Digital Commons Network^™

The Teapot Dome Scandal: The Supreme Court's Precedent That Changed The Political Corruption Prosecution Because Of Social Pressure, Jesus R. Jimenez-Andrade

All Faculty Scholarship (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Parental Childhood Rejection: An Exploration Of Anxiety And Depression In Later Life, Rocky Ashburn, Stephanie A. Kazanas

Modern Psychological Studies

Many studies have shown parental rejection can lead to depression. However, research exploring parental rejection and anxiety has been lacking and inconsistent, with some studies suggesting a relationship, while others do not. The current study aimed to examine if the perception of parental rejection in one’s childhood could predict trait anxiety and depression scores among young adults. Our hypothesis was that higher perception of parental rejection in childhood would predict both higher trait anxiety and depression. Study participants included 123 undergraduate students from a Southeastern U.S. university, with all participants being at least 18 years old. Correlations were explored across …

"The Only Disability In Life Is A Bad Attitude": A Quantitative Exploration Of The Impacts Of Inspiration Porn, Anna H. Burt, Megan Mccarty

Modern Psychological Studies

Inspiration porn is a social media representation of visibly disabled individuals performing physical activities accompanied by short motivation captions meant to inspire viewers. Critics of inspiration porn hold that it misrepresents the reality of disability and negatively impacts disabled people. This study aimed to quantitatively explore the impacts of inspiration porn on various disability-related variables, as there is limited research on this topic. We hypothesized that exposure to inspiration porn would increase system justification and belief in a just world, decrease support for disability-related policies, and cause viewers to view disabled individuals as sources of inspiration. We also had several …

Factors Contributing To Viewing Automobile Commuting As A Waste Of Time, Trishyne J. Butler, Jennifer L. Hughes

Modern Psychological Studies

Many commuters view their commute as a waste of time. Although there is an ample amount of research on commuting, there is limited research on what negatively impacts the commuting experience. The current study sought to evaluate the relationship between commuters and their everyday commute. The following factors (i.e., gender identity, age, length, unpredictability, delays, time pressures, and congestion) were evaluated to predict seeing one’s commute as a waste of time. We hypothesized that men and younger commuters, as well as those who were unsatisfied with the length, unpredictability, delays, time pressures, and congestion during the commute, would find their …

The Impact Of Parent-Child Interactions On Emotion Regulation In Adulthood, Bridget Burgoyne, Holly Grant-Marsney

Modern Psychological Studies

Childhood is a time where emotional skills are formed. These skills often reflect the primary caregiver(s) modeling and interactions which may shape emotional intelligence. This research aimed to assess if specific parenting approaches have lasting effects on a person’s ability to emotionally regulate. The sample included 141 adults, who responded to questions reflecting the parenting approaches they observed, and their current state of emotional regulation. Results from our regression analysis showed when controlling for age, parental warmth in childhood predicted one’s later ability to use cognitive reappraisal skills. Results from our correlational analysis showed strong positive associations between overindulgence, cognitive …

Motivated Gifts: A Self-Determination Perspective, Sharise Love, Liudmila Titova

Modern Psychological Studies

Gift-giving can strengthen relationships and facilitate favor requests. Previous researchers have found that 'motivated gifts' (gifts given with the intention of asking a favor) decrease recipients' satisfaction and willingness to help. The current study investigated the role of basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS) in this effect. BPNS is said to facilitate the integration of autonomous motivation, which was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between motivated gifts and prosociality. In the current study, a sample of 426 undergraduate students was randomly given a hypothetical scenario in which they imagined receiving a motivated gift or not, while also being asked a favor. …

Body Dissatisfaction In College Students: Which Sociocultural Pressure Best Predicts Drive For Thinness?, Sawyer V. Ellis, Elaine M. Kozmiuk, Mary E. Pritchard, Heather Schoenherr

Modern Psychological Studies

Previous literature has suggested that family pressure is the main predictor of drive for thinness (Palladino Green & Pritchard, 2003). Given the growth of social media where thin beauty is glamorized, we wanted to test if this remains true while including multiple factors that may have been disregarded in body-centric studies. Consequently, we asked which sociocultural pressure—family, peers, or media—relates the strongest with body shame, body surveillance, and drive for thinness. A sample of 1,049 undergraduate psychology students, ages 18-29, were surveyed to better understand body dissatisfaction in college students. We predicted that each sociocultural pressure would correlate with body …

Attitude Changes Among College Students Post-Pandemic, Alex J. Goncalo, Nicholas S. Zambrotta

Modern Psychological Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic forced students across the nation to attend school virtually and thus dramatically altered the college experience for many students. Stay at home mandates and loss of social interaction may have contributed to increased isolation and poor mental health. Although mandates have been lifted, and normal college life has resumed in most places, it is unknown if a lingering social impact was left on college students. Numerous studies provide evidence through in-depth examinations indicating altered mental health and psychological behavior of adults, specifically college aged individuals. The present study measured happiness, optimism, and psychological well-being in a sample …

Body Image And Social Media In College Students, Elaine M. Kozmiuk, Sawyer Ellis, Mary Pritchard, Heather Schoenherr (Mentor)

Modern Psychological Studies

The current study assessed the relationship between social media appearance-related preoccupation (SMARP), body shame, body surveillance, and social physique anxiety (SPA). Data were collected from 1,049 participants, and a correlational analysis and a hierarchal regression were conducted. Significant relationships were found between body shame, body surveillance, SMARP, and SPA, supporting our hypotheses. Our results confirmed the relationship between SPA and SMARP, adding evidence to a mixed debate about the relationships between SPA and social media use. The researchers found that SPA moderated the relationship between body shame and SMARP. We can conclude that appearance anxieties and appearance-based social media use …

Ambiguous Situations Make Me Anxious: Personality Traits And Initiating Social Interaction, Anthony Sego, Aimee Adam

Modern Psychological Studies

Social interaction is important for human health and happiness, yet it may be in decline. In this study, we examined traits related to whether individuals interact with one another. A structured lab observation was used to determine if participants would interact with a confederate. We also measured their Need for Cognitive Closure (NFCC), Social Anxiety (SA), Intolerance for Uncertainty (IU), and the Big Five personality traits, and examined the relationship between these factors and preferred physical distance from the stranger. Only 20% of all participants interacted with a confederate. Predictors of social interaction included higher scores in the Big Five …

Perceived Educational And Entertainment Value Of Positive And Negative Portrayals Of Racial Minority Characters In Films, Hallie Filan, Evan F. Edwards, Kate E. Hembree, Tammy Sonnentag

Modern Psychological Studies

Racial/ethnic minority characters are increasing in films; yet, despite increasing representation, less than half (39.7%) of all films in 2020 cast a main character who was a racial/ethnic minority. Because media representations can perpetuate racial/ethnic stereotypes, the present study examined if negative (compared to positive) racial/ethnic representations of Black and Chinese characters (and their cultures) in films impact individuals’ evaluations of the educational and entertainment value of the content. One hundred and eight undergraduate students were randomly assigned to view scenes portraying African American and Chinese characters (and their cultures) positively or negatively from two popular animated films—The Lion King …

Early Identification Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Childcare Settings: A Literature Review, Maneli Nourzad

Modern Psychological Studies

Timely intervention is key in the development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and early childhood settings present an opportune environment for early diagnosis, particularly in Canada where the identification of ASD in children below the age of four can be further expanded. This review first summarizes the potential benefits and barriers to early identification of ASD in children. There is robust evidence that early detection can result in improved biological and behavioral outcomes in later stages of life despite the subtle and at times elusive signs of ASD in young children. We then focus on the role early …

Interactions Between Anxiety, Family Influence, And Athletic Status On College Students: A Military School Cohort, Caragh Osborne, Aubrey Whitehead

Modern Psychological Studies

The prevalence of anxiety in college students has increased drastically over the past decade. Previous researchers have typically only examined how to help students while they are at school, however, there could be additional factors contributing to their anxiety prior to attending college. The current study aimed to observe how family influence and athletic status may play a role in anxiety among college students. Participants (N = 42) completed an anxiety symptoms inventory then disclosed how much their family influenced their decision to attend college. A two-way ANOVA indicated that neither athletic status nor degree of family influence had a …

An Overview Of Youth Crime And Violence In The Caribbean Community (Caricom), Marika Dawkins-Cavazos

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Many Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Latinx College Students’ Mental Health: Exploring The Role Of Sleep, Social Support, And Familismo, Mayra S. Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

College students experienced a multitude of disruptions to their daily life, and changes to their physical (i.e., sleep quality) and mental health (e.g., anxiety and depressive symptoms) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the field has identified the factors that have contributed to negative physical and mental health changes, there remains much to be known about social and cultural protective factors that could buffer the negative role of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx college students. The current study contributed to the literature on the mental health outcomes of Latinx college students by identifying a possible mediator and moderators between the …

Trait Mindfulness And Political Polarization: Investigating Neural Responses And Emotional Orientations, Elif Z. Celik

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid escalation of political polarization has led to increased social distancing, aggressive partisan behavior, and discriminatory attitudes among Democrats and Republicans. Prior research has indicated that mindfulness is associated with increased compassion, reduced prejudice, and diminished aggression toward out-group members. This thesis investigates the relationship between trait mindfulness and political polarization by examining neural responses and emotional orientations in individuals with varying levels of mindfulness. This research measured brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) while participants viewed emotionally charged political videos and neutral content. The primary hypothesis suggested that individuals with high trait mindfulness would exhibit left-lateralized prefrontal …

“You Are Not Obligated To Complete The Work, But Neither Are You Free To Desist From It.” Richmond Jews In Social Activism Post Civil Rights, Tracy S. Herman

Theses and Dissertations

For centuries, the Jewish people have faced expulsions, pogroms, massacres, and Propaganda. that runs so deep it would be like staring into an abyss. This oppression has motivated Jewish activists worldwide to fight back not only on behalf of the Jewish community but for many areas of perceived need. Jewish involvement in social activism in the U.S. has been particularly recognized by scholars of the labor and Civil Rights movements. This thesis is based on eighteen oral history interviews focused on social activism in Richmond, Virginia since the Civil Rights era. The author conducted these interviews in 2021, 2023, and …

Menstrual Hygiene Management And The Right To Education In Ethiopia, Krista Jolivette

Denver Journal of International Law & Policy

This Note focuses on the nation of Ethiopia as an example of modern issues in menstrual hygiene management, calling upon existing measures of implementation and recommendations for future interventions. The Note concludes by pointing out that progress in this arena is possible with the help of government agents, NGOs, and international actors.

Polyvictimization In Context: Identifying Patterns Of Peer, Dating, And Community Violence Among Black Early Adolescents, Carine Leslie

Theses and Dissertations

Early adolescents exposed to multiple forms of victimization (“polyvictimization”) may experience a number of detrimental psychosocial outcomes. Some person-centered research has identified victimization subgroups among adolescents but have not examined the overlap of peer, dating, and community victimization among Black early adolescents living in economically disadvantaged urban communities. Thus, this study empirically identifies victimization profiles in a sample of Black early adolescents to ascertain the patterns and correlates of polyvictimization. The present study aimed to (a) identify subgroups of Black early adolescents based on their frequency of peer, dating, and community victimization using latent profile analyses, and (b) evaluate the …

Considering Systems Of Power And Black And Latine Students’ Belonging In Stem, Korinthia D. Nicolai

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on (a) exploring the need for and strategies to facilitate the integration of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and educational psychology and (b) supporting Black and Latine students through examining the impact of systems of power via the integration of belonging and Critical Race Theory. This dissertation follows a three-paper format. In Paper 1, we recognize that psychology researchers can use CRT to explore race and racism. However, psychology scholars may confront growing pains when integrating CRT due to their respective inquiry worldviews–postpositivism and critical–which result in several tensions. These tensions may limit the uptake of CRT in …

Legal Gender Recognition In Nepal And Comparative Context, Holning S. Lau, Mara Malagodi

Faculty Publications

The Supreme Court of Nepal was a groundbreaker when it ruled in Pant v. Nepal (2007) that people have the right to change their gender on identity documents based on “self-feelings” and “self-determination” rather than medical or other criteria; at the time, no other national apex court or government had so clearly prioritized self-determination for gender identity. Pant, however, centered “third gender” persons (neither male nor female), and now the Court is considering the case of a transgender woman, Ms. Kapali, who seeks to be identified as female on her documents and is challenging authorities that rejected her requests. …

A Phenomenological Study Of Online Physical Education On Former Students’ Activity Levels And Fitness Concepts Knowledge, Jerry Veshio

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of the perspectives of former online physical education high school students and how participation in the course affected their ability to be active post-high school and their knowledge of fitness concepts. A phenomenological design was used to guide the study’s investigation. Participants in the study were interviewed about their experiences in online physical education while in high school and how that experience currently influences their physical activity levels. Additionally, respondents described the positives and negatives of their experience in the course, specifically as it relates to the course materials, assessments, instructor …

Occupational Therapy Interventions Supporting Women's Transition Into Motherhood: A Systematized Review​, Hadley Milks, Jocelyn Anderson, Madison Krueger, Bridgette Quinn, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: The transition to motherhood is difficult for many women due to multidimensional changes including psychological and emotional shifts, evolving social relationships, and bodily fluctuations (Hwang et al., 2022; Marinucci, 2023).

Objective: To synthesize information about interventions within the occupational therapy scope of practice to improve the transition to motherhood.

Data sources: A medical librarian performed searches in PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO from 2014-2024.

Design: The inclusion criteria included pregnant women or women with a baby for up to 1 year of age, OT interventions, quantitative studies, and systematic reviews written in English.

Findings: There were 13 articles ranging from scoping …

Ot Interventions For Post-Stroke Depression: A Systematized Review, Jack Cosgrove, Austin Fernau, Christian Kwambamba, Claire Vanderbeek, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Strokes are a leading cause of disability. 35-50% of stroke survivors develop depression, which is the most common physiological impairment post-stroke and associated with less functional independence with activities of daily living (ADLs) (Ezema et al., 2019; Hildebrand, 2014; Wijeratne & Sales, 2021).

Objective: This systematized review addressed interventions within the scope of occupational therapy that are effective for reducing depressive symptoms for adults post-stroke.

Data sources: A medical librarian searched the databases Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Quantitative studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published in English within the last ten years were included.

Study selection and …

Interventions To Promote Social Participation In Children With Autism: A Systematized Review, Noah Farho, Bailey Hein, Holly Manalili, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Roughly 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (CDC, 2024). Children with ASD frequently experience difficulties with social participation (SP), which is essential for positive development and quality of life (Smith et al., 2023).

Objective: This systematized review examines the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions for improving SP among children with ASD.

Data sources: A search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from 2014 to 2024 was conducted by a medical librarian.

Study Collection and Data Collection: English-language articles were included if they were within the scope of OT, level 1-5 evidence, and related to promoting SP. …

Teacher Self-Efficacy And Teaching Experience, Nicholas Daniel Hafner

Masters Theses

Teacher self-efficacy significantly impacts student learning in a variety of ways. High levels of teacher self-efficacy can lead to improved student outcomes and act as a protective factor for multiple stressors. The present study investigated the associations between teachers’ years of experience and their hours of professional development concerning a teacher’s overall self-efficacy and its three domains: student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. It was hypothesized that years of experience and hours of professional development would predict overall self-efficacy and its three domains. A survey was utilized to gather demographic, experience, and self-efficacy information. A total of 194 teachers …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Role In Supporting Students’ Mental Health Needs, Rachael Mcdonough

Masters Theses

Mental health issues are highly prevalent among children and adolescents and have recently increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence shows a research to practice gap in the area of mental health practices and interventions in schools. As teachers are frontline gatekeepers for identifying mental health issues in students, it is important to understand current teachers' perspectives regarding their role, knowledge, and training. Thus, the current study sought to explore teachers’ perceptions regarding their role in supporting student mental health needs and the barriers that may prevent them from doing so. In the current study, general and special …

The Construct Validity Of The Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition (Rias-2) And The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale Of Intelligence, Second Edition (Wasi-Ii), Cristen J. Rozek

Masters Theses

This study is designed to assess the relationship between two brief intelligence tests, the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales-Second Edition (RIAS-2; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2015) and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-Second Edition (WASI-II; Wechsler, 2011), through evaluating their ability to similarly measure intellectual skills. These two tests measure an individual’s overall general intelligence. Both tests are able to assess individuals aged 6-90. The WASI-II publisher specified this test was only a screener while the RIAS-2 is not. Tests like the RIAS-2 and WASI-II are more time efficient allowing more time to be spent on other professional responsibilities. Manuals from both …

Exploring The Relationship Between Vaccine Hesitancy And Mothers’ Perspectives On Covid-19 Vaccines For Children Ages 5–11 Years During The Omicron Predominant Period 2021–2022: A Qualitative Study, Tiffany A Suragh, David Adzrago, Marlyn A Allicock, Paul G Yeh, Paula Cuccaro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The United States Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 years in October 2021 during the Omicron predominant period. Parental vaccine hesitancy was prevalent during this time, resulting in low childhood COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Most studies exploring factors influencing parental vaccine hesitancy have focused on racial and ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic populations; however, there is little knowledge of the drive drivers of vaccine hesitancy among White parents with higher education and socioeconomic statuses.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of 15 White mothers of children ages 5-11 years in Atlanta, GA, between …

Work As A Social Determinant Of Maternal Health: A Qualitative Exploration Of College-Educated Black Women’S Experiences At Work During Pregnancy And Postpartum, Serwaa S Omowale, Laurenia C Mangum, Andrea Joseph-Mccatty, Cherell Cottrell-Daniels, Kaiya A Farris, Rashon King, Brittany C Slatton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Black women are disproportionately impacted by higher rates of maternal mortality in the United States (US). Limited research has focused on adverse maternal health outcomes among college-educated Black women, although research has found these outcomes persistent among this population.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to fill a critical gap in current research by elucidating the nuanced experiences of college-educated Black women in the workplace during pregnancy and postpartum. By exploring this under-researched area, our study contributes to the academic discourse on Black maternal health disparities within the scope of occupational health. It offers practical insights for enhancing workplace gender equity, …