Digital Commons Network^™

Project Poppseed: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Parents' Lived Experiences With Anencephaly, Shandeigh N. Berry

Dissertations

One in four women who experience perinatal loss develop intense grief. Adverse outcomes of intense grief include depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Congenital anomalies such as anencephaly are the leading cause of perinatal mortality in the United States. The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of common experiential themes on perinatal grief intensity by exploring parents' lived experiences with a pregnancy complicated by anencephaly.

Exploring Multilevel Factors Associated With Dual-Method Contraceptive Use Among Adolescent And Young Adult Women, Lauren Holt

Dissertations

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise in the US, and adolescent and young adult women (AYAW) between ages 18 and 24 have some of the highest STI rates in the country. Further, AYAW who use prescribed contraceptives (commonly referred to as birth control) are less likely to use condoms and more likely to be diagnosed with an STI than non-prescribed contraceptive users. The purpose of this dissertation is to understand multilevel factors contributing to condom use decision-making and STI risk perception analysis among AYAW who use prescribed contraceptives. Data was using qualitative research methods in two separate studies. In …

The Lived Experiences Of Clinical Staff Nurses Who Provide Care For Transgender Patients In Florida, Twanna L. Crockam

Dissertations

Historically, transgender patients have experienced challenging interactions with healthcare providers. As a result, many transgender patients refuse to seek medical attention for a broad spectrum of healthcare needs. Although the transgender population has gained attention, a lack of research exists of clinical staff nurses' lived experiences providing care for transgender patients.

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry was to uncover and understand the experiences of clinical staff nurses when providing care for transgender patients in Florida. The research question was this: "What is the lived experience of clinical staff nurses who provide care for transgender patients in Florida?"

Exploring Factors Influencing Health Promoting Behaviors Among Latino Immigrants, Martin J. Mikell

Dissertations

Latino immigrants may experience stress during acculturation to the U. S., which can influence their ability to engage in health-promoting behaviors, such as dietary intake and physical activity. Dietary intake and physical activity influence the prevention or development of pre-diabetes/Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). The immigrant's ability to perform health-promoting behaviors can also be influenced by their perceptions of self-efficacy to engage in health-promoting behaviors. Limited information is available in the literature on effective strategies for decreasing stress during the acculturation process of Latino immigrants, while also increasing self-efficacy in health-promoting behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore the …

Sales Professional Preservation: Examining The Impact Of Incongruent Ideological Belief Systems On Intentions To Quit Among Sales Professionals, Brian Lee Morgan

Dissertations

Organizations that lead with ideologies of moral tradition, politics, and social economics are playing a losing game. The ideological belief system congruence within the organization between leaders and members creates a better atmosphere with less turnover and better recruitment. Sales professionals want an environment free of ideological incongruence. Without ideological alignment, they will defect from the organization. Leaders are miscalculating the negative impact on members’ intentions to quit when they are faced with leaders acting upon ideology changes that affect the member-customer ecosystem. In addition, leaders should be aware of the personal attributes that can exacerbate turnover and work to …

Delta-Shaped Approximation Based Homotopy Analysis Method For Nonlinear Poisson-Type Partial Differential Equations, Cyril Ocloo

Dissertations

This research aims to solve nonlinear Poisson-type partial differential equations (PDEs) by the approach of the homotopy analysis method (HAM) incorporated with approximate particular solutions (APS) using Delta-shaped basis (DSB) approximations.

With the inclusion of the h auxiliary parameters, we tackle nonlinear problems by studying the mathematical characteristics of the h curve. This is to ensure the numerical convergence of the HAM.

In the solution process, we use the homotopy analysis method to convert a nonlinear PDE into linear inhomogeneous PDEs, which are solved using the method of approximate particular solutions with DSB.

A proper value of the h is …

Factors Influencing Teacher Retention In K-12 Public Schools In Rural Hawai’I As Perceived By K-12 Public School Teachers, Celeste Akiu

Dissertations

Purpose. This qualitative study aimed to identify and describe the factors influencing teacher retention in K-12 public schools in rural Hawai’i, as perceived by K-12 public school teachers examined within the framework of Mason and Matas’ (2015) conceptualization of four capital factors: human, social, structural, and positive psychological. Methodology. This qualitative study intended to identify factors that influenced teachers in rural Hawai’ian communities to remain in the profession. Convenience purposeful sampling was used to identify the nine teachers who participated in this study. The Four Capital Framework for Teacher Retention was used to guide the questions used in the interviews, …

Elucidation Of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Tumor Necrosis Factor (Tnf) Release From Mast Cells, Tolulope Eunice Ayo

Dissertations

Mast cells are one of the major producers of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), and mast cell-derived TNF (MC-TNF) is associated with pathological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and allergic asthma. However, the molecular machinery underlying TNF release from mast cells has been unclear, despite the conserved nature of exocytosis. To delineate the exocytic machinery required for TNF release from mast cells, we systematically dissected the exocytic fusion machinery (e.g., Munc13, Munc18, and VAMP families) expressed in mast cells, using a combination of CRISPR-dependent knockout, RNA interference, confocal microscopy, lentiviral rescue experiments, and cell-based assays. Out of the …

Localized Hermite Method Of Approximate Particular Solutions, Kwesi Acheampong

Dissertations

A localized Hermite method of approximate particular solutions (LHMAPS) is presented in this dissertation. This method is designed to improve the accuracy of the localized method of approximate particular solutions (LMAPS) for solving partial differential equations. LMAPS is a strong-form method that defines local radial basis function approximations to the solution values at a group of collocation points before applying the differential operator to this approximation function. Based on the LMAPS's local scheme, LHMAPS seeks Hermite-type local approximations based on both function values and derivatives. Numerical experiments validate the superior accuracy of the proposed method to the LMAPS by solving …

Development And Evaluation Of An Instrument For Exploring Achievement Emotions Of General Chemistry Students: General Chemistry Achievement Emotions Questionnaire, Alexander Graves

Dissertations

General Chemistry, a course that is required for many STEM degree programs, is often perceived as a difficult and stress-inducing course by students. One aspect of a student’s course experiences that can be measured are achievement emotions. Emotions that students can experience that can affect and are affected by academic performance are called achievement emotions. Achievement emotions, such as anxiety, have been extensively studied in recent years in relation to student performance and retention in different courses. Instruments that have been developed to measure achievement emotions in broad academic settings. However, achievement emotions have been determined to be domain-specific, meaning …

Disrupting The Disconnect And Delving Deeper: A Study Exploring The Dimensions Of Black Male Educators, Terri Elaine Cole Brown

Dissertations

Nationwide, the role and impact of Black male educators and administrators in schools is a critical area of study. This research focuses on a predominantly Black, Catholic high school in the Midwest, where Black male educators and administrators comprise 40% of the staff, providing a unique setting for exploration. While numerous studies have examined Black male educators' experiences, motivations, and perspectives, this research seeks to understand the dynamics within a school where they are significantly represented. This study provided a comprehensive understanding of their influence through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups with Black male teachers, administrators, alumni, and parents. …

New Electrochemical Platforms For The Detection Of Neurodegenerative Disease Biomarkers, Omair Adil

Dissertations

Neurodegenerative disease (ND) is a collection of progressive disorders which is marked by gradual degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS). The damage of brain and nervous system causes diminishing of brain and nerve cell which lead to body dysfunction, organ failure, paralysis and ultimately death of a patient. Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. United States of America is among highest ND prevailing disease countries. Yet the number of cases is underreported because of the complexity of disease diagnosis. With the increase in aging population the rate of ND cases is also increasing. Another important concern is that …

Studies On Molecular And Morphological Evolution And Biogeography Of Squids, Abigail M. Pratt

Dissertations

The cephalopod clade Decapodiformes consists of Spirulida (ram’s horn squid), Sepiolida (bobtail squids), Sepiida (cuttlefishes), Myopsida (inshore squids), and Oegopsida (oceanic squids). While many unanswered questions remain regarding this clade, a thorough examination requires a multi-level taxonomic approach due to uneven data coverage within. This dissertation explores a diverse set of topics in decapodiform evolution and biogeography with a hierarchical approach, starting with the “superorder” Decapodiformes, moving to the “order” Oegopsida, and finally zooming in to the family level with Pyroteuthidae. addressing four main questions: 1) Does RNA editing affect the use of transcriptomics in cephalopod phylogenetics? 2) What is …

Black Women’S Instagram Usage And Body Dissatisfaction, Shirlee Buchanan Moore Jr.

Dissertations

Within U.S. culture, girls and women of all ages are subject to experiencing body dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction often results from direct comparison of one’s body to others, often via media depictions. Viewing these images prompts women of all cultures to engage in social comparison and learn to view themselves through an observer’s perspective. The advent of contemporary social media has increased the accessibility of images of others and, subsequently, social comparison of one’s body to others. Research has noted that women of all racial backgrounds utilize social media and experience varying degrees of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with their bodies. Despite …

Investigating Nature-Based Mindfulness In Nurse Anesthesia Students: A Pilot Study, Douglas Lovern

Dissertations

Across the country, the mental health crisis continues to rage. Varying degrees of depression, stress, and anxiety are commonly found in college-age students. The COVID-19 pandemic augmented this crisis, but the pandemic is not the sole culprit for the escalation of mental health disorders in the United States. Students across the globe suffer mental health disorders that include depression, anxiety, and stress. Research has shown that graduate students are six times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than the general population. Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are vulnerable to mental health disorders. SRNAs enter labor-intensive doctoral programs fraught with …

The Effects Of The Living Compass Group On Lpc Associates' Wellness And Self-Care, Jennifer Yarbrough

Dissertations

Counselors can only be effective if they engage in a healthy level of self-care. Counselors recognize the importance of self-care, but they often ignore the early warning signs when it is lacking (e.g., emotional shifts, changes in well-being, or altered behaviors). Self-care has been studied for many years and is emphasized in the ACA Code of Ethics 2014. However, counselors still need to work on establishing a self-care practice, especially considering that 50% of licensed professional counselor associates (LPC associates) do not make it through the licensure process. Researchers found that novice counselors experience a higher level of burnout. In …

A Constructivist Grounded Theory Exploration Of Intergenerational Trauma Among Lgbtq+ Bipoc Individuals, Satveer Kler

Dissertations

Many scholars have argued that existing conceptualizations of trauma such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.; DSM-5) conceptualization are inapplicable for individuals of marginalized communities. Individuals of marginalized communities may experience historical trauma, racial trauma, identity-related trauma, or collective trauma. Moreover, the effects of these forms of trauma may persist throughout different generations via biological transmission (e.g., epigenetics) or via interpersonal transmission (e.g., emotion socialization, cultural socialization, attachment, communication styles, behavioral socialization). The generational effects of these forms of trauma are referred to as intergenerational trauma. There has been a paucity of empirical explorations of …

“I’M Stressed—You Have To Do Something To Help Me:” The Relationship Between Student Academic Entitlement, Academic Stress, And Satisfaction, Rebbecca L. Nemec

Dissertations

Concern over academic entitlement has grown in higher education in the last two decades. Academic entitlement, defined as unfounded expectations of academic success, undeserved services and unrealistic accommodations (McLellan & Jackson, 2017), in nursing students is an under investigated phenomena. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of academic stress and general student satisfaction on academic entitlement beliefs in baccalaureate, junior, and senior level nursing students. In this correlational, cross-sectional study, the transactional theory of stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987), and Jeffreys’ (2022) nursing universal retention and success model were used to understand how academic stress and …

Impact Of Thermal-Hydric Stress Of Physiological Performance And Mating Behavior Of Fiddler Crabs, Talene G. Yeghissian

Dissertations

Fiddler crabs live on the edge of their thermal tolerance limits, balancing the need to thermoregulate with the need to mate. Previous research suggests that increased temperature reduces fiddler crab surface activity time, thus decreasing mating opportunities, throughout the range species with greatest impacts to low latitude populations. The less studied missed mating opportunities associated with behavioral compensation for thermal stress are crucial to understanding species vulnerability to climate change. In this dissertation, I describe a combination of experimental and observational approaches in the field and in the laboratory to investigate the physiological and behavioral responses of fiddler crabs to …

The Association Between Social Media, Toxic Masculinity, And Depression In Young Adult Males, Anthony Warren

Dissertations

The world is shaped by diverse influences that significantly affect individuals’ internal landscapes, leading to both positive and negative effects with profound implications for society. Role models play a pivotal role in shaping the aspirations of young adult males by providing direct and indirect lessons that leave lasting impressions and influence their worldview. In recent years, social media use, toxic masculinity, and mental health have garnered significant attention in understanding the experiences of young adult males. The focus in this study was to examine the relationships between social media use, toxic masculinity, and depression in young adult males ranging in …

Factors Impacting Treatment Decisions In Caregivers Of Autistic Children, Tiffany Harris

Dissertations

Caregivers of autistic children are not only tasked with deciding upon various treatment options for their children’s symptoms but must also navigate the initial crisis that is experienced after receiving a diagnosis of ASD for their children (Blancher, 1984; Ellis, 1989). Leventhal’s Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (the CSM; Leventhal et al., 1980) is a theoretical framework developed to understand the self-regulatory processes involved in adapting to and managing health threats and posits that cognitive and emotional illness perceptions influence illness outcomes through coping behaviors. This is the first study to examine all major components of the CSM (i.e., cognitive …

Examining The Association Between Parental Attachment, Fictive Kin Bonds, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Emotional Distress, And Subjective Well-Being Among Black Americans, Roxanne Watts

Dissertations

Secure attachment with parents predicts less emotional distress and greater subjective well-being across the lifespan. One mechanism by which parental attachment supports mental health outcomes is through psychological needs satisfaction (PNS). In addition to the attachment to parents, relationships with fictive kin caregivers are prevalent and important among Black families. The present study investigated the association between parental attachment, fictive kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction and mental health outcomes (i.e., emotional distress and subjective well-being) in a sample of Black American adults. Two hundred twenty-three (N = 223) participants completed measures of parental attachment, fictive-kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction …

Understanding The Relations Between Parental Psychological Distress And Child Emotional And Behavioral Problems: A Path Analysis, Lauren S. Erp

Dissertations

Maternal psychological distress has consistently been linked to emotional and behavioral problems in school-aged children. Given the high prevalence and negative outcomes of child emotional and behavioral problems, parenting variables have been examined as mechanisms underlying this relation. Research has demonstrated that mothers who endorse high psychological distress report high parenting stress, which contributes to the use of more negative parenting practices. Moreover, parenting stress has been shown to relate to negative parenting practices through parenting inflexibility. Yet, no known study has examined parenting stress, negative parenting practices, and parenting inflexibility as pathways through which parental psychological distress relates to …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Career Decision Making In College Students: Investigating The Moderating Effects Of Perceived Covid-19 Impact And Ambiguity Tolerance, Kendall Klumpp

Dissertations

College students face many difficult decisions as they navigate adulthood, including making a decision about their career. Although much research has already been conducted to explore these difficulties, little has explored the potential impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on one’s career-related cognitions. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new context in which difficulties with career-related decisions may be exacerbated. Through the lens of psychological stress, the current study examined the responses of 231 undergraduate students using a university-based online participant recruiting site, SONA. It was predicted that level of ACEs would be positively related with levels of negative …

Exploring The Degrees Of Ableism Nursing Students With Disabilities Experience, Elizabeth Ruth Brox

Dissertations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) estimated about 24% of adults in the United States live with a disability. However, the literature suggested only 4.4% of healthcare workers reported having a disability in the United States. Stigmatization and ableism have likely led to nurses hiding their disabilities while practicing, creating less diversity and representation in practice. When healthcare workers have little resemblance to the population they serve, it can lead to distrust, uncaring behaviors, and feelings of exclusion. Increasing diversity and helping to recognize the value of disability in practice could begin in nursing school. This study aimed …

The Impacts Of Gender Minority Stress On Wellness Among Trans And Gender Diverse Adults, Nathan R. Landers

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of gender minority stress and its connection with wellness among trans and gender diverse adults. Trans and gender diverse (TGD) individuals experience unique and pervasive stress due to living within a society that is hostile towards their gender identities. They are also more than their experiences of gender minority stress. Better understanding TGD wellness is crucial for both researchers and counseling psychologists as a means of holistically viewing TGD communities. The present study examined the impacts that gender minority stress had on the overall wellness among a sample of …

Perspectives Of An Automotive Technician And Automotive Technician Educator: An Autoethnography, Christopher E. Reynolds Sr.

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore automotive technician and automotive technician educator’s obstacles and expectations they faced during their educational and occupational endeavors. Constructivism and social constructivism were used as theoretical frameworks. Autoethnography was the selected qualitative research method. Using an interpretive process, several convergent topics were identified: education encouraging professional interests, professional obstacles, challenging normalcies, training and educating automotive technicians, the drive for professional certification, bridging the gap between industry and education, experience, patience, and exposure.

Several methods are recommended to help future automotive technicians and automotive technician educators overcome obstacles they might face, which include the …

Depression Screenings In Older Adult Primary Care Patients: A Pilot Study, Karissa A. Rodriguez

Dissertations

Depression is a profound problem among people of all ages, but it is especially prevalent in older adults aged 65 and older. Identification and diagnosis of depression are obtained through screenings.

This project aimed to increase the frequency of depression screenings at all primary care office visits and analyze the agreement between the depression screening tools, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) or the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), when assessing depression in older adult primary care patients ages 65 and older. Theoretical Framework: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is a problem-solving model used to create change and adapt to a project's needs. …

Exploring Students' Perceptions And Experiences Of Faculty Caring In The Undergraduate Classroom In A Traditional Baccalaureate Nursing Program: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Sheila M. Garilli

Dissertations

Academic nurse educators' use of caring attributes in the classroom could impact students' educational journey. Educators are leaders who should model caring behaviors toward their students. This role modeling will empower students to demonstrate these caring behaviors toward their patients. A literature review discovered a gap surrounding the study of faculty caring in the classroom. This research study explored students' perceptions and experiences of faculty caring in the undergraduate classroom in two traditional baccalaureate nursing programs. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive method with purposeful sampling and in-person recruitment at two universities in a Northeastern state in the United States. …

How Does Vr Affect Motivation, Engagement, Performance And Student Interest In High School Science?, Ann Marie Carrier

Dissertations

This study investigates the impact of virtual reality (VR) on high school science students' motivation, engagement, performance, and interest in STEM disciplines. Building on Huang et al. (2021), this research replicates and extends their findings, focusing on how different levels of VR immersion influence learning outcomes. The study aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, 123 high school students experienced varying levels of immersive VR via the Titans of Space Plus app on Meta Quest 2 headsets and desktop computers. Study population included 55% males, 45% minorities, and …