Digital Commons Network^™

From Cooking Meals To Cocking Guns, Janeal Downs

UROP Posters

Empowerment through Violence: Most people associate gangs with their ability to destroy communities by engaging in drug use, drug distribution and violence, and they have been studied for decades. Researchers are interested in defining gangs, understanding how they work, and finding reasons why the members join and stay in the gangs. However, when researchers study gangs, they invariably focus on male members. When and if these studies mention women, most of the research solely references their roles as sexual objects or girlfriends of gang members. Only recently have a small percentage of researchers begun to include females as a part …

Commonwealth Times 2013-07-01

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Implications Of Child Abduction For Human Rights And Child Welfare Systems: A Constructivist Inquiry Of The Lived Experience Of Guatemalan Mothers Publically Reporting Child Abduction For Intercountry Adoption, Carmen Monico

Theses and Dissertations

The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption was agreed upon in 1993 at the Hague Conference on Private International Law to address growing allegations of abduction, sale, and trafficking of children around the world. The Hague Convention guides countries to attend to the “best interest of the child” in making decisions on intercountry adoptions, and to apply the “principle of subsidiarity,” which calls for the consideration of family and kinship placement and national adoption prior to the consideration of intercountry adoption. This dissertation research focused on the experience of Guatemalan mothers reporting …

Breastfeeding Influencing Factors In Thai Adolescent Mothers, Supannee Kanhadilok

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Breastfeeding is well established as the optimal method for ensuring healthy infant nutrition. However, many adolescents remain unaware of the role of breastfeeding. Adolescent mothers continue to have the lowest rate of breastfeeding in many countries including Thailand, with only 17% of Thai adolescent mothers continuing to breastfed at 6 months postpartum. Objective: Examine factors influencing breastfeeding behaviors in adolescent mothers, particularly those in Thailand. Methods: This dissertation project involved two research studies focusing on breastfeeding influencing factors in adolescent mothers. The first study was an integrative review of 22 articles published in 2000-2012. The findings revealed that personal …

The Effects Of Sleep Problems And Depression On Alcohol-Related Negative Consequences Among College Students, Mcgann Amanda Wattenmaker

Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature provides an overview of the multiple relationships between alcohol use, protective behavioral strategies (PBS), alcohol-related negative consequences, depression, and sleep problems among college students, as well as differences by individual level characteristics, such as age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Several studies have found that specific demographic groups of students are more likely to reach a higher blood alcohol content (BAC) when “partying” or socializing (Turner, Bauerle, & Shu, 2004; Crotty, 2011). A variety of studies have also confirmed the positive relationship between high blood alcohol content and experiencing alcohol-related negative consequences (Turner, et al., 2004; Martens, Taylor, Damann, Page, …

Commonwealth Times 2013-04-25

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Relational Victimization On The Perceived Barriers, Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, And Career Aspirations Of Female Offenders, Brooke Green

Theses and Dissertations

We explored the relations among relational victimization and career-related variables in a sample of 174 non-violent female felony offenders residing in a community corrections residential facility. Archival data was used from a larger career-related reentry program that represented a joint effort between investigators at the VCU Department of Psychology and staff from the Virginia Department of Correctional Education. Data analyses focused on the association between (a) recent experiences of relational victimization and (b) career aspiration complexity code, (c) career aspirations towards or away from socially-oriented careers, (d) perceived occupational barriers, and (e) career decision-making self-efficacy. Hypothesized associations among this set …

Commonwealth Times 2013-04-18

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Black Teacher Mentors On White Beginning Teachers, Wendi Moss

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to determine the mentoring process Black mentors used when mentoring White beginning teachers. Five mentors and their six mentees were surveyed and interviewed to find how cross-race mentoring processes in an urban school district in the Commonwealth of Virginia work. Seven themes emerged from the study: (a) perceptions of the mentoring process; (b) perceptions of classroom management; (c) perceptions of school quality; (d) perceptions of urban teaching; (e) perceptions of White advantage; and (f) presence of White privilege.

Guilt, Blame, And Responsibility: The Experiences Of Parents And Clinicians Providing Services To Adolescents With Co-Occurring Mental Health And Substance Abuse Challenges, Katherine Cohen-Filipic

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand and describe the experiences of parents of, and clinicians who provide services to, adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges, particularly as they relate to issues of guilt, blame, and responsibility. The study is based in a theoretical framework derived from Symbolic Interactionism (Blumer, 1969), Attribution Theory (Heider, 1958), and Barrett`s (1995) Theory of Guilt and Shame. The guiding question the study is: What are the experiences of parents of adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse challenges and clinicians who provide treatment services around issues of blame, guilt, …

Dimensions Of Informal Support Network Development In An Asian American Community In The New South: A Grounded Theory, Suzie Weng

Theses and Dissertations

The continuum of care framework posits that individuals move from one level to the next in seeking resources for help ranging from first using informal support to finally using formal services. Yet, the literature is mostly focused on formal services. It is well-known in the literature that existing formal services are underutilized by the Asian American population. If that is also the case in nontraditional settlement cities like Richmond, Virginia, the continuum of care framework and existing literature suggest that Asian Americans are turning to their informal support networks to meet their needs. Thus far, the literature on informal support …

Commonwealth Times 2013-04-11

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Rehabilitation Service Utilization Among African American Women Living With Hiv/Aids: Using The Behavioral Model For Vulnerable Populations, Aisha Shamburger-Rousseau

Theses and Dissertations

African American women represent one of the largest groups disproportionately living with and affected by HIV/AIDS yet African American women have largely been unrepresented in the federal-state rehabilitation system. As pharmaceutical treatment options improve and individuals with HIV/AIDS are living longer and healthier lives, research exploring the appropriateness of rehabilitation services has increased. Accordingly, it has become more necessary to address the needs of this population. As the largest service provider for people with disabilities, the state-federal rehabilitation system has the potential to be a vital resource for African American women living with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study is …

The Impact Of Perpetrator Gender On Child Protective Services Sexual Abuse Cases: A National Picture, David Axlyn Mcleod

Theses and Dissertations

Child sexual assault is a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States with some research suggesting up to one fifth of our nations children being victimized before reaching adulthood. Research has suggested females could be responsible for up to 20% of child sexual abuse cases, and at the same time only represent only 1% of sexual offenders incarcerated the US. This creates a situation where a large group of relatively under-researched offenders are evading detection. Numerous calls for further research have been made, but relatively few studies have had the ability to shed significant light on this phenomenon on …

Partnering, Edward F. Ansello

Director's Editorials from Age in Action

Collaborative partnering has been a core value of Virginia Center on Aging. Several members are partnering with institutions of higher education, public schools, community businesses, and talented instructors.

Timeslips: Creativity For People With Dementia, Anne Davis Basting

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Recognize the value of creative storytelling for people with dementia, with its shift in emphasis from memory to imagination.

2. Understand the impact of creative storytelling upon facilitators, storytellers, audiences, and readers.

3. Explore the potential mechanisms at work in creative storytelling.

Virginia Commonwealth University Fall Commencement Program [Corrected Copy] [2013], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Virginia Commonwealth University Fall Commencement Program [2013], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Ethnicity And Gender Comparisons Of Health Consequences In Adults With Alcohol Dependence, Karen G. Chartier, Michie N. Hesselbrock, Victor M. Hesselbrock

Social Work Publications

The moderating effects of ethnicity and gender on factors associated with physical health consequences in adults with alcohol dependence was examined using data from the 2001–2002 U.S. National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Black and White respondents with a lifetime diagnosis of DSM-IV alcohol dependence were selected for the study (n = 3,852). A multiple-group structural equation model tested ethnicity, gender, and intervening variables as predictors of physical health status in alcohol dependent men and women. Study findings offer implications for clinical practice with alcohol dependent individuals by identifying likely target groups and problems for intervention.

Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Bulletin [2013], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Undergraduate bulletin for Virginia Commonwealth University for the academic year 2013-2014. It includes information on academic regulations, degree requirements, course offerings, faculty, academic calendar, and tuition and expenses for undergraduate programs.

Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate And Professional Programs Bulletin [2013], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Graduate and professional programs bulletin for Virginia Commonwealth University for the academic year 2013-2014. It includes information on academic regulations, degree requirements, course offerings, faculty, academic calendar, and tuition and expenses for graduate programs.

Making Disability A Part Of Diversity, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Arianne Dowdell, Stefanie King, Scott Sherman, Lauren Shiver, Bhavna Shroff

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

As part of Theme I of VCU’s Quest for Distinction, our project will help improve access to the services provided by Disability Student Services (DSS) office to students with disability. Recruitment and retention of qualified disabled students will increase. These students will achieve with higher graduation rates and contribute to a productive and skilled workforce. Improving the services provided to disabled students and better retention of these students at VCU will attract faculty members with expertise or a special interest in serving the disabled. Our project will also serve Theme I of Quest by continuing to make VCU a leader …

Virginia Commonwealth University Commencement Program [2013], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Pilot Inventory Of Community Partnerships, Valerie Holton

Division of Community Engagement Resources

Partnerships with community organizations create increased opportunities for universities to promote community-engaged research, teaching, and service. Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) mission states that the university is committed to "sustainable, university-community partnerships that enhance the educational, economic, and cultural vitality of the communities VCU serves." In recognition of its efforts, VCU is among a small number of institutions to be designated as very high research activity and community-engaged by the Carnegie Foundation. It is also a recipient of a NIH-funded Center for Translational and Sciences Award, which promotes community-engaged research.

In pursuit of the university’s goal to become a national model …

2013 Service-Learning Faculty Survey Results Report, Office Of Service-Learning, Division Of Community Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University

Division of Community Engagement Resources

Service-learning is an important teaching pedagogy that has been proven effective in enhancing student learning and promoting both academic and civic engagement. As civic engagement continues to gain prominence as an integral aspect of higher education, it is increasingly important that engagement metrics are consistently measured to demonstrate outcomes. This is especially true of service-learning as it strongly correlates with student learning, academic performance, and retention rates. Feedback and suggestions from service-learning faculty members are useful for gaining insights into how service-learning quality can be enhanced at the classroom level and understanding the resource needs of faculty members.

The purpose …

Mexican Health Paradox, Merit George

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Despite the broad array of research that exists on the Hispanic health paradox, no single explanation has been marked as the dominant reason for the disparities in life expectancy that exist between Mexican Americans and other Hispanic and non-Hispanic ethnic groups. This indicates that researchers must adopt a more open perspective that examines the influence of multidimensional factors that integrate culture, religious tradition, and lifestyle. The purpose of the current study is to 1) readily define the paradox and provide a thorough review of existing literature on the topic; 2) suggest a transition from exploring statistical explanations of the paradox …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 90, No. 4, 2013)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

From Linkage To Gwas: A Multifaceted Exploration Of The Genetic Risk For Alcohol Dependence, Amy Adkins

Theses and Dissertations

Family, twin and adoption studies consistently suggest that genetic factors strongly influence the risk for alcohol dependence (AD). Although the literature supports the role of genetics in AD, identification of specific genes contributing to the etiology of AD has proven difficult. These difficulties are due in part to the complex set of risk factors contributing to the development of AD. These risk factors include comorbidities with other clinical diagnoses and behavioral phenotypes (e.g., major depression), physiological differences that contribute to the differences between people in their level of response to ethanol (e.g., initial sensitivity) and finally the large number of …

Medication-Related Problems Experienced By Patients During Transitions To Assisted Living, Deanna Flora

Theses and Dissertations

Medication reconciliation is a systematic and comprehensive review of medication regimens during care transitions aiming to prevent adverse drug events. Poorly executed transitions negatively impact patient welfare and cause financial burden. Medication-related problems (MRPs) experienced during transitions to an assisted living facility (ALF) were evaluated. Data was collected from pharmacy records for transitions to an ALF over three months, including demographics, medications, potentially inappropriate medications, and MRPs. MRPs were categorized and summarized using descriptive statistics. Forty-five patients (71% female) experienced 59 transitions. Average age was 85.6 years. Median length of stay away from the ALF was three days. There were …

Commonwealth Times 2012-12-03

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.