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Crowned In My Confidence: The Impact Of Self-Perceptions Of Black Hair & Ethnic Identity On The Mental Health Of Black Teen Girls, Olivia Francis

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Black girls’ mental health is significantly affected by the intersection of racism and sexism, leading to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Ethnic identity can serve as a protective factor, fostering resilience and self-esteem, but difficulties with identity formation can increase vulnerability to mental health challenges. This paper explores the connection between ethnic identity, self-perceptions of Black hair, and mental health outcomes. Methods: Utilizing survey data from the Dreamer Girls project, which included a sample (N= 201) Black girls between the ages of 13-18 (M= 16), the study explores hair-esteem, ethnic identity, anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Hair-esteem …

Secondhand Smoke Exposure And The Risk Of Tuberculosis In Children: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Cenyun Guan

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of death globally, with children and young adolescents having a significant burden of the disease. Smoking is a well-established risk factor for TB, but the association between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and TB remains inconclusive. Pediatric populations are commonly exposed to SHS due to living with smokers in their households. Inconsistencies in the findings of previous systematic reviews on the associations between SHS exposure and TB status (infection and disease) highlight the need for an updated systematic review to better establish these associations and provide evidence-based guidance for reducing the …

Effect Of The Lifestyle, Exercise And Nutrition (Lean) Weight Loss Intervention On Stress Among Breast Cancer Survivors, Wenxin Gu

Public Health Theses

Background: Stress, experienced by over one-third of breast cancer survivors, not only leads to significant symptoms and mental health issues, but also increases the risk of breast cancer recurrence and impacts survival. While weight loss lifestyle interventions have been effective in helping breast cancer survivors with obesity lose weight and potentially enhance survival, their impact on stress levels has been inconsistent. The aim of the secondary analysis was to evaluate the effects of a 6-month diet and exercise weight loss intervention on perceived stress in breast cancer survivors.Methods: Breast cancer survivors with a BMI of 25.0 kg/m2 or higher (n=151) …

Environmental Justice Dimensions Of Orphaned Oil And Gas Wells In The United States, Grace Marie Hauser

Public Health Theses

Orphaned oil and gas (O&G) wells can leak methane and other hazardous pollutants,contributing to air and water contamination that threatens public health while also imposing financial burdens on local governments and taxpayers for remediation. However, the environmental and public health impacts remain understudied, in part due to limited understanding of the number and location of orphaned O&G wells. In this thesis we aimed to (1) create a national orphaned wells dataset covering years through 2024, (2) estimate the count and distribution of orphaned wells in the United States through 2024, and (3) evaluate the association between community environmental justice (EJ) …

Effect Of The Lifestyle, Exercise, And Nutrition Weight Loss Intervention On Depressive Symptomatology Among Breast Cancer Survivors, Ziyuan Ma

Public Health Theses

Background: Breast cancer patients have up to a five-fold higher risk of depression compared with the general population, with an estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms of 25%. Depressive symptoms among breast cancer patients can affect treatment adherence, quality of life, and mortality. Some studies indicate lifestyle interventions can lower depression symptoms in general population samples; however, few studies have examined changes in depression among breast cancer survivors enrolled in lifestyle interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 6-month diet-and exercise-induced weight loss intervention versus usual care on depressive symptomatology among breast cancer survivors.Methods: 151 …

Insights Into Medical Surveillance Among Engineered Stone Countertop Workers In The United States Of America, Tony Huy Nguyen

Public Health Theses

Background: An alarming rise in the number of cases of silicosis, a progressive and incurable lung disease, among engineered stone (ES) workers has prompted concern about the extent of the problem in the U.S. and whether ES can be used safely. Overexposure to high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) during fabrication or installation of ES can increase the risk of developing a more severe case of silicosis. Medical surveillance studies on US ES workers are limited.Aim: The overall objective of this study was to better understand the state of medical surveillance for ES workers using employer surveys and employee …

Evaluating The Implications Of Class And Regional Stereotypes On Attributions Of Blame During Hurricane Helene: A Reflexive Content Analysis Of Tiktok, Abby Ong

Public Health Theses

Background and Objectives: Hurricane Helene devastated entire towns across the Southern and Appalachian U.S. Following the hurricane, people who lived in impacted regions were derided for their perceived failures in evacuating. Utilizing Bernard Weiner’s attribution theory of social motivation, this study sought to analyze potential implications of regional stereotypes on how people blamed or supported disaster victims. Primary objectives were to: (1) to analyze content regarding residents’ decisions to evacuate or not evacuate during the storm, (2) to document attributions of blame or support and how those experiencing the disaster and outside observers responded to these attributions, and (3) to …

Quantifying Ambient And Occupational Pollutant Exposure In Urban Street Vendors: Evidence To Inform Electrification Transitions In New York City, Bryn Redal

Public Health Theses

Food cart vendors in New York City face significant environmental health risks from exposure to extreme heat and air pollution, compounded by their reliance on fossil fuel-powered generators. Despite growing interest in electrification as a cleaner alternative, limited research has explored vendors' experiences with generator use, health concerns, and attitudes toward electrification. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Yale School of Public Health and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), used a mixed-methods approach to assess vendor conditions and perspectives. Data were collected from 31 vendors across four NYC locations through structured interviews …

A Pilot Rct Of Mhealth & Chw Intervention For Art Adherence, Shivesh Shourya

Public Health Theses

Despite the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), only 66% of people with HIV in the U.S. achieve viral suppression, often due to suboptimal ART adherence. Barriers such as limited access to care and forgetfulness impact adherence, which must be ≥95% to prevent viral rebound. Combining community health worker (CHW) support with mobile health (mHealth) technologies may help address these barriers and improve outcomes. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the remotely delivered Community Health Worker and mHealth to Improve Viral Suppression (CHAMPS) intervention, which combines the WiseApp, CHW support, and the CleverCap smart pill bottle. …

Mental Health Stigma As A Barrier To Mental Health Care For Black Youth & Young Adults: A Scoping Review, Sanaa Amaya Walker

Public Health Theses

Mental health stigma presents a significant barrier to mental health care access for Black youth and young adults, contributing to disparities in mental health service utilization in Black communities. This scoping review examines the current literature on mental health stigma as a barrier to care within Black communities, with specific focus on experiences of young Black people aged 25 and under. Review of twelve studies revealed multidimensional stigma manifestations: intrapersonal (characterized by self-reliance tendencies, shame, and secrecy), interpersonal (influenced by peer and caregiver attitudes), and structural manifestations of stigma, and stigma interventions. The findings highlight critical gaps in existing research …

Grandparent Relationship Quality, Social Support, And College Student Mental Well-Being, Camille E. Lehrmann

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

With living to older ages becoming more common in the United States, Americans may have an increased opportunity to form a relationship with their grandparents. Relationships with others, and the social support they provide are important for mental well-being, and are an important area to consider when understanding individuals’ mental health. Relationships with parents and peers have received a large amount of research attention, and have been found to influence the mental health of college students. Despite the increased opportunity to form meaningful relationships with grandparents, there has been much less research directed at this potential source of social support. …

Breaking The Bind: Rethinking Non-Compete Agreements In A Federal Framework, Stephen Hendricks

Chapman Law Review

In April 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) adopted a sweeping rule that bans most non-compete agreements nationwide. Though well-intentioned, the FTC’s categorical prohibition neglects the complex interplay between worker mobility, employer investment, and the protection of legitimate business interests. This Article contends that the United States must move beyond the current false binary of complete prohibition or unregulated enforcement. Drawing on comparative legal analysis, it proposes a federal framework modeled on Germany’s Karenzentschädigung system, under which employers must provide post-employment compensation—typically fifty percent of prior salary—to enforce non-competes.

After tracing the evolution of non-compete doctrine in American law, this …

The Role Of Social Inequality In The “Feminization” Of Borderline Personality Disorder, Jane Goldie Ekhtman

Dissertations and Theses

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe and prevalent mental illness that is three times more likely to be diagnosed in women than men. BPD research has attempted to explain this gender disparity, with clinician gender bias emerging as a possible factor. Yet, no research to date has examined the role of social status in the overdiagnosis of women with BPD. There is merit in examining BPD through a class lens as low SES is a risk factor for BPD, poverty and income inequality disproportionately affect women, and low status is associated with stereotypical traits of femininity. Additionally, mental health …

A Wall Of Smoke: Understanding The Drivers Of The June 2023 Canadian Wildfire Smoke Event For New York City, Gregory S. Randazzo

Dissertations and Theses

The 2023 Canadian wildfire season was notable for its extent and the dense smoke it produced. Motivated by the resulting air quality impacts in the New York City region, we explore how the total particulate matter output from the Quebec fires influenced PM2.5 concentrations downstream in New York City. Using injection height data from the Regional Advanced Baseline Imager + VIIRS Emissions dataset, we relate the tropospheric injection heights of the fires with the broader synoptic context and surface PM2.5 concentrations. Using data from the NYS Mesonet Profiler Network, radiosondes, and ERA5 reanalysis, we document the connection between an anomalous …

Using Trace Gas Measurements As A Transport Diagnostic For Tropical Convection: A Combined Model And Observation Study, Albane Hoxha

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Developing A Global, Multi-Decadal (1983-2017) Convection Tracking Database Utilizing Isccp Hxg Data, Yuliya Selevich

Dissertations and Theses

Deep convective systems play a crucial role in Earth's climate system, yet tracking their behavior over large spatial and temporal scales remains challenging. This study introduces a new global convection tracking database spanning July 1983 to June 2017, developed using the ISCCP H-Series Pixel-Level Gridded (HXG) dataset and the object-based TOBAC (Tracking and Object-Based Analysis of Clouds) framework. By applying multi-threshold feature detection, segmentation, and linking algorithms to infrared brightness temperature fields, convective systems are systematically identified and tracked through their life cycles. The resulting database provides a rich set of structural, dynamical, and radiative properties for over 67 million …

Political Regimes And Social Well-Being In The Sahel: An Analysis Of Gendered Development And Children's Education, Binta Fv Diarra

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis explores how divergent governance structures in the Sahel, specifically in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Senegal, affect the region's human development. Emphasizing gendered vulnerabilities and education, the research examines how political structures and leadership priorities deeply influence access to education and healthcare, specifically for women.

Authoritarian regimes often centralize power and prioritize regime stability over public welfare, leading to chronic underfunding of education and health services. In Mali and Burkina Faso, repeated coups and insecurity have affected schools and hospitals, disproportionately affecting girls and displaced women. Chad's one-party dominance reflects how systemic exclusion and poor service delivery entrench …

Peacekeeping In Sierra Leone And Mali, Ishaka Kondeh

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions in promoting democracy, protecting human rights, and implementing Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs in post-conflict Sierra Leone and Mali. By analyzing the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), this research explores the impact of these missions on Mali still in conflict and long-term peacebuilding. The study focuses on three critical areas: supporting democratic governance, ensuring human rights protections, and successfully reintegrating former combatants into society. Through a comparative approach, this research analyzes why some peacekeeping missions succeed and then …

Examining Drug Policy In Portugal And Greece, Collin Fernandes

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the divergent drug policies implemented in Portugal and Greece, analyzing why Portugal's comprehensive decriminalization model has been more successful than Greece's partial approach. Since 2001, Portugal has pioneered a drug policy that decriminalizes all drugs for personal use while investing in harm reduction services, rehabilitation, and social reintegration. In contrast, Greece maintained criminalization while implementing more limited harm reduction measures, particularly through OKANA (the Organization Against Drugs). The research highlights how economic factors, particularly the 2008 financial crisis and austerity measures, negatively affected both countries' programs but hit Greece's initiatives with greater severity. Portugal's programs have remained …

Soviet-American Relations During The Cold War: What Policies And Circumstances Conspired To Unravel The Soviet Empire?, John W. Krey

Dissertations and Theses

The two victorious superpowers of World War II – America and the Soviet Union – conceived and implemented unilateral foreign policies amid an atmosphere of intense hostility and suspicion of each other’s international intentions. Regardless of Moscow’s acquiescence in joining the United Nations and resolving a host of disputes (for example, the Security Council veto) regarding the establishment and operation of the same organization, it threatened to disequilibrate power relations between the US and the Soviet Union in the immediate aftermath of the second world war, which convinced Washington to develop the containment policy, a defensive realist posture for repelling …

Beyond The Threshold Of Protection: Examining Non-Refoulement's Erosion In Contemporary Refugee Law Through The Eu-Turkey Agreement, Aya Osman

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the contemporary relevance and practical implementation of the principle of non-refoulement as established in the 1951 Refugee Convention. While this fundamental principle of international refugee law prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they face persecution, torture, or human rights violations, its widespread violation by state parties raises critical questions about its continued effectiveness and the broader validity of the Convention's framework in today's global context. Through a methodological approach combining legal analysis and case studies of state practices, this paper investigates whether the 1951 framework remains valid and in effect when addressing refugee and immigration …

The Rise Of China: Economic Expansion, Military Modification And The Belt And Road Initiative, Felix Padilla

Dissertations and Theses

In order to analyze China’s rise in power, we have to examine how China has achieved this growth. We need to observe their domestic reforms, international initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and strategic military advancements. This thesis focuses on China’s economic integration, market reforms and military modernization. The thesis uncovers the effects of this rise on global governance and power balances, especially in trade, security, and geopolitics. I analyze China's vision of a multipolar world and how it contrasts with the current global order and how this fuels rivalry with the U.S. and other powers. China's rise …

Examining The Complex Interplay Of Stress, Social Support, And Drinking Motives On Alcohol Use Behaviors: A Moderated Mediation Model Among College Students, Sabrina Perrin

Dissertations and Theses

College student alcohol use remains a public health concern, yet the psychological and social mechanisms that contribute to high-risk drinking patterns are not fully understood. Guided by the motivational model of alcohol use and stress-buffering theory, this study tested a moderated mediation model to examine how perceived stress, coping motives for drinking, and perceived social support interact to influence alcohol use behaviors. A sample of over 1,100 diverse urban college students completed measures of stress, social support, drinking motives, and four alcohol-related outcomes: binge drinking, frequency of alcoholic drinks consumed, negative drinking consequences, and use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) …

Testing An Educational Intervention To Improve Recognition And Understanding Of Emotional Manipulation In Romantic Relationships, Tiss Zaitz

Dissertations and Theses

Romantic relationships significantly impact happiness and well-being, yet rarely is it taught how to build them or recognize unhealthy relationship dynamics. This gap has profound implications, as Emotional Manipulation (EM) can have severe and lasting consequences. This study examined whether an educational intervention could improve participants' ability to recognize and understand EM in interpersonal relationships. Participants (N = 327) completed a pretest assessing recognition and comprehension of EM and were then given an answer sheet with detailed explanations to enhance understanding. A subset (n = 46) completed a posttest to measure changes in recognition and knowledge. Results showed significant improvement …

Unveiling Invisible Wounds: Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions, Racial Gaslighting, And Mental Health Among Racially And Ethnically Minoritized Adults, Supriya Pandit

Dissertations and Theses

Racial microaggressions are momentary, subtle, and often unintentional comments or behaviors that nonetheless communicate negative race-based messages towards racially and ethnically minoritized individuals. Given the accumulated and differential impact of racial microaggressions on individuals' mental health over time, it is crucial to investigate its associations with specific mental health symptoms and intrapsychic alleviating factors. To further clarify which coping strategies for racial microaggressions can be more empowering versus harmful, it is also crucial to investigate the processes and mental health consequences that unfold when individuals choose to challenge racial microaggressions, such as racial gaslighting. Racial gaslighting is an insidious interpersonal …

The Transformative Power Of An Ethic Of Care In Patricia Piccinini’S Mythic Posthuman Offspring, Keely Parrish

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the contemporary artist Patricia Piccinini and her posthuman hybrid creations within the context of a feminist ethic of care. Largely referring to scholarship by the political scientist Joan C. Tronto, I argue that Piccinini expands the definition of an ethic of care to include non-human entities as well as human ones. The four phases of care identified by Tronto will serve to outline the encounter between the audience and Piccinini’s work to see how humans and non-humans (1) care about, (2) take care of, (3) give care and (4) receive care from each other, as well as …

Revelations: Spirituality As Privileged Perspectivism In Magical Realist Distortions, Isabella Scala-Kazanecki

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the role of spiritual beliefs in the literary mode now known as magical realism in Cuban Alejo Carpentier’s The Kingdom of This World (1949), Indian-Born British and American Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses (1988), and a lesser-known novel, Household Saints (1981) by Francine Prose, an American writer. The Kingdom of This World, itself the originator of the mode of magical realism, has allowed me to conclude with Carpentier that magical realism arises from “privileged revelations,” as he notes in the preface to his seminal book. But these revelations in magical realism are not necessarily always of the …

Living By The Sword: Religiosity And The Terrorist Subculture Of Russian Revolutionaries, 1904-1910, Gregory I. Mcevoy

Dissertations and Theses

The Marxist dictum of “religion is the opiate of the masses” has led to a prevailing assumption in scholarship that the socialist movements of the early twentieth century have been inherently atheistic. Religion is often associated as a remnant of old, antiquated society and incompatible with the claimed modernity of socialist progress. This assumption has led to overlooking the religiosity within certain radical movements and revolutionary culture at large. Scholarship on the political underground in Tsarist Russia has, thus far, perpetuated this impression. While it is the true that the Bolsheviks and Leninist Social Democrats rejected religion as obscurantist and …

Posters, Propaganda, & Bloody Saturdays: Making China Christian: How Media & Missionaries Made China Christian, Kristy Lee

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis investigates the role of religious groups and media in influencing the public perception of Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Defining ‘Un-Americanism’ In Culture And Art: The Dies Committee’S Investigation Of The Federal Theatre Project, Matthew G. Summers

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis explores the House Un-American Activities Committee’s (HUAC) expansive definition of ‘Un-Americanism’ through the body’s 1938 investigation of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). The committee, then known as the Dies Committee after its chairman Martin Dies (D-TX), publicly presented the hearings as an attempt to root out communism in a deeply compromised government program. And indeed the FTP, an ambitious New Deal Program to provide work for unemployed professionals in the theatre, had an undoubtedly leftist bent. However, the hearings were consistently focused on the project's progressive stances on issues of race and gender, and effectively exposed the underlying …