highlights the pervasive influence of structural racism while amplifying the resourcefulness and agency of Black mothers. The first manuscript develops a conceptual framework to explore the structural, social, and interpersonal mechanisms influencing Black maternal health care experiences. The second manuscript employs grounded theory to investigate Black mothers’ lived …

Intimate Partner Violence In Post-Conflict Communities: The Case Of Peru, Karen Eliana León Negreiros

Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health issue worldwide and the most common type of violence experienced by women. In the last decade, a growing number of studies have evidenced that situations of civil conflict, post-conflict, and displacement can significantly exacerbate IPV and increase the likelihood of experiencing IPV later in life. This study expands on the literature by taking a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping approach to understand how civil conflict violence in Peru (1980-2000) is associated with IPV rates in the country, 4 years (2004) and 19 years (2019) after the conflict. Study results evidence the …

Healing Histories: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Practices In Libraries To Support Resilience And Recovery, Cearra Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the impact of public library closure on the Edgewood community in Columbia, South Carolina, an area with a rich history and significant ties to the two nearby historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Benedict College and Allen University. It explored the intergenerational effects of historical trauma through the lens of collective memory, as documented in oral histories from community members and public library staff. The research aimed to understand the implications of the library's absence in a marginalized community context, emphasizing how such closures can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Through oral histories, questionnaires, and interviews, the findings reveal …

Child-Caregiver Relational Closeness And Child Mental Health In Nonparental Care Settings, Amanda Stafford Mcrell

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines child-caregiver relational closeness and child mental health within nonparental care systems in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs). Five key factors impacting the well-being of orphaned, separated, and vulnerable children in LMICs are explored using the Positive Outcomes for Orphans (POFO) dataset: child maltreatment, social support, child-caregiver relationships, and nonparental care systems. First, I examined the relationship between maltreatment, social support, and mental well-being. Findings showed that maltreatment was associated with lower mental well-being, where social support (emotional support, tangible support, positive social support) was associated with greater mental well-being, even in the concurrent presence of maltreatment. Second, …

Inclusive Leadership Ideology In Crisis Management: A Case Study Analysis On Serving The Homeless During Covid-19, Hee Soun Jang, Yu Shi, Lisa Dicke, Laura Keyes

Journal of Ideology

A core value and ethical tenet of public administration is to ensure the protection and care of the most vulnerable in the community. This research shows that inclusive leadership ideology among public managers can actively engage them in using responsive strategies that respect marginalized groups' diverse cultures, languages, identities, and special needs. Using interviews of homeless-serving nonprofit leaders during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, our research demonstrates how leaders navigated critical decision-making in response to the unique service needs of those who were unsheltered and experiencing homelessness. The D-A-I-C model (Shi et al., 2020) serves as a framework …

An Investigation Of Travel Distance And Timeliness Of Breast Cancer Treatment Among A Diverse Cohort In The United States, Swann Arp Adams Ph.D., Ms, Face, Oluwole Adeyemi Babatunde, Whitney E. Zahnd, Peiyin Hung Ph.D., Karen E. Wickersham Phd, Rn, Nathaniel Bell Ph.D., Jan M. Eberth Ph.D.

Publications

Travel to and from distant cancer treatment facilities can place a significant burden on cancer patients, particularly rural and minority survivors. Thus, the purpose of our investigation was to examine the association between patient travel distance and delays in types of treatment for breast cancer (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy) and treatment delays. Using a novel linkage between the state cancer registry and administrative data from Medicaid and a private insurance plan, 2155 BC patients were successfully linked to create the cohort. ArcGIS was used to geocode all case residences and treatment facility addresses and calculate network distance between …

An Investigation Of Travel Distance And Timeliness Of Breast Cancer Treatment Among A Diverse Cohort In The United States, Swann Arp Adams, Oluwole Adeyemi Babatunde, Whitney Zahnd, Peiyin Hung, Karen E. Wickersham, Nathaniel Bell Ph.D., Jan M. Eberth Ph.D.

Publications

Travel to and from distant cancer treatment facilities can place a significant burden on cancer patients, particularly rural and minority survivors. Thus, the purpose of our investigation was to examine the association between patient travel distance and delays in types of treatment for breast cancer (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy) and treatment delays. Using a novel linkage between the state cancer registry and administrative data from Medicaid and a private insurance plan, 2155 BC patients were successfully linked to create the cohort. ArcGIS was used to geocode all case residences and treatment facility addresses and calculate network distance between …

January 15, 2025 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

How Agency From Precollege Experiences Empowers Black Student-Athletes To Succeed And Find Belonging At Pwis: A Phenomenological Study, Deborah V. Hogan

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In the ever-changing college football landscape, Division I (DI) student-athletes seek to maximize their athletic and financial potential while navigating the academic and social challenges of college life. For Black student-athletes (BSAs) at predominantly White institutions (PWIs), the campus racial climate shapes their college experience and sense of belonging. The current phenomenological study explores how DI Black football student-athletes (BFSAs) use agency from precollege experiences to navigate racial climates and find belonging at PWIs. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) and sense of belonging frameworks, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 former BFSAs from DI PWIs. The study revealed three main …

The Efficacy And Usability Of Motivational Interviewing Just-In-Time Trainings For Youth Mentors, Mackenzie J. Hart, Samuel D. Mcquillin, Aidyn Iachini Ph.D., Msw, Lsw, Daniel K. Cooper, Mark D. Weist

Faculty Publications

Using youth mentors to deliver evidence-based psychosocial services has been proposed to increase the reach of treatments, in part given the affordability and ubiquity of mentors in youth settings. Further, tests of mentor-delivered motivational interviewing (MI) have shown increases in youth mentees' academic performance and wellbeing. Yet, traditional methods of training mentors to use MI can be costly and time-consuming. Previous work has suggested the value of asynchronous, brief, just-in-time training (JITT) to help offset these challenges; however, MI JITT for mentors has not yet been formally evaluated. As such, here, we report on a preliminary study of MI JITT …

Preliminary Evaluation Of A Brief Intervention To Enhance Trauma-Informed Attitudes Among Educators And School Mental Health Counselors, Cheri Shapiro, Kara Lee, Courtnie Collins, Tristan Collier, Carl Sorensen

Publications

Professional development training designed to advance knowledge of the impacts of trauma and trauma-responsive practices for educators and counselors in schools and mental health settings have become common. Given the popularity of these training approaches, it is important to understand the potential impact on trauma-informed attitudes and beliefs. This descriptive, exploratory study examined changes in traumainformed care attitudes as a function of participating in a novel intervention designed to support trauma-informed practices in a sample of elementary school educators, administrators, and school mental health counselors (n=194) from one state in the Southeastern US. Positive changes in trauma-informed attitudes from pre …

2024 - 2025 Faculty Senate Annual Report, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

The primary file includes the 2024 - 2025 Admissions Committee Report. Additional annual reports are attached.

Changing Minds, Changing Behavior: The Role Of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy In Addressing Intimate Partner Violence, Natalie Freeman, Courtney Mcdonald

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

Intervention programs for intimate partner violence abusers are designed to address and mitigate violent behaviors and promote healthier relationships to reduce recidivism. This literature review examines various intervention programs and their strategies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, and educational programs, along with their theoretical foundations and effectiveness. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on altering thought patterns that contribute to abusive actions, demonstrating efficacy in reducing violent behaviors and promoting emotional regulation. This study utilized a qualitative design in collaboration with Anger Management of the Upstate, where participants in a CBT-based intimate partner violence intervention program completed an anonymous Qualtrics survey exploring …

#Mmiw On Instagram: Contemporary Representations Of Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, And Two-Spirit People​, Sydney E. Cathcart, Renu Pariyadath

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

This research paper overlooks the disproportionate number of missing persons and violence towards Indigenous groups, particularly women. Communication research has pointed to mass media lacking coverage on missing or murdered cases of Indigenous people, contributing to invisibility of the issue and lack of attention to the problem. Individual efforts to increase sources of information have been utilized in social media to make up for where mass media lacks. Social media creators who look to raise awareness, mobilize grassroot actions, and expand community ties. Content analysis was used to analyze content in Instagram under hashtags relevant to #MMIW–Missing and Murdered Indigenous …

Navigating “Being Seen”: Experiences Of Older Adult Arab Immigrants And Family Caregivers Accessing Health Care Services In Ontario, Selma Tobah, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Jodi Hall, Lloy Wylie, Sandra Regan

Publications

Immigrants to Canada face unique barriers to accessing health care including communication barriers, socioeconomic limitations, and a lack of health care system navigation knowledge. Arabs in particular face mainstream negative attitudes, propagated through political discourses as well as entertainment media. We sought to understand how older adult Arab immigrants and family caregivers accessed and experienced health care in Ontario. We conducted a critical constructivist grounded theory, using Charmaz’s approach to grounded theory. A critical constructivist grounded theory method asks not only “what” social processes are happening and “how” but also “why” and “who” benefits. Both older adult immigrant Arabs and …

Harnessing Team Science In Dementia Research: Insights From The Alzheimer’S Disease Research Group In South Carolina, Sayema Akter, Eric Mishio Bawa, Nicholas Riccardi, Daniel A. Amoatika, Margaret C. Miller Ms, Ph.D., Otis L. Owens Mph, Ph.D., Caps, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, E Angela Murphy, Daping Fan, Melissa Moss, Mihyun Lim Waugh, Sue E. Levkoff Scd, Msw, Sm, Freda Allyson Hucek, Jean Neils-Strunjas Ph.D, Ccc-Slp, Swann Arp Adams Ph.D., Ms, Face, Roger Newman-Norlund, Sarah Newman-Norlund Ph.D., James Hardin Ph.D., John Absher, Bankole A. Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Lumi Bakos Ph.D., Quentin Mccollum, Chris Rorden, Leonardo Bonilha, Daniela B. Friedman

Publications

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are complex and rapidly growing public health challenges that require integrative, collaborative approaches. To meet this need, the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) of South Carolina, a state-funded partnership across multiple institutions, has embraced a team science model that brings together expertise from four key disciplines: neuroimaging-neurology, health sciences, molecular biology, and engineering. This paper highlights the work at the University of South Carolina (USC) and how each discipline contributes uniquely yet collaboratively within a recurring loop model framework. Extending from USC's Cancer Prevention and Control Program, the framework guides scientific growth through four …

“Struggling For Years”: An International Survey On Autistic Experiences Of Menopause, Christine A. Jenkins, Rachel L. Moseley, Margaret Janse Van Rensburg, Julie M. Gamble-Turner, Miranda J. Brady

Faculty and Staff Publications

Emerging research suggests that menopause can be a difficult transition for some Autistic people. This international co-produced survey explored factors that might make menopause harder for Autistic people, such as lack of menopause and autism awareness; moreover, we aimed to explore what support Autistic people needed and what could help them cope and even flourish during this time. We employed a mixed-methods approach to analyze quantitative and qualitative responses from 508 Autistic participants. Both the quantitative and qualitative data supported relationships between lack of menopause and autism awareness and overall difficulties during menopause. Autistic participants wanted more appropriate and Autistic-specific …

Libraries On The Front Lines: The Imperative For Disaster-Ready Information Professionals, Feili Tu-Keefner Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Libraries, particularly local public libraries, have evolved into hubs for community-first services, extending beyond traditional roles. Library personnel are now expected to act as first responders and crisis leaders during times such as natural disasters. This report documents the critical crisis leadership qualifications required for library personnel, identified through comprehensive research from 2015 to 2023. Findings from these situation-specific case studies call attention to the community’s needs for library services during emergencies, underscoring the requirement for LIS education to include disaster management. Continuing education (CE) is also critical in preparing information professionals for these essential roles.

December 4, 2024 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Identifying Anticipated Challenges When Implementing Group Care: Context-Analyses Across Seven Countries To Develop An Anticipated Challenges Framework, Astrid Van Damme, Florence Talrich, Mathilde Crone, Marlies Rijnders, Crystal L. Patil, Sharon Schindler Rising, Jedidia Abanga, Deborah Lynn Billings Phd, Ashna D. Hindori-Mohangoo, Manodj P. Hindori, Nele Martens, Shanaaz Mathews, Vlorian Molliqaj, Marsha Orgill, Wiedaad Slemming, Katrien Beeckman

Publications

Problem

Background

Aim

Methods

November 6, 2024 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Share Your Story; Good News From Sc Libraries, Virginia Cononie

South Carolina Libraries

Welcome to the third edition

of Share Your Story, where I am deeply grateful to present over 75 inspiring library stories from across our great state. Each story is a testament to the essential role libraries play in impacting communities and the lives of those they serve.

As you explore this collection, you'll discover a rich tapestry of experiences from school, public, and academic libraries. From community gardens to therapy dog visits, activities fostering the love of reading to donor funds well spent—these stories showcase the diverse ways libraries enrich our local communities.

These stories not only demonstrate Good News …

The Mental Health Literacy Of Ncaa College Coaches: Knowledge, Beliefs, And Resources, Lauren Beasley, Steven Hoffman, Jackson Sears

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college athletes in the United States (U.S.) are at risk for diminished mental health, and stigma may be a barrier to these athletes seeking professional mental health care. Coaches can create a team environment that prioritizes athlete mental health and destigmatizes help-seeking; however, this requires coaches to have appropriate mental health knowledge, operationalized as mental health literacy (MHL). Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to explore three different constructs of MHL of NCAA coaches across Divisions I, II, and III. The Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Scale (MMHLS), which measures MHL within three domains—knowledge, …

How Has Health Literacy And Digital Health Literacy Scholarship Evolved? A Global, Qualitative Study, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Mayank Sakhuja, Simone Kavarana, Lauren Schaurer, Michelle Angelique Arent, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Mark M. Macauda, Samuel Noblet, Daniela B. Friedman

Publications

Health literacy (HL) is a key social determinant of health (SDoH) and is of increasing importance in public health research and intervention for improved health outcomes. Definitions of HL and digital health literacy (DHL) have evolved over time as the field has expanded conceptualization from an individual focus to the broader community and organizational levels. Careful consideration of HL and DHL for a variety of contexts and audiences is critical given increased global adoption of digital technologies and responses to emerging public health challenges. This study aimed to capture researchers' conceptualizations of HL/DHL and their motivations to engage in this …

Implementation Of Eat Sleep Console For Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Quality Improvement Project, Harley Addison Kennington

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: A level III NICU and mother-baby unit within an inpatient hospital in the Southeast United States transitioned from the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scale (FNASS) to the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) for treating Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Prior to ESC implementation, there was limited nursing education of ESC practice guidelines or consideration for proper implementation protocol. Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement project was to reintroduce nursing staff to the ESC NAS Care Tool and ESC charting guidelines within the NICU and mother-baby units. Methods: This project followed the PDSA process – Plan, Do, Study, Act, underscored …