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The Social Anxiety Stigma Scale (Sass): Development, Factor Structure, And Validation, Ruba Rum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary reason people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) do not seek treatment is due to stigma concerns. Yet, our understanding of SAD stigma hinges heavily on measures that assess general mental illness stigma, which may not capture the distinct aspects of SAD. The goal of this research program was to develop and validate a measure of social anxiety stigma that assesses personal stigma towards people with SAD: the Social Anxiety Stigma Scale (SASS). The SASS was evaluated across three studies. In Study 1 (N = 221), an initial item analysis was conducted on 33 items to remove weak items …

Cervical Cancer Screening Modalities: A Study Of Decision-Making Processes, Heather N. Owens

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation includes three studies, and the purpose was to explore cervical cancer screening adherence and factors related to screening behaviors among women.

The purpose of the first study was to examine cervical cancer screening recommendation adherence trends in a nationally representative sample using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 1995-2018 data. Adherence rates declined for every definition of adherence evaluated over time. Social determinants of health predictors and their impacts varied based on the years of data included in and the data source.

The second study examined the hypothesized factor structure underlying multiple scales (i.e., Health Belief Model constructs and …

Determinants Of Hormonal Contraceptive Use Among Adolescent Females In The Republic Of Benin, Marlene Joannie Bewa

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Globally, 17 million adolescent girls—ages 15-19-- give birth every year, which affects educational and professional outcomes such as school completion, future employment, and economic empowerment. In Benin, adolescent girls have a substantial unmet need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. More specifically, the need for hormonal contraceptive products and services, as well as accurate, age-appropriate, and comprehensive sexuality education, is not met universally.

Objective: This research objective is to understand personal, behavioral, and environmental barriers and facilitators to the access and uptake of modern contraceptive methods among adolescents in Benin. This will inform recommendations for improving …

The Process Of Government In Clearwater, Florida, Picot Deboisfeuillet Floyd

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Based upon participant observation as city manager, the dissertation examines political processes involved in four episodes relating to the government of the City of Clearwater, Florida: the selection of a site for a branch campus of the University of South Florida, the application of technology assessment techniques to growth issues, attempts to regulate a pornographic movie and supply store, and the arrest of the city attorney. Non-mathematical game theory is used as a model for the analysis, which demonstrates that game-like processual activity takes place in a governmental structure based upon cooperation. Such analysis can have a direct impact on …

For Love Or Money: Investor Motivations In Equity-Based Crowdfunding, Jason C. Cherubini

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Crowdfunding is an increasingly popular method for entrepreneurial ventures to raise financing from a large number of small supporters (the “crowd”) instead of raising it through a small number of larger supporters. Crowdfunding is normally conducted through online platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, where the entrepreneurial venture runs a campaign directly seeking support from individual funders. Most of the research into crowdfunding to date has been focused on what elements of the crowdfunding campaign lead to eventual successful funding, especially in the rewards-based crowdfunding space. The comparatively new equity-based crowdfunding has not been as heavily researched and is technically …

Examining Treatment Differences In Anxiety Disorders And Body-Focused Repetitive And Related Disorders In A Pediatric Clinic Sample, Katrina Scarimbolo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health concerns that affect youth. It is estimated about 9.4% of youth have an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder or specific phobias (CDC, 2022). The present study includes obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder as a part of the definition of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders can be comorbid with many mental health conditions. The focus of this study was on the comorbidity between anxiety disorders and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) and related disorders. BFRBs are behaviors that involve repeated picking, …

Exposure Characteristics Of Environmental Chemicals By Life Stages, Nisha Vijayakumar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Environmental chemicals are ubiquitous and can contribute to human exposure. These exposures can result in long-term health consequences if they occur in early life. However, exposures to environmental chemicals are not evenly distributed throughout childhood. As a result, there exists variation in the levels of chemical exposure depending on the developmental stages, pathways of exposure, and broader systemic factors. However, in early life, limited research exists on exposures to environmental chemicals, particularly phthalates, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, environmental exposures to phthalates, pesticides, and PAHs, considering life stages, have not been fully explored. Hence it is imperative …

Using Active Student Responding And Competition Via Kahoot! To Improve Student Academic Engagement At College Level, Brittany Pearson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Active student responding (ASR) is an effective intervention used in schools to improve student engagement and academic performance. Among the various ASR modalities, online applications have received much more attention than low-tech ASR modalities due to the widespread use of smartphones and the availability of mobile applications. One totable online application is Kahoot!, which offers a range of interactive features. Considering the limited existing research on using ASR at the college level, particularly, using Kahoot!, this study examined the use of Kahoot! to improve academic engagement in college students. The study was conducted with one undergraduate class in applied behavior …

Multimodal Assessment Of Human Behavior With Applications In Analysis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sk Rahatul Jannat

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human behavior analysis is an important application area of artificial intelligence. Usingdata collected from sensors (e.g., cameras), human behavior including, but not limited to, emotions, expressions, body movement, and eye gaze are analyzed. This analysis is useful in applications in diverse fields ranging from healthcare, defense, education, and marketing. Considering this, in this dissertation, we have proposed new approaches to emotion and expression recognition, subject identification, and classification of autism spectrum disorder. More specifically, this dissertation has the following contributions: 1) A new approach for multimodal ubiquitous emotion recognition is proposed; 2) Investigation into the impact of large expression variations …

Case Study And Fidelity Assessment Development For The Family Intervention Specialist (Fis) Program, Areana Cruz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation involved an in-depth analysis of the Family Intervention Specialist (FIS) program and the development of an FIS fidelity assessment. Three studies were conducted for this analysis. Study one analyzed FIS administrative data from one Managing Entity to determine the extent that the quality assurance measures align with the core program policies and procedures established by the Department of Children and Families. Study two included a content analysis of FIS policies and procedures manuals for alignment regarding implementation practices and qualitative interviews with FIS stakeholders regarding FIS implementation, strengths, challenges, and adherence to established policies and procedures. Study three …

Supervision Needs At 2 And 5 Years Post Traumatic Brain Injury: A Veterans Affairs Tbi Model Systems Study, Deveney M. K. Ching

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study assessed the supervision needs, with the Supervision Rating Scale [SRS] (Boake, 1996) of Veterans and Service Members enrolled in the Veterans' Affairs (VA) Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS) at 2- and 5-year follow-ups after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). A cross sectional analysis was conducted at 2-year follow-up (N=428) where it was found that 35% of subjects still needed supervision. At 5-year follow-up (N=295) it was found that 32% of subjects needed supervision. Finally, a multilevel model of supervision (N=164) found that the relationship of supervision needs remains a constant linear line over the …

The Relationship Between First-Year Expectations And Persistence For Students Who Self-Identify As Having Not Declared A Major, Shane Combs

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research aligned with protocols established by the Florida Board of Governors in 2016 to form a new funding model tied to the institution's performance. The literature review highlighted a disparity between students' expectations and the reality of college which could negatively impact persistence, and therefore funding to the institution. This quantitative study utilized the Beginning of College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE) to explore the correlation between incoming, undeclared FTIC students' expectations of co-curricular involvement, faculty interaction, and learning support services utilization and their persistence to the end of the second fall semester. The sample consisted of 1,042 respondents …

Vascular And Auditory Changes After Repetitive Traumatic Brain Injury, Courtney Lynn Penn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects over 2.87 million people in the US each year. The large majority of these injuries can be classified as mild. However, evidence suggests that even mild TBIs can lead to long-lasting symptoms that greatly impact quality of life. This is particularly true when an individual sustains multiple TBIs (repetitive TBI, rTBI). Much of the damage caused by rTBI is due to secondary injury mechanisms that cause the initial injury site to spread and worsen over time. No therapies currently exist which can mitigate secondary injury, and monitoring this phase of rTBI is difficult. Development of …

A Novel Jazz Music Curriculum For Young Children: Results Of A Pilot Study, Jazmin D. Ghent

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Jazz improvisation is known as the highest-known art form concerning improvisation due to its frequency and development of creative ideas (Feldman 1964). Research shows that the art of spontaneous creation can contribute to children’s ability to problem-solve, social and emotional well-being, and academic success into adulthood (Biasutti, 2017; Heble & Laver, 2016; Kiehn, 2003; Kuzmich, 1980; Solis, 2009). Improvisation is crucial for developmentally comprehensive music programs; however, improvisation is scarce in elementary music classrooms and curricula. For this pilot study, a group of 31 children aged 5-8 and considered at-risk participated in a study where they were randomly assigned to …

Reframing Resistance, Resilience, And Racial Equity In Maternal Health: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Paternal Involvement And The Racial Disparity In Severe Maternal Morbidity, Marshara G. Fross

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The preventable, persistent racial inequity observed in maternal and infant death has lasting impacts on African American communities and families. Fathers, partners, and co-parents are important supports during the sensitive and vulnerable perinatal period. Emerging research has begun to demonstrate a concerted effort to move beyond the sphere of medicine and quality improvement, towards exploring and integrating social factors into targeted intervention strategies to address racial inequality in health outcomes. However, sparse literature concentrates on understanding the role of fathers and partners in peripartum care and maternal health outcomes. This study aimed to explore, understand, and describe the role …

One Year Impact Of The Advancing Coping And Engagement (Ace) Program On Advanced Placement And International Baccalaureate Student Success, Amanda C. Moseley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Student success hinges on educational settings that feature a well-developed, comprehensive mental health support system (Hoover et al., 2019). Salient pieces of well-functioning mental health supports adhere to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) principles, including evidence-based practices with incremental intensity (Stoiber & Gettinger, 2015). Adolescents pursuing accelerated curricula in high school, specifically Advanced Placement courses (AP) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), display a need for psychosocial support related to the stressors inherent to a rigorous curriculum (Suldo & Shaunessy-Dedrick, 2013b). Suldo and colleagues’ (2018) research on AP and pre-IBDP youth identified malleable predictors of success that became intervention …

Organizing And Communicating Health: A Culture-Centered And Necrocapitalist Inquiry Of Groundwater Contamination In Rural West Bengal, Parameswari Mukherjee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As a discursive point of praxis, this dissertation project seeks to record knowledge from below around the overlaps between health, water and health interventions emerging from rural communities located in North 24 Parganas and Purulia in West Bengal that are disproportionately impacted by water-insecurity. My dissertation also documents how multiple-stakeholders such as local NGOs, international NGOs, non-profits, and donor agencies organize access to safe water and health interventions for the water-insecure communities located in North 24 Parganas and Purulia. The integration of the CCA and necrocapitalism afford theoretical and methodological guidance in this dissertation to help document the localocentric stories …

Examining Patient Satisfaction And Treatment Effectiveness For Hispanic Adolescents Receiving Intensive Mental Health Services For Depression, Myesha M. Morgan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral Activation (BA) is a treatment approach that has demonstrated promising outcomes for the adolescent population (Martin & Oliver, 2019). However, more studies are needed to examine its effectiveness with Hispanic adolescents. The prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms tend to be higher among Hispanic adolescents in comparison to their non-Hispanic White peers (Pratt & Brody, 2014). In addition, depressive symptoms are associated with poor social, academic, and later health outcomes (Naicker et al., 2013; Owens, Stevenson, Hadwin, 2012). Given the lack of prior investigations on the effectiveness of BA for Hispanic adolescents, this study aimed to fill a gap …

From Other And From World: Expanding The Current Model Of Existential Isolation, Roger Young Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Extant research investigating the nature of existential isolation (EI) has focused primarily on the experience of the gap between one’s mind and the minds of others (self-other EI). The general purpose of the current research was to begin exploring the experience of the gap between one’s mind and the world (self-world EI). This purpose was carried out across three studies. A pilot study confirms that self-world EI is a relatively common experience that usually involves meaning violation or dissociation, and results in psychological discomfort and self-doubt. Study 1 found that self-world existential isolation produces more “EI affect” (e.g., nervous, afraid, …

“So, I Am Back”: Adjudicated Youths’ School Reentry Experiences, Inita S. Knox

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adjudicated youth face a multitude of barriers when reentering school following incarceration. School administrators and educational personnel know very little about how these students perceive their reentry experiences and what the students identify as needed supports, resources, and barriers throughout the process. This qualitative study used in-depth, semi-structured interviews with photo-elicitation to explore and describe how formerly incarcerated youth perceive their high school reentry experiences. Participants were male adolescents ages 16 to 18 years old. who provided rich and in-depth descriptions of their reentry experiences. Recommendations for policy, practice and future research are provided.

Development And Initial Evaluation Of A Mental Health Training For Pre-Service Teachers, Alexis M. Sánchez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the initial pre-service teacher outcomes for a newly developed mental health training (i.e., Training In Mental health for Educators - Pre-service Teachers [TIME-PT]). For the development of the TIME-PT, an expert panel and a focus group with pre-service teachers were conducted to inform of any changes and improvements needed in the content of the training. In the initial evaluation of the TIME-PT, the training’s factors of professional development were considered, including the training’s understanding and feasibility, participants’ willingness to change, their use of school-family collaboration, and their use of external supports. Initial evaluations of participants’ …

Saudi Teachers' Perceptions Of Accommodating Diverse Students, Including Those With Special Needs, In Inclusive Classrooms, Ahmed Ali Alqahtani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

General education in Saudi Arabia has undergone significant transformations since the adoption of full inclusion in schools, resulting in an increase in the number of students with special needs integrated into general education classrooms. The goal of this policy change was to boost inclusivity in Saudi education, but questions have been raised regarding the preparedness of general education teachers to effectively meet the increasingly diverse needs of their students. This study explores Saudi general education teachers' understanding of inclusive practices, their perspectives on the impact of inclusivity on student learning outcomes, and their perceptions of their own preparedness to implement …

A Healthcare Claims Investigation Of Parasomnia Epidemiology, Associations With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, And Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder Correlates, Anh Thy Ha Nguyen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parasomnias, such as sleepwalking and nightmare disorder, are abnormal behaviors and emotions emanating from sleep or wake to sleep transitions. Parasomnias can lead to significant adverse outcomes – sleepwalking can result in injuries and hospitalizations, frequent nightmares are associated with self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is linked to neurodegeneration. Despite a history of fascination with abnormal sleep behaviors in the general and medical communities, epidemiologic understanding of parasomnias remains limited, in part due to their amnestic nature and presumption that they are benign childhood problems. This work used the MarketScan® Commercial Claims and …

A Qualitative Study Of Facilitators And Barriers Perceived By Black Students And Their Effect On Advanced Placement Course Enrollment In High School, Austin R. Cole

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advanced Placement (AP) classes can provide many benefits to students. The rigorous curriculum gives students an academic challenge to expand their educational abilities (The College Board, 2014). However, students of color are often underrepresented in AP participation (The College Board, 2014). Research has investigated factors among students of color that predict participation and success in AP courses, suggesting that family SES and prior academic achievement (Dixson et al., 2017; Ndura et al., 2003), and racial barriers impact students’ ability to choose to take AP courses (Jeffries & Silvernail, 2017; Walker & Pearsall, 2012). This study addressed a gap in the …

Resource Recovery From Crew Metabolic Wastes In Lunar And Martian Habitats: Reuse Of Effluent From An Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Treating Fecal Organic Matter As Fertilizer Source For Plants, Alexandra A. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As humans set their sights on exploration of the Moon and Mars human focused challenges like providing potable water, supplying nutritious food to the astronaut crew, and managing their waste present themselves. There are no readily available resources on the Moon and Mars, therefore nothing should be considered unusable including the organic wastes (i.e., feces and urine) produced by the crew. Fecal matter is not currently recycled and is treated as solid waste. After collection, it is discarded out of the International Space Station where it is incinerated upon re-entry. This approach will not work on the Moon’s surface. There …

Candidate-Related Distress And Voting: Examining Political Behavior Through The Lens Of General Strain Theory, Katelyn N. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines voting as a legitimate coping strategy through the lens of general strain theory. Drawing on previous research on the correlates of voting and general strain theory, this study seeks to evaluate the influence of different beliefs and negative emotions on voting, as well as the role of voting as a way to alleviate the negative emotions brought on by presidential elections. Using an analytic sample of 664 American adults with perceived voting eligibility, two structural equation models are used to evaluate the relationship between beliefs, negative emotions, and voting. Results suggests that individual beliefs and negative emotions …

Efficacy Of Online Social Movements For Sparking Change: The Case Of The Missing Murdered And Indigenous Women Movement (#Mmiw), Kacy A. Bleeker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the context of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Movement (#MMIW) in the context of activist engagement, media representations, and public awareness and beliefs related to the movement. The present study framed the movement within the context of social movement theory, intersectionality, and feminism, to determine the applicability of these frameworks in explaining an Indigenous social movement. While the use of social media to facilitate and mobilize social movements is not a new phenomenon, limited research has examined the functionality of online social movements, particularly in the context of movements concerned with intersectional identities. Research highlights, …

Socio-Emotional Effects Of Rejection: An Experience-Sampling Examination, Gabriella Silva

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rejection is a detrimental experience that directly threatens people’s fundamental need for social acceptance and connection. Rejection is particularly distressing for people with elevated social anxiety, as it is their core fear. Yet, very few studies have examined the impact of daily rejection in the context of social anxiety. The present research examined the socioemotional effects of daily feelings of rejection in the context of social anxiety across two experience-sampling studies. Study 1 was a 2-week daily diary study with community adults and Study 2 was a 4-week ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study with a clinical sample of adults with …

The Effects Of Integral And Incidental Emotions On The Perceived Risk Of Gun Violence, Gloria Laugalis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fearful people are pessimistic when it comes to risk judgments and angry people areoptimistic in their risk judgments (Lerner & Keltner, 2000; 2001). Since this has been supported in studies regarding both incidental and integral emotions, the findings from incidental studies have been broadly generalized to answer research questions regarding integral emotions. This generalization was challenged when Ferrer and Ellis (2021) recently found differing effects of incidental and integral emotions of fear and anger. In this study, we examine the effects of these emotions, both incidental and integral to the target risk, on risk perception to help determine if incidental …

Academic Procrastination Among Chinese International Undergraduate Students In The United States, Yunlu Xiang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research aimed to explore academic procrastination among Chinese internationalstudents, using NVivo 12 to analyze data gathered through interviews with six participants. The study identified both internal and external factors contributing to academic procrastination, with social networking and software being the most significant external factors and disinterest and avoidance being the most significant internal factors. The participants did not identify the COVID-19 pandemic as a significant factor in academic procrastination. The study analyzed gender differences in academic procrastination among Chinese students. The pandemic had different effects on men and women, with men downplaying the concept of time and women experiencing …