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Exploring Parental Perspectives On The Transition To Kindergarten For Children With Disabilities, Kari Alberque, Somer Matthews

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

This qualitative interview study explores the personal narratives of parents of children with disabilities regarding the transition of their child to kindergarten. Informed by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, we conducted six parent interviews during the kindergarten year to collect insights about their experiences, challenges, and sources of support. This study aimed to inform the development of effective practices that support families during this critical transition period. Through reflexive thematic analysis, we identified several themes from the data, which include: (1) challenges in understanding the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the transition process, (2) the value of parent-to-parent support networks, (3) …

Efficacy And Feasibility Of Web-Based Act-Enhanced Behavioral Treatment For Skin Picking In Adults: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial, Emily M. Bowers, Leila K. Capel, Mercedes G. Woolley, Aubry Barnes, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Skin picking disorder is a chronic repetitive condition that impacts daily functioning and causes significant distress. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) enhanced behavioral training (A-EBT) has shown promise in targeting skin picking symptoms but is not widely disseminated among providers. This study examines the efficacy and feasibility of an eight-week fully-automated online A-EBT program for skin picking disorder. Participants with skin picking disorder (N = 84) were randomized into either an online intervention (n = 43) or a waitlist control (n = 41). All participants completed self-report assessments at baseline, mid-, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Analyses used …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda September 5, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes – April 4, 2024

• Program Proposals

• Semester Course Approval Reviews:

• College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences,
• Caine College of the Arts,
• Jon M. Huntsman School of Business,
• Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services,
• College of Engineering,
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences,
• S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources,
• College of Science,
• College of Veterinary Medicine,
• Other

• Other Business

• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Educational Policies Committee Agenda September 5, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes – April 4, 2024

• Subcommittee Reports –

• Curriculum Subcommittee,
• Program Proposals,
• Academic Standards Subcommittee,
• General Education Subcommittee

• Other Business

• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

The Utah Statesman, September 2, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Versus Progressive Relaxation Training For Misophonia: Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol, Interventions, And Audiological Assessments, Emily M. Bowers, Mercedes G. Woolley, Karen Muñoz, Julie M. Petersen, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Misophonia is a disorder characterized by an intense emotional reaction to specific sounds, often leading to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a promising psychotherapy for treating misophonia, but has only been previously tested in case studies. This paper presents a protocol for the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the efficacy and feasibility of ACT supplemented by audiological interventions for misophonia versus progressive relaxation training (PRT).

Methods: The outlined protocol is a RCT with 60 adults with misophonia. After undergoing a comprehensive psychological and audiological evaluation, participants were randomly assigned to …

Instruments For Dual-Factor Mental Health Screening In Elementary Schools: Implications In Mental Health Classification, Mei-Ki Chan, Michael J. Furlong, Emmy Ruff

Psychology Faculty Publications

This research study holds practical significance for educators, school administrators, and mental health professionals. The study utilized structural equation modeling on two samples of elementary school students in grades three to five to create and validate condensed versions of the Social-Emotional Health Survey-Primary and the Me and My School questionnaire. These abbreviated scales exhibited strong internal validity and reliability across grade levels and genders, allowing for the assessment of wellness and distress among a diverse range of elementary school students. Furthermore, data from a longitudinal sample investigated dual-factor mental health profiles and their consistency over one year. Based on the …

The Utah Statesman, August 26, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Coping With Loneliness (Part 1): Look Inward, Melanie Dabb, Jared Hawkins, Christina Pay, Eva Timothy, Cindy Jenkins, Christine Jensen

All Current Publications

Experiencing loneliness sometimes is part of the human experience. However, when experienced long-term, loneliness can lead to detrimental impacts on physical, mental, and emotional health. In a series of four fact sheets, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty compiled some of the most effective ways to enhance connectedness. This first fact sheet describes ways of looking inward that can reduce loneliness. These include identifying sources of loneliness, increasing acceptance, practicing mindfulness, seeking solitude, practicing self-reflection, and practicing self-care.

Coping With Loneliness (Part 4): Support Others Who Experience Loneliness, Melanie Dabb, Jared Hawkins, Christina Pay, Eva Timothy, Cindy Jenkins, Christine Jensen

All Current Publications

It is natural to want to offer help and support when someone we love or care about is experiencing loneliness. Paradoxically, this is one of the best ways to reduce our own loneliness. In response, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty developed three fact sheets to describe some of the most effective ways to reduce loneliness. This fourth fact sheet suggests ways to ensure our efforts to support others who are experiencing loneliness are helpful and supportive.

Coping With Loneliness (Part 2): Look Outward, Melanie Dabb, Jared Hawkins, Christina Pay, Eva Timothy, Cindy Jenkins, Christine Jensen

All Current Publications

Experiencing loneliness sometimes is part of the human experience. However, when experienced long-term, loneliness can lead to detrimental impacts on physical, mental, and emotional health. In a series of four fact sheets, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty compiled some of the most effective ways to enhance connectedness. This second fact sheet suggests simple ways of looking outward to experience greater connectedness. These include increasing social group memberships, connecting through art and laughter, spending time in nature, strengthening friendships, and providing service.

Thought-Shape Fusion In Residential Eating Disorder Treatment: Cognitive Defusion As A Mediator Between Thought-Action Fusion And Treatment Outcome, Mercedes G. Woolley, Sarah E. Schwartz, Francesca M. Knudsen, Tera Lensegrav-Benson, Benita Quakenbush-Roberts, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

An understudied cognitive bias within eating disorder (ED) psychopathology is Thought-Shape Fusion (TSF), which involves irrational beliefs about the likelihood and moral implications of feared outcomes within the context of ED treatment, with little known about potential process of change to address TSF and ultimately promote ED recovery. We propose cognitive defusion as a process of change, a metacognitive process that emphasizes observing thoughts objectively rather than appraising thoughts as absolute truth. We explored whether cognitive defusion, that is, reductions in body image-related cognitive fusion, mediated the relationship between trait-level TSF and treatment outcomes in a transdiagnostic ED sample of …

Coping With Loneliness (Part 3): Focus On What You Can Change, Melanie Dabb, Jared Hawkins, Christina Pay, Eva Timothy, Cindy Jenkins, Christine Jensen

All Current Publications

The U.S. surgeon general named loneliness a top public health issue in the U.S. In response, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty developed four fact sheets to describe some of the most effective ways to reduce loneliness. This third fact sheet describes both actions and ways of thinking to help you focus on what you can change. These include using social media intentionally, reaching out for support, avoiding unhealthy relationships, focusing on helpful thoughts, adopting a growth mindset, and practicing gratitude.

"We Are In A Complete Crisis": Navigating The Lack Of Resources To Mental Health Care For Individuals With Idd, Abby Julian, Lindy Strand

Student Research Symposium

IDD and Mental Health

●What is IDD?

●Approximately 7.3 million Americans with IDD (University of Minnesota)

●59% of people with IDD have 1+ mental health conditions (Reichard et al., 2019)

●Many Utah families experience significant difficulty

Cognitive Reappraisal: The Bridge Between Cognitive Load And Emotion, Rebecca Brockbank, David F. Feldon

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Within this integrative review, cognitive load theory (CLT) is asserted as a powerful framework for conceptualizing human cognitive processes within learning. The relationship between cognition and emotion is then examined and further integrated within the scope of CLT. Emotion regulation strategies are discussed and adaptive strategies are proposed as being of particular relevance to broadening the theoretical and practical impacts of CLT. Central to the argument of this review is the use of cognitive reappraisal as a potential mitigator of cognitive load. Cognitive reappraisal involves reframing or reassessing understandings or beliefs that underlie an emotional response, which may mitigate cognitive …

In Pursuit Of Eye Tracking For Visual Landscape Assessments, David Evans, Brent Chamberlain

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Visual quality and impact assessments have historically relied on experts to formally evaluate the visual properties of a landscape. In contrast, environmental psychologists have studied subjective landscape preferences using ratings and surveys. These two approaches represent, respectively, the “objectivist” and “subjectivist” paradigms within visual landscape research. A gap, however, exists between these approaches: actual observation behaviors. In this paper, we argue for the inclusion of eye-tracking research in visual landscape assessments as a critical bridge between objective landscape qualities and subjective visual experiences. We describe the basics of eye-tracking methods and data types to introduce the role of eye movements …

Desire As A Framework For Adaptation: Examining Aku No Hana As An Unconventional Adaptation Of Les Fleurs Du Mal, Zoe Dalley

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

In this project, I began by arguing that the 2009 to 2014 manga series Aku No Hana by author and artist Shūzō Oshimi should be considered an unconventional adaptation of the 19th century collection of poems Les Fleurs Du Mal by French poet Charles Baudelaire. I then turned my analysis to the practice of adaptation more broadly, using desire, a central theme to both of my chosen primary texts, as my lens through which I examined some of the central complexities and paradoxes inherent to adaptation, such as the simultaneous expectation of textual faith and a new authorial vision. I …

Shifting Paradigms In Recreation Management: Applying Social-Ecological System Frameworks To Parks And Protected Areas, Noah Creany

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Park and protected area (PPA) recreation management is often characterized by social, ecological, and managerial dimensions. These dimensions have increasingly been conceptualized as social-ecological systems (SESs) to understand the complex interrelationships between them. Contemporary trends of increased visitation on public lands in the United States, including US National Parks, have accentuated the complex interactions between the amount of recreation use, the capacity of the setting, the quality of the visitor experience, and ecological resource conditions. These challenges of managing recreation use and understanding these interactions will be further compounded by climate change and its effects on ecosystem composition and dynamics. …

Applying Implementation Supports To Professional Development To Improve Implementation Of The Caught Being Good Game, Dylan Zimmerman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Disruptive behavior in the classroom can cause challenges for both teachers and students, creating high levels of teacher stress and preventing students from accessing academic instruction. Training on evidence-based classroom management is often resource-intensive and has inconsistent impact on teacher behavior in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of professional development on paraprofessionals' treatment fidelity of the Caught Being Good Game. We used a multiple baseline design to provide a tiered model of professional development to provide the least intensive level necessary to support implementation. Results indicate that all four teachers successfully implemented most …

An Examination Of Inclusion Of Secondary Students With Disabilities In One Local School District, Brandon Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This survey was designed to examine the role of inclusion in a secondary school setting in one school district. The survey attempted to measure the attitudes, and opinions of general education school teachers, special education school teachers, administrators, and the parents of a student with a disability. The survey determined that most opinions agreed that students with disabilities deserved to be included in classes and extracurricular activities but what that would look like was different in all groups. Opinions even varied when looking at what the exact definition of inclusion was. Results from the survey showed opinions that teachers and …

Using Wasp Specimens In Taxonomic, Biogeographic, Evolution, And Informal Education Studies, Brenna Lynn Decker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Entomology collections hold an untapped wealth of information, from insect morphology, genetics, locality and association data, and potential for use in education. Especially with insects that generate initial fears, such as wasps, seeing insect specimens provides a safe environment to learn about their behaviors. Wasps are insects in the order Hymenoptera, along with ants and bees. The public may hold fears against wasps, due to their negative portrayal in various media, but they serve as integral components of a functional ecosystem. Even with their importance, many groups of wasps are still highly understudies. This dissertation aims to tackle this fear …

Cyclical Patterns Of Self-Regulated Learning In College Students, David N. Longhurst

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Zimmerman’s self-regulated learning (SRL) model is a cyclical approach to learning where learners use several processes to facilitate learning or to perform a skill within many domains. Zimmerman’s model describes three phases including forethought, performance, and self-reflection, which occur respectively before, during, and after a task. Theoretically, these phases interact in a cyclical feedback loop in which a person cognitively interacts with a task before, during, and after the activity and continuously do so independently. This model has been the basis for several school-based intervention programs. Those programs have been studied regarding academic outcomes and efficacy; however, less research has …

Evaluating Social Interactions As A Byproduct Of The Good Behavior Game Within An Elementary Small Group Classroom, Emma Walton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Children with Autism exhibit significantly fewer social interaction behaviors than their neurotypical peers. Much of the research around this deficit focuses on early intervention, and specialty services such as ABA intervention. The Good Behavior Game is an interdependent group contingency that has been shown to improve academic, social and appropriate behaviors in a variety of settings. This study explored the effects of the GBG on the social interactions of elementary students within special education without specifically targeting social interactions with peers through the game's rules. This study found negative (null) results, indicating that the GBG did not affect the social …

Birds, Bees, And The Babies: Study Of The Influence Of Self-Efficacy On Parent-Child Sex Communication, Cassandra M. Craig

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Previous studies show that parents tend to be uncomfortable discussing sexual topics with their children, such as menstruation, masturbation, and/or condom use. This study offers a look at the part confidence plays in a parent's intentions to talk to their kids about such topics. The results indicated that the confidence parents feel about discussing sexual topics is not related to how much their own parents talked with them about sex. However, the confidence they feel that could be coming from other models, like social media or peers, is related to how much parents intend to talk with their own children …

Sparks, Belonging, And Relationships: High School Teachers' Use Of Developmental Context To Engage Students In Career Pathways, Dave Francis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The 4-H Thriving Model outlines how a foundation for youth sparks, belonging, and relationships can lead to short and long-term outcomes. This study explored how high school teachers in Utah integrate the elements of the foundation of the 4-H Thriving Model in environmental science and natural resources management classroom teaching. A mixed method of interviews and surveys was used to understand teaching practices. Teachers described helping students discover their interests (sparks), nurturing these interests, and linking them to careers using methods like guest speakers, field trips, contests, and student presentations. They also worked on creating a sense of belonging in …

Exploring The Role Of Whiteness In Sociopolitical Development: Predictive Contexts And Trajectories, Jesiah P. Salazar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Critical consciousness is the ability to understand and challenge oppressive social systems, believe in one's power to create positive social change, and take actions toward making those changes. Sociopolitical development theory suggests that this awareness grows through a mix of social influences, opportunities for activism, and personal identity. Historically, this concept has been viewed as a way to empower youth of color to challenge systemic oppression, rather than just cope with it. Therefore, most research has focused on critical consciousness in youth of color. Recently, however, researchers have begun to explore critical consciousness among White adolescents. Using a person-centered approach, …

An Examination Of Traumatic Brain Injury And Genes For Neurotrophins And Apolipoprotein E In Predicting Cognitive Function In Older Adults: The Cache County Study, Mikaela A. Drewel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Recovery from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is influenced by a wide array of factors including age at incidence, number, and severity as well as genetic factors, some of which exhibit sex-dependent effects. This study examines how TBI history influences rate of cognitive decline in older adults, exploring the characteristics of TBI (e.g., number, severity, and timing) as predictors and interactions of TBI history with genetic variants suspected to play a role in brain health and late-life cognitive functioning. These genes include the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) as well as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptors. This study analyzed …

Exploring Complete Mental Health Screening Using Adolescent Self-Reports, Stephanie A. Vinal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study comprises two separate papers that ultimately aim to create and support the use of a new school screening tool to identify student risk for a variety of school-based problems as well as identify their individual strengths. Complete mental health screening refers to a process by which the entire student body of a school is administered a screening tool in order to cast a wide net and increase the likelihood of identifying any student at risk for behavioral, social, emotional, or academic difficulties. By identifying student strengths as well as their risk for problems, schools are better aimed at …

Siwa's Influence On Alexander The Great's Self-Presentation, Luke Boardman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis analyzes the changes in Alexander the Great’s public image and how his visit to the Oracle of Ammon was a catalyst for these alterations. Examining moments of Alexander in isolation, his adoption of ostentatious habits, and enrobing himself in foreign attire and culture reveals a connection to his time in the Egyptian desert where Alexander was promised eventual authority over all mankind. The post-Siwa Alexander used these tools to leave behind the Hellenistic leader and become the Lord of Asia.

The Credit Card Behaviors And Financial Satisfaction Among Emerging Adults During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica Ralphs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Using data from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), this study focused on poor credit card behaviors and financial satisfaction of emerging adults ages between 18 and 29 (N=1,944). The descriptive results show that 45.8% reported carrying over a balance in the past 12 months and 51.3% reported paying the minimum payment some months. It was also found that 28.3% reported being charged a late fee for late payment some months in the past 12 months, whereas 21.7% reported being charged an over the limit fee for exceeding their credit limit some months.

The multivariate results indicated …