Digital Commons Network^™

Civic Participation And Meaning In Life: Similarities And Differences Across Diverse Youth, Yue Ni, G. John Geldhof, Richard A. Settersten, Shauna L. Tominey

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Civic engagement is an important component of youth thriving, but prior research—focused primarily on political engagement—has found a “civic engagement gap” between youth with marginalized identities and those with privileged social identities. Research is needed to understand youth involvement in other civic activities, patterns of disparities, and any implications of these differences for youth well-being. In this study, we examined differences in community service activities, political activities, and expressive activities and their relationships with meaning in life 2 years later across 11 groups of 1,088 adolescents defined by intersections of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and nativity. Findings reveal great diversity in …

Understanding Mobility-Related Challenges For Aapi Older Adults: A Preliminary Study In Southern California, Yongping Zhang, Priscila Salgado Inzunza, Carol Kachadoorian, Wen Cheng, Calvin Wong

Mineta Transportation Institute

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) Nationwide, the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is projected to constitute 11 percent of people 65 years and older in the United States by 2050 (He et al., 2005). The challenges limiting the transportation and mobility of AAPI older adults include, but are not limited to, language barriers, cultural barriers, anti-Asian hate, accessibility to public transit, traffic safety and public security concerns, and changes to mobility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This project conducted an extensive literature review and a preliminary multi-language survey in Southern California to better …

Equity Leadership In Independent Schools In Seattle, Nimisha Joshi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

"Shocking The System" In The 21st Century: Conservative Policy Entrepreneurs And The Plan For Authoritarianism In The U.S., Athena M. King

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The first few days of the second Trump presidency saw a flurry of executive orders targeting immigrants, the transgender community, blacks, and federal government employees. The resulting “shocks” to the system are unprecedented, causing many to question the continuation of American democracy. These actions are a few of many policy preferences developed by conservatives and captured in “Project 2025”, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and with the overall intent of restructuring the federal government to suit authoritarian aims. Using a theoretical framework regarding policy entrepreneurs (PEs), I argue that conservative PEs (CPEs), under the aegis of the Republican Party and …

Securitization Of African Migrants In Europe And North America, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The securitization of African migrants in Europe and North America refers to the framing of immigrants as an existential security threat rather than a socioeconomic or humanitarian concerns. This discourse driven by political rhetoric, media narratives, and policy measures, often depict African migrants as risks to national security, cultural identity, and economic stability. Governments in host countries employ stringent border controls, detention and deportation policies often justified by counterterrorism and crime prevention frameworks. However, critics argue that securitization exacerbates xenophobia, violates human rights, and fails to address root causes of migration, such as conflict, poverty, and climate change. This paper …

Nuclear Disarmament And The Erosion Of Deterrence Effectiveness Case Study: Ukraine, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The invasion of Ukraine demonstrates an interesting security paradox between nuclear disarmament norms, territorial integrity and deterrence in a self-help unpredictable international environment. Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum in order to receive security guarantees resulting in brutal betrayal by nuclear armed Russia. The research investigates how Russia maintains an effective nuclear deterrence capability against other nuclear powers in the region through threats despite challenges on the battlefield. Through the combination of military resistance, strategic partnerships and robust combat methods, Ukraine has established an unmatched ability to deter a nuclear-armed enemy - Russia. This research ponders …

Manifesting A Shift In The "Overton Window": The Threat Of Project 2025 On The Lgbtq+ Community In Higher Education, Athena M. King, Sara Sanatkar

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Since the first Trump administration, historically marginalized groups in the United States have been subjected to greater instances of bigotry and discrimination due to conservative influence on sociopolitical institutions. These actions suggest a shift in the "Overton Window," whereby policy preferences previously deemed "unacceptable" are given consideration in the mainstream, especially by conservative policy actors. "Project 2025" is a comprehensive plan to restructure the federal government according to conservative dictates in the second Trump administration. This article is an examination of how higher education may be impacted by this plan, especially as it relates to LGBTQ+ faculty, administration, staff, and …

Do Adhd Symptoms Enhance College Students’ Creativity And Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy?, Jorge Sebastian Montesinos

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Despite years of research focused on impairment, it is possible that attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be beneficial in some ways. Past studies have analyzed ADHD’s potential benefits to creativity and entrepreneurship, but the majority have either been underpowered or have had mixed results. In an attempt to add clarity to these potential ADHD-related strengths, the present study explored the relation between symptoms of ADHD, creative achievement, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE). The current study was a survey of emerging adult college students from multiple U.S. universities. The purpose of this study was to explore relations between symptoms of ADHD and …

Every Teacher A Reading Teacher: An Exploration Of Teacher Preparation And Literacy Instruction, Jossette N. Finney

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The number of students lacking literacy proficiency is on the rise, with only 33% of students assessed in Grades 4 and 31% of students assessed in Grade 8 scoring at or above NAEP proficiency in reading (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). The purpose of this study was to understand more about the attitudes and beliefs of classroom teachers, preservice teachers, and content area literacy instructors surrounding content area literacy instruction, and how those beliefs affected their likelihood to incorporate literacy across the curriculum. The theoretical framework for this study included the critical literacy theory along with Paolo Freire’s pedagogy …

Sex Work Patterns Among Transgender And Gender Diverse People: A Latent Class Analysis, Madeline Stenersen, Anjum Umrani, Irelan Fricke, Jessica L. Zemlak

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Sex work is a diverse profession encompassing a broad range of people, and services. Though overrepresented in sex work communities, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals are underrepresented in sex work literature. Further, sex work literature continues to underrepresent the heterogeneity evident in the sex work community and the practices that occur within it. The present study utilized data from the 2015 United States Transgender Survey (USTS) to conduct a latent class analysis (LCA) to identify patterns of different types of sex work among TGD adults (N = 2,153) and understand the demographic characteristics associated with engagement in different types …

The "Casserole" Constitution: The South African Constitution And International Law, Penelope Andrews

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Un©Ertainty And Dis©Omfort, Richard H. Chused

Articles & Chapters

This essay explores creative works that produce powerful reactions of discernment, hostility, or deep uncertainty from mysterious forms of "blankness." They all use silence or similarly ineffable qualities to challenge the thoughtfulness and tolerance of audience members. They force us to understand that creativity sometimes manifests itself in strange and bizarre ways that test not only our viewing tolerance, but also our traditional notions of creativity and of intellectual property boundary lines. It is like forcing fully sensory-enabled people to think about creativity in ways that may mimic a small fragment of the daily experience of those with limited sight …

Housing Justice Pipeline: Harnessing Housing Clinics To Transform The Right To Counsel Movement, Erica Braudy, Thomas Honan, Tuhfa Begum

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Defining The Discipline: Six Pillars Of Academic Success Programming In Law Schools, Kris Franklin, Catherine Martin Christopher

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Psychometric Properties Of The Gad-7 Among College Students: Reliability, Validity, Factor Structure, And Measurement Invariance, Agnes E. White, Justin E. Karr

Psychology Faculty Publications

The GAD-7 (seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale) is a brief, freely available questionnaire measuring anxiety, which is a common mental health problem among college students. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the GAD-7 among undergraduate students from a public midwestern university (n = 582; M = 19.0 +/- 1.0 years old; 79.4% women; 81.6% White) who completed the GAD-7, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait subscale (STAI-T), and Behavioral Inhibition and Activation Scale-Reward subscale (BIAS-R). The psychometric properties of two GAD-7 models were examined: a one-factor model, equivalent to a single total score, and a two-factor model, including cognitive-emotional and somatic …

Renewal Of Cocaine Seeking Using Social And Nonsocial Contextual Stimuli, Bree A. Humburg, Michael T. Bardo

Psychology Faculty Publications

Rationale Various nonsocial cues have been used as stimuli to examine the contextual control of drug seeking behavior, but little is known about the role of social stimuli.

Objectives This study determined if renewal of cocaine seeking is differentially controlled using a context consisting of either a social peer and/or house light illumination.

Methods In Experiment 1, male and female rats trained to self-administer cocaine in the presence of a same-sex social peer and house light illumination (context A). Following self-administration, rats were randomly assigned to either an AAA (control) or ABA (renewal) group for extinction. For AAA rats, extinction …

Appalachian Primary Care Patients’ Quit Readiness And Tobacco Treatment Receipt, Jessica L. Burris, Abigayle R. Feather, Asal Pilehvari, Sarah Cooper, Amie M. Ashcraft, Roger Anderson, Amy K. Ferketich

Psychology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Healthcare providers should facilitate smoking cessation, and primary care is an ideal setting for delivering this evidence-based care. This study’s objective was to describe readiness to quit smoking combustible cigarettes among adult Appalachian primary care patients and determine their providers’ implementation of an established tobacco treatment model.

Methods: As part of a randomized clinical trial, 298 providers in 10 health systems across 4 states received tobacco treatment training. Periodically between January 2022 and June 2023, anonymous surveys were distributed to patients after primary care visits. The survey included questions about demographics, visit type, smoking status, readiness to quit, and …

Climate Anxiety Impairs Sustained Attention, Ekaterina Denkova, Taylor K. Tardibuono, Jason S. Tsukahara, Anthony P. Zanesco, Amishi P. Jha

Psychology Faculty Publications

Introduction: As climate anxiety rises globally, it may influence how individuals cognitively engage with the climate crisis. Although cognitive functioning is a key component of climate anxiety, its association with objectively measurable cognitive performance impairment remains unclear. This study examines whether individual differences in climate anxiety correspond with performance on a task measuring sustained attention. Methods: A total of 182 undergraduate students completed self-report measures of climate anxiety, personal climate change experience, and general anxiety and depression. In addition, they completed the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), which measures attentional performance through accuracy and response time variability. Results: Greater …

Cognitive Weaknesses Or Impairments On The Nih Toolbox Cognition Battery In Children And Adolescents, Nathan E. Cook, Grant L. Iverson, Justin E. Karr

Psychology Faculty Publications

Introduction: The National Institutes of Health Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) is a brief neuropsychological battery for the assessment of crystalized (i.e., vocabulary and word reading) and fluid cognition (i.e., working memory, visual episodic memory, processing speed, and executive functions). This study examined the frequency of low NIHTB-CB scores and proposes flexible algorithms for identifying cognitive weaknesses and impairment among youth. Methods: Participants were 1,269 youth from the NIHTB-CB normative sample who did not have a neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, or medical problem that might be associated with cognitive difficulties (53% boys and 47% girls; M …

Development Of A Mobile App To Support Head And Neck Cancer Caregiving, Katherine Sterba, Evan Graboyes, Jessica Burris, Megan Scallion, Hannah Kinder, Jama Olsen, Benjamin Toll, Kent Armeson, Terry Day, Bhishamjit Chera, Kenneth Ruggiero

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Survivors with head and neck cancer (HNC) face challenging treatment consequences that can lead to severe disruptions in swallowing and result in weight loss, malnutrition, and feeding tube dependence. Caregivers (family or friends who provide support), therefore, often encounter distressing nutritional caregiving burdens and feel unprepared to provide adequate support at home. Objective: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to develop a mobile support app to support HNC caregiving with an emphasis on nutritional support following treatment. Methods: We assessed perspectives on nutritional recovery challenges and mobile support app preferences in (1) a national panel of oncology …

Emotional Trade-Offs Of Neural Sensitivity To Social Threat And Reward In Adolescent Girls, Karen D. Rudolph, Megan M. Davis, Haina H. Modi, Haley V. Skymba, Megan Finnegan, Katherine Haigler, Rebekah B. Clapham, Zihua Ye, Jillian Dodson, Eva H. Telzer

Psychology Faculty Publications

Contemporary affective neuroscience perspectives consider possible trade-offs of neural attunement to social cues for adolescent development. Integrating these perspectives with interpersonal theories emphasizing robust belonging needs during adolescence, this study examined whether exposure to naturally occurring interpersonal stressors was differentially associated with loneliness and depression contingent on adolescent girls' neural sensitivity to cues indicating social threat (non-belonging) vs. reward (belonging). Eighty-six adolescent girls (M_age = 16.31, SD =. 84; 66.3% White) completed a social feedback task during an fMRI scan and reported on their loneliness and depression. Elevated interpersonal stress exposure was associated with more depression in girls who …

Examining Cognition In Action, Anthony P. Zanesco, Ekaterina Denkova, Jordan Barry, Costanza Alessio, Amishi P. Jha

Psychology Faculty Publications

Introduction: There is growing interest in understanding how individual differences in cognitive abilities contribute to military performance. Laboratory-based cognitive tasks, which are well-suited for assessing specific cognitive capacities, offer a controlled and efficient approach for evaluating these differences. If performance on such tasks corresponds with operationally relevant performance, these measures could serve as valuable tools for evaluation, selection, and targeted training interventions to enhance military readiness. Here, we examined associations between performance on laboratory tasks of attentional control and operationally relevant tasks in an augmented reality military training environment. Methods: Across two study rounds, 45 squads of active-duty U.S. Army …

Examining The Association Between Vigilance And Mind Wandering, Brooke Schwartzman, Anthony P. Zanesco, Ekaterina Denkova, Jason S. Tsukahara, Amishi P. Jha

Psychology Faculty Publications

There has been a growing interest in the relationship between the vigilance decrement, characterized by performance decline with greater time-on-task, and the occurrence of mind wandering—task-unrelated thought. Recent evidence from a large-scale military sample suggests a link between performance declines and increased mind wandering over a 20-min Sustained Attention to Response Task. Herein, we examined if similar patterns are present when the task duration is shorter and delivered online to college students who rely on sustained attention for academic success. Specifically, we explored the relationship between the vigilance decrement and mind wandering in undergraduates (N = 310) completing a 10-min …

Oura Ring Behavioral Feedback Intervention For Alcohol Reduction In Young Adults, Frances J. Griffith, Oksana K. Ellison, Sahiti Kunchay, Madilyn Augustine, Kelly S. Demartini, Michael Fatigate, Leah Latimer, Stephanie S. O'Malley, Nancy S. Redeker, Garrett I. Ash, Lisa M. Fucito

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Wearable fitness technologies, like the Oura Ring (Oura Health Oy), provide physiological metrics, like sleep and heart rate data, to a growing user base of young adults. However, these technologies and connected mobile apps do not measure young adults’ alcohol use that contributes to these metrics. Personalized feedback on the impact of alcohol on sleep and heart rate may boost motivation to reduce drinking among young adults. Objective: For this pilot randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the acceptability, feasibility, and perceived effectiveness of a wearable personalized feedback intervention for alcohol reduction in young adults that integrated physiological and behavioral …

What Do Parents Want? Relevant Content And Formats For Resources To Address Issues Of Racism, Antiracism, And Xenophobia With Youth, Deborah Rivas-Drake, Victoria Vezaldenos, Gabriela Livas Stein, Dawn P. Witherspoon, Laura Ann Jacobs, Tiffany Yip, Christia Spears Brown, Enrique Neblett

Psychology Faculty Publications

Diverse U.S. parents seek to engage in conversations about racism and immigration injustices with their children. To inform the design of a free resource hub and curriculum, we interviewed 62 parents of 3–17 year olds across 6 demographic categories (Asian/Asian American, Black, Latinx, Multiracial, Native American, White). We explored the question: “What content (substance and format) would be useful for parents in addressing issues of race, racism, and immigration with their children?” Analyses yielded multiple cross-cutting themes addressing both the substance and format of resources parents viewed as important for addressing these topics. Four content themes include: (a) Desire for …

Rethinking Science Education Practices: Shifting From Investigation-Centric To Comprehensive Inquiry-Based Instruction, Dana Lynn Morris

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Inquiry-based learning (IBL) has become a cornerstone of contemporary science education, championed by frameworks like the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). While designed to engage students actively in scientific practices, inquiry is often misapplied, resulting in an overemphasis on hands-on investigations. This investigation-centric approach can overshadow other essential phases of inquiry, leading to a superficial understanding of scientific concepts. This paper introduces a Comprehensive Inquiry-Based Science Education (CIBSE) Framework, grounded in responsive teaching and aligned with the NGSS scientific and engineering practices. The framework emphasizes student reasoning, explanation, and the balance between short exploration and scaffolded support, aiming to offer …

Provider’S Attitudes Towards Telehealth And Parenting Interventions During Covid‑19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Cross‑Sectional Study From Brazil And Mexico, Marina Kohlsdorf, Cole Hooley, Alejandro L. Vazquez, Mariana M. Juras, Grant Decker, Taylor Iskalis, Kayla Miller, Quinn Thompkins, Nancy G. A. Buenabad, Michela Ribeiro, Acileide F. Coelho, Ana A. Baumann

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for mental health providers all over the world, since they had to abruptly change from in person assistance to remote meetings. The adverse effects from social isolation were critical in Latinx populations such as Brazil and Mexico, since these countries faced a great amount of social, health, and economic burden during the pandemic, which affected families’ access to care and increased inappropriate parenting practices.

Objective This study aimed to understand the impacts of adapting parenting interventions to online sessions for Brazilian and Mexican providers, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods Sixty-two Brazilian and 49 …

Review Of Marginality And Global Lgbt Communities: Conflicts, Civil Rights, And Controversy, Patrick Barchett

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Marginality and Global LGBT Communities: Conflicts, Civil Rights, and Controversy (2020) by Sheri R. Notaro.

Read Yourself In: Enhancing First-Year Student Belonging Through Place As Text Pedagogy, John R. Andrews

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This study considers how Place as Text (PAT) pedagogy can foster a sense of belonging, efficacy, and persistence among first-year honors students. Author engages students in mapping, observing, listening, and reflecting exercises to observe how PAT helps them connect critically with their campus environment. Analyses of student reflections (qualitative) and historical enrollment data (quantitative) suggest that Place as Text deepens students’ engagement with the university, strengthens a sense of belonging, and enhances academic and social integration. Pointing to the strong correlation between belonging and persistence, author argues that PAT pedagogy should be expanded throughout honors colleges and curricula to support …

Toward A Welcoming Classroom: Assessment Of Student Perceptions Of Writing Education In Introductory Honors College Courses, Hilary K. Snow

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This study examines student perceptions of an introductory-level writing program in honors at a large, public R1 university. Author considers the efficacy of pedagogical interventions aimed at identifying gaps in the experience of writing for students from BIPOC and first-generation backgrounds and at developing more inclusive teaching practices. Collective revisions to the program’s writing philosophy, objectives, and rubrics helped instructors gain clarity and consistency across sections. A two-part survey was conducted at the beginning and end of the semester, and metrics were calculated for all respondents (N = 176) and targeted subgroups (n = 37; n = 30). …