Digital Commons Network^™

Bearpaw Reserve Wildlife Monitoring And Mapping With The Wildlands Conservancy, Hope Hansen

Scripps Senior Theses

For my Environmental Analysis Capstone, I worked in a small group to monitor and map the wildlife at Bearpaw Reserve. Bearpaw Reserve, located in Forest Falls, California, is a 600 acre tract of wilderness that is owned by The Wildlands Conservancy. Bearpaw is located about an hour from Claremont, in the San Bernardino Mountains. The Wildlands Conservancy makes management decisions about its reserves while applying conservation research to the real world.

My group’s task was to use trail cameras to gather data on the wildlife at Bearpaw, then visualize this information into a GIS map. We used a combination of …

Embracing Social Media In Identity Exploration And Treatment, Sharon G. Stalions

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

In recent years, Americans are utilizing social media, and particularly video-based social media like TikTok. At the same time, and potentially in response to the ease of access to mental health information online, Americans are increasingly seeking diagnoses. This can be seen not only for mood disorders, but of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Clinicians are no longer the gatekeepers to information on mental health diagnosis, and some communities question the relevance and validity of a professional diagnosis at all. As digital natives become adult therapy consumers, it is important that clinicians …

Braiding More Than Sweetgrass: A Proposed Support Group Model For (Non)Tribal Native Americans In Recovery, Sara Cannon

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Native Americans (also referred to as American Indian/Alaska Natives or Indigenous persons) have too often been neglected in mental health interventions. This is a disservice, as they are disproportionately affected by challenges such as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD). Interventions directly speaking to AI/AN culture are rare to non-existent (at least in a published form), with the exception of White Bison’s Wellbriety (White Bison, 2002, 2024). It is not all together uncommon for individuals with Native roots to seek to (re)learn these traditions while in recovery from alcoholism and addiction. The aim of this project is …

Threaded Belonging: Strengthening Cultural Identity Through Armenian Embroidery In The Diaspora, Krysten A. Lee

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

The current study examined the impact of an Armenian textile arts workshop on cultural identity among members of the Armenian diaspora in the Bay Area of California (n = 25). Grounded in relational-cultural theory, it explored how culturally grounded, community-based, traditional art practices may strengthen cultural identity and reduce cultural disconnection resulting from forced displacement following the Armenian Genocide of 1915. A mixed-methods, arts-based design was implemented where participants engaged in an embroidery workshop centered on traditional Armenian textile practices. Data was collected through pre- and post-intervention Inclusion of Other in the Self (IOS) scale (Aron, Aron, & Smollan, 1992) …

Art As Activism: Emotional Expression And Collective Empowerment Among Muslim Participants Creating Protest Posters, Menhal Sheikh

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Muslim Americans are among the most underserved populations in mental health care in the United States. In the wake of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, many Muslim Americans have experienced intensified psychological distress, including anxiety, grief, and a heightened sense of helplessness, while continuing to show up in the streets in protest. This mixed-methods study examined whether the collective process of protest poster-making leads to emotional expression among Muslim American participants. Eleven Muslim American participants across two groups in the San Francisco Bay Area completed a pre and post Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to measure changes in affect, …

Spiritual-Soul Care: Art Sacralization, Active Imagination, And Eco Therapy, Andrea N. Miller

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This thesis reasons that spiritual-soul care is, at times, an ethically necessary dimension of mental health care for many individuals yet remains underdeveloped within the field. In response, this research aims to articulate a foundational, non-dogmatic “baseline” language that is simple and accessible, while remaining nuanced enough to capture the depth and essence of spiritual-soul care. This study proposes a culturally flexible approach for individuals who identify outside of traditional religious frameworks. This multidimensional model includes three domains—the self, spirit-soul, and the transpersonal levels—each contributing to wellbeing through developmental themes.

Using a qualitative design, 9 participants engaged in contemplation, Jungian …

Loneliness And Social Isolation: Finding Connection Through Art, Elijah K. Wong

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study explored whether creativity might help alleviate feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic was an extraordinary event that significantly impacted people's emotional, physical, psychological, and social health globally. To gain insight into these impacts, the research focused on participants’ creative activities and their experiences of loneliness during and after the pandemic. The aim was to find possible links between making and viewing art and reducing feelings of loneliness and loneliness-related experiences. Ten participants were surveyed and asked about their artistry, their time during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their sense of belonging to a community. This investigation …

The Roles Of Trauma, Secrecy, And Epistemic Mistrust In Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder On Socioemotional Outcomes, Rina Goldstein

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Former research has shown that attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has significant negative implications for people’s socioemotional functioning. Additionally, trauma and ADHD have been biologically and bidirectionally connected in the literature. A notable gap exists in the literature regarding how ADHD and trauma interact to affect socioemotional functioning. The following study sought to examine epistemic mistrust as a potential mediating factor between ADHD and socioemotional functioning, when moderated by trauma. Specifically, childhood interpersonal trauma was expected to amplify ADHD’s negative impact on socioemotional functioning, partially explained by epistemic mistrust. Additionally, disclosure of trauma and others’ reactions to disclosure were examined as …

Evaluating Suicidal Ideation Measures: A Comparative Review Of Characteristics And Accessibility, Eliza Hope Laves

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

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Measures of suicidal ideation have been included within both research and clinical settings to help medical and mental health professionals alike address and prevent suicide related deaths, especially since the rise of suicide as one of the leading causes of death in the United States. However, many people across different …

Shadow Garments: Costume Creation For Integrating Alienated Parts Of The Self, Mega M. Galvin

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study explores costume creation as a narrative-based intervention for integrating "shadow" parts, or aspects of the self that are repressed or alienated due to shame, trauma, or social pressure. Grounded in Jungian analytic psychology, narrative therapy, and expressive arts theory, the research addresses the limitations of traditional talk therapy in accessing somatic memory and proposes costume making as a pathway for externalization and re-authorship. Using a qualitative, participatory study inspired by Pat B. Allen’s Open Studio Process, four adult participants engaged in a three-session workshop to design, construct, and wear costumes representing their identified shadow aspects. Data was collected …

Restorative Environments And Therapeutic Artmaking: A Strengths-Based Art Gallery Workshop To Enhance Well-Being In Emerging Adults, Jeannine Case

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Emerging adults aged 18 to 29 face increased mental health risks yet encounter considerable barriers to traditional care, which highlights the need for accessible, preventive alternatives. This mixed-methods pilot study investigated whether an art gallery environment could serve as a supportive setting for a strengths-based, positive art therapy-informed wellness workshop aimed at promoting well-being for this population. Six participants between the ages of 20 and 27, all enrolled in post-secondary education, took part in this study. Five identified as female and one as male. Three participants (50%) identified as Hispanic/Latino, one as Asian, one as White, and one as Hispanic/Latino …

Bee Positive Missoula, Sophia Mahoney, Mckenna Hill, Olivia Cornwell, Lucas Hardoerfer, Brandon Quamme

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Bees are an essential species that support the growth of plant communities and enhance human agricultural success. Urbanization is associated with increased impermeable surfaces, large-scale land-use change, and changes in plant and animal community assemblages. Urban expansion exacerbates habitat fragmentation and loss, which has a particularly negative impact on wild or native specialist bee pollinators and the plant species they pollinate. Global and local research indicate the widespread nature of these negative trends; however, there are abundant opportunities to mitigate the impacts on bee pollinators by restoring wild bee habitat in urban areas. Habitat includes nesting and floral resources, and …

The Impact Of Virtual Discharge Interventions Compared To Traditional Methods On Adult Patient Population Readmission Rates: An Integrative Review, Tiffany Providence, Carrie Brooks, Nannono Kayondo, Courteney Lovell, Alice Smith

Master's Projects

Hospital readmissions are a persistent quality and cost burden to the healthcare system, prompting evaluation of modern strategies to strengthen transitional care. This integrative review synthesized findings from thirteen studies published between 2011 and 2025 to assess the effectiveness of virtual discharge interventions in reducing readmission rates among adult patients. Virtual discharge interventions included programs utilizing technology, such as phone calls, video visits, apps, or remote monitoring, to help patients understand their care and improve positive outcomes. Many of these studies showed that virtual support can reduce hospital readmissions, especially for people with heart failure. Some programs also improved patients’ …

The Relation Between Stress, Self-Esteem, University Belongingness, And Disciplinary History In Undergraduate Students, Emily R. Brown

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This study examined the relation between student conduct history and psychosocial characteristics, including university belongingness, perceived stress, and self-esteem, among undergraduate students at West Chester University. A total of 392 students ages 18–25 completed self-report measures via Qualtrics, including the University Belongingness Questionnaire (UBQ), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Participants were recruited through the SONA system and in collaboration with the Office of Student Conduct to include students with and without a documented conduct record. Results from independent samples t-tests indicated that students with a conduct record reported significantly higher levels of university belongingness …

The Benefits Of Mindfulness And Nondual Awareness In Tibetan Mind-Body Practices, Michael E. Szczechowski

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

There is abundant research on the various benefits of different mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in both clinical and non-clinical populations, but research investigating variables related to the beneficial effects on wellness often linked to mindfulness has been limited to investigating a select few MBIs such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Additionally, little research exists currently on non-dual awareness (NDA) (Hanley et al., 2018). In many traditions from which mindfulness practices are derived, NDA is conceptualized as an experience in which one achieves a transient state of profound awareness, often through meditation practice. Although NDA is often seen as a powerful and …

Artificial Intelligence Ratings Of Facial Feature Similarity As Predictors Of Eyewitness Performance, Agata K. Bugajczyk

Student Theses

Eyewitness identification plays an important role in the criminal justice system, yet it is often prone to error. Diagnostic Feature Theory (DFD) suggests that lineup fillers should match the eyewitness’s description of the suspect but be different in other ways (Wixted & Mickes, 2014). According to this theory, people remember faces using multiple features (e.g., age, race, face shape), some of which are useful for recognition and some that are not. This approach has been shown to improve the ability to tell the difference between guilty and innocent suspects (e.g., Colloff et al., 2021), but it also increases identification rates …

Likelihood-Based Inference For The Poisson–Tweedie Family, Si Chen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis develops likelihood-based methodology for flexible modeling and inference for heterogeneous count data within and adjacent to the Poisson–Tweedie family. A mean–dispersion regression framework is introduced to jointly relate the mean and dispersion to covariates, enabling separation of covariate-driven heterogeneity from distributional parameters. Likelihood inference is implemented using recursive probability mass function evaluation, and performance is assessed through simulation and applications including RNA-sequence counts. The framework is extended to accommodate excess zeros via zero-inflated Poisson–Tweedie models, with full likelihood-based estimation and improved risk estimation illustrated using insurance claim data. Finally, boundary behaviour is investigated through the discrete stable distribution …

Medical Distrust And Willingness To Engage In Mental Healthcare: The Moderating Roles Of Mental Health Literacy And Stigma Among Rural Populations, Alex Cudd

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Healthcare and mental healthcare disparities among rural communities in the United States remain a persistent and growing public health concern, driven by both structural barriers and sociocultural factors that continue to compromise rural community members’ utilization of healthcare services. Though structural barriers to rural healthcare are well-documented, there are continued gaps in the literature related to the understanding of sociocultural mechanisms contributing to these disparities. The present study investigated the influence of medical distrust, mental health literacy, and perceived public stigma on attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among rural adults living within the United States. A sample of 240 …

The Presence Of Orthorexic Eating Behaviors In Students Studying Health Sciences, Sophia Weiner

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Orthorexia nervosa is a novel type of disordered eating characterized by a hyper fixation on the consumption of clean, healthy, and morally pure foods as delineated by the individual (Dunn & Bratman, 2016). Previous studies have suggested that individuals studying physical health-related subjects such as nutrition and exercise science endorse more orthorexia nervosa symptoms than those in non-physical health-related areas (Malmborg et al., 2017; Plichta & Jezewska-Zychowicz, 2019). The present study sought to explore the relationship between college major, gender, and levels of body appreciation in the frequency of orthorexia nervosa symptomatology. It also aimed to assess orthorexia nervosa's relationship …

Breaking The Silence: Investigating The Impact Of Stigma On Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Adults With A History Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In Ghana, Deborah Amoako-Atta

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

In Ghana, cultural beliefs often silence open discussion about mental health. Many view emotional struggles as spiritual weakness, leading to stigma and avoidance of care. For adults who experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), this silence can worsen the long-term impact of trauma. While Western research links stigma to reduced help-seeking and shows that trauma knowledge can promote openness, little is known about how these relationships function within Ghana’s cultural context. This cross-sectional study examined how stigma and trauma knowledge influence help-seeking behaviors among 103 Ghanaian adults (ages 19-62, M = 30.0; 49% women) with childhood adversity histories. Participants completed anonymous …

The Impact Of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention In Rolling-Admission Format On Mental Health Outcomes Of Adults In Residential Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Alice Laughlin

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Opioid use disorder is associated with serious psychological, social, and public health consequences. Co-occurring mental health difficulties further complicate recovery, underscoring the need for interventions that address psychological well-being alongside substance use. This study examined the impact of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention adapted for rolling admission (MBRP-RA) on trait mindfulness, global mental health, and abstinence self-efficacy among adults in residential treatment for opioid use disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to adjunctive MBRP-RA plus treatment as usual (MBRP+TAU) or treatment as usual (TAU) only. Two-way mixed analyses of variance indicated significant treatment condition × time point interactions for trait mindfulness and global …

Emotion Regulation In Relation To Cumulative Stress And Cortisol For Children Attending Head Start Preschool, Emily Schnarr

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The present study examined the relations among cumulative poverty-related stressors, emotion regulation (ER), and cortisol functioning among children attending Head Start preschool through a bioecological framework and tested whether children’s ER moderated the association between cumulative poverty-related stressors and cortisol functioning among low-income preschool children attending Head Start. Approximately 288 children attending one of two Head Start preschools participated in the study. Cumulative poverty-related stressors included primary caregiver high school dropout, unemployment, relationship status, disrupted primary caregiving, residential instability, and family size. Child ER was measured via teacher reports, and salivary cortisol was sampled five times across the day. Hierarchical …

The Moderating Role Of Perceived Resource Abundance In The Links Between Self-Compassion, Self-Coldness, Coping Strategies, And Mental Health, Evan E. Ozmat

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Undergraduate students increasingly present to college counseling centers with pre-existing mental health concerns, including depression and suicidal ideation, emphasizing the urgent need for effective interventions and a deeper understanding of contributing factors. Self-compassion—responding kindly to oneself amid suffering—and its theorized counterpart, self-coldness—characterized by self-judgment and isolation—have emerged as key constructs influencing mental health. The two-factor model of self-compassion, grounded in Gilbert’s (2005a) Theory of Social Mentalities (TSM), posits that self-compassion and self-coldness are distinct unipolar continua shaped by evolved safeness and threat-defense systems that regulate social behaviors and mental health outcomes. The present study examines the mediating role of prosocial …

Mindfulness And Anxiety Symptoms: The Role Of Cognitive Reappraisal In Community Adults, Calla L. Pritulsky

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition worldwide and contributes to substantial societal costs, personal distress, and impairment (World Health Organization, 2023). Given its high prevalence, low treatment utilization, and modest response rates, identifying protective factors to inform prevention efforts is critical (Mamede et al., 2022; Mendelson & Eaton, 2018). Mindfulness, or the ability to nonjudgmentally pay attention to the present moment, comprises five key facets: observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity (Baer et al., 2006b). Although mindfulness is inversely associated with anxiety, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear (Desrosiers et al., 2013). Cognitive reappraisal, defined …

Evaluating Measurement Models Of Problematization: Connections With Identity Empowerment And Community Connectedness, Angel Long

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Consistent with Liberation theory, problematization is the process of creating critical reflection, a means by which critical consciousness occurs. It is a method for understanding issues faced by oppressed populations, while centering the perspective of these populations. Within Liberation spaces, problematization is critical for fostering critical consciousness, disrupting oppression, and promoting strength. However, problematization is a theoretical concept frame from narrative responses and lived experiences of marginalized individuals. There are few resources highlighting depictions of problematizing/critical consciousness and cultural strengths captured by measures of BIPOC community functioning. Therefore, there is a need to empirically evaluate major tenets of the concept …

Turning To The Sacred: The Role Of Religious/Spiritual Coping In Psychological Outcomes Of Childhood Interpersonal Trauma, Vanessa S. Tomasik

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are widespread and associated with significant and lasting psychological consequences, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and dissociation. Much of the existing literature has focused on adult trauma or narrowly examined childhood abuse and neglect, with comparatively limited attention given to other forms of childhood adversity such as witnessing intimate partner violence, parental separation, or household dysfunction. As a result, the differential psychological impact of distinct types of ACE exposure (i.e., maltreatment vs. household dysfunction) remains insufficiently understood. Emerging literature on coping identifies religious and spiritual (R/S) coping as an important factor in trauma adaptation. Positive R/S …

How Traditional And Social Media Shapes Public Perception Of United States Surpeme Court Decisions On Civil Liberties, Leila P. Martin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study examines how traditional and social medai shape public perception of U.S. Supreme Court decisions on Civil liberties, focusing on four landmark cases: Dobbs v. Jackson, District of Columbia v. Heller, Materpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and Obergfell v. Hodges. Using Entmans framing theory, the research analyzes how tone, language, emphasis, and ideological slant differ across media platofrms and how these frames infleunce public attitudes, insitutional trust, and civic understanding. A mixed-methods design combines archival media analysis, national polling data from Pew Rsearch Center and gallup, and an independent survery to asses how media narratives, rather than …

Effects Of Varying Biochar Concentrations On The Growth Of Lactuca Sativa (Newham Bibb Lettuce), Lauren Holler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective of this research experiment was to investigate the effectiveness of using biochar in potting soil in terms of plant growth and soil quality. This experiment was carried out using varying amounts (0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) of biochar in the soil to see its effect on seed germination, plant growth, and soil quality such as pH, water retention, and soil temperature. The aim of the experiment was to identify whether biochar can be used in soil to promote healthier and stronger plants. There were four treatments which included 0% (Control), 5% (Treatment 1), 10% (Treatment 2), and 20% …

The Effect Of Hormone Replacement Therapy On Osteoporosis And Osteoporotic Fracture Risk In Postmenopausal Women: A Clinical Review, Keeley E. Benfield

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a silent yet devastating skeletal disease disproportionately affecting postmenopausal women, increasing risk for debilitating fractures, loss of independence, and premature mortality. After menopause, estrogen declines causing rapid acceleration of bone loss, making early intervention critical. This clinical review evaluates whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduces the risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women compared to no HRT.

Methods: PubMed was searched using terms including “Hormone Replacement Therapy,” “postmenopausal women,” “osteoporosis,” “bone mineral density,” and “fractures,” combined with MeSH terms and Boolean operators. Filters limited results to English, free full text randomized controlled trials …

Efficacy Of Ultrasound In Diagnosing Pneumothorax, Lydia C. Hunt

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction: Pneumothorax is the presence of air or gas within the pleural space, disrupting normal lung expansion and potentially compromising ventilation and oxygenation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility of using ultrasound to diagnose pneumothorax as opposed to chest radiography.

Methods: PubMed was searched using key terms such as “radiography”, “ultrasonography” and “pneumothorax”. Operators and filters were placed, and 5 articles were ultimately selected for review.

Results: Three articles were directly comparing the diagnostic ability of ultrasound versus chest radiograph in diagnosing pneumothorax, while the other two articles were assessing the accuracy of ultrasound alone with …