Digital Commons Network^™

Pandemic And Sleep Health: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Among College Students, Jasmine Mitchell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The purpose of this study seeks to address sleep health among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design. Data in this study were collected from college students through a virtual survey at a public university in Southern California. Data was collected with SPSS version 28 to conduct crosstabs and chi-square, as well as descriptive statistics.

Results: The study presented key findings that call attention to college students and poor sleep health. Results showed most of the participants (62.8%) reported getting less than 7 hours of sleep on an average school night. 45.7% of …

Relationship Between University Students’ Demographics And Drinking & Driving Behaviors, Carlos Razo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In the U.S. there continues to be public health concerns behind alcohol related motor-vehicle accidents, as the yearly death continues to remain high. University students are a population of interest, as the age group found in these institutions closely matches the age range of most alcohol related accidents. University students already experience health related problems with their drinking & driving behaviors. Literature supports that university students are more susceptible to drinking and driving when compared to those that don’t attend. This study focused on determining whether a relationship existed between university demographics (age, gender, and student classification) and their drinking …

The Relationship Between Covid-19 Stress, Psychological Inflexibility, And Psycholoical Well-Being, Alyx Duckering

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the literature on the mental and physical health consequences of COVID-19 has expanded exponentially. Much of the published research has focused on the physical health and economic consequences of COVID-19. Research on the mental health effects of COVID-19 has primarily addressed the increase in anxiety and depression and related avoidance/safety behaviors surrounding COVID-19 (Taylor et al., 2020). Although there is an emerging literature on the COVID-19 mental health consequences, there is a paucity of research examining the processes of how people respond to COVID-19 stress and psychological well-being. Specifically, data examining potential psychological …

Social Workers’ Experiences During Covid-19, Maija Slisco

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to identify personal and professional challenges that social workers faced while working in-person with clients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This research utilized an exploratory qualitative design. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight participants. Participants were MSW postgraduates recruited through convenience sampling methods. Data was collected via in-depth interviews to identify universal challenges social workers experienced. Through thematic analysis of open coding, the following five semantic themes emerged: safety concerns/risks, ethical professional dilemmas, decreased ability to engage in self-care/increased acquisition of unhealthy habits, loss of connection, and emotional distress Through axial coding, it was found …

How Prepared Are Social Workers To Help Their Clients Diagnosed With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?, Isabel Marin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to understand the competence social workers have with diagnosing and treating OCD. The study is significant since there are many sufferers of OCD who are misdiagnosed. Researchers have found that over 50% of individuals with OCD have been misdiagnosed (Glazier et al., 2015). This study will be significant for all mental health workers including MSW graduates and Master in Social Work students. By understanding what social workers know or do not know about the mental illness OCD we are then able to understand what improvements need to be made in the field of …

Promoting Health Equity Among Racial And Ethnic Minorities During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alexandra Viramontes, Deserry Salgado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Racial and ethnic minorities experience disproportionate health outcomes during a pandemic, yet preparedness plans have failed to address the social determinants of health that produce the most severe impact. By examining social workers’ perspectives on the health disparities faced by racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study provides insight into the ways in which services can be improved in a future health crisis. In this exploratory study, a qualitative approach was utilized where social workers were asked to participate in interviews consisting of open-ended questions. The qualitative data was obtained in the form of interview transcripts, which …

Impact Of Job-Related Stressors On Levels Of Compassion Fatigue, Curnishia Woodbury

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Compassion fatigue is an area of concern for direct practice social workers who engage with trauma material. This phenomenon has been deemed the cost of caring. The purpose of this study was to identify a relationship between job-related stressors such as caseload size, weekly supervision and job satisfaction and compassion fatigue. A total of 10 child protection social workers from various Southern California counties constituted the study sample. The Pearson Coefficient Correlation test was used to analyze the relationship between the identified variables. The findings revealed that there was a moderate correlation between caseload size and compassion fatigue as well …

Social Work Students Competency Addressing Sexual Health Needs Of Clients, Laken Beltran

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The contents of this study explored how competent social work students feel addressing sexual health issues with clients. Social workers could experience a multitude of problems when feeling incompetent and under-educated when helping clients with sexual problems. Various theories in the realm of social work and psychology alike see the person as a whole, with multiple facets contributing to whom the individual is. Sexual health, experiences, attitudes and sexuality are an integral part of what makes an individual who they are. A qualitative approach was utilized for this study which consisted of a 10-question interview for MSW students. This study …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In Social Work Students, Geraldine Mclean, Delacey Kim

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of the following study is to explore and examine the connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and well-being of social work students at an undisclosed Southern California university. A quantitative study was conducted which included the responses from 89 students at the undisclosed university. Participants were administered two questionnaires via a Qualtrics online survey. One questionnaire measured the number of ACEs a participant had experienced in childhood. The second questionnaire measured the participant’s current level of well-being. The study’s results revealed that overall, social work students experience greater ACE scores as compared to the general population. However, despite …

To What Extent Do Gender Role Stereotypes Impact Mental Health Professionals’ Perceptions Of Men, Raeshema Holland

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Many people suffer from mental health disorders. Gender disparities in mental health treatment and research need to be continuously addressed to ensure that all individuals seeking emotional support receive adequate and competent care. This research focused on bringing awareness to men's neglected mental health needs. Results are discussed in the context of theories of social roles and ambivalence towards men. This study used social role theory and ambivalent sexism theory to explain best how western traditional gender norms can impact us all. Ambivalent sexism pertains to how our attitudes and beliefs can be shaped and are extremely complex. Ambivalent biases …

Tiered Centralized Education In The Transition-To-Practice Program To Improve Nurses' Level Of Confidence On Nursing Sensitive Indicators Outcomes, Froiland Agana Ascaño

Doctoral Projects

A tiered Centralized Education in the Transition-to-Practice (TTP) Program is crucial to improving nurses' Level of Confidence on nursing-sensitive quality indicators. The benefits of a structured orientation program taught by trained content experts are evident in the literature. In addition, training transition-to-practice RNs during onboarding with training and assessment sessions throughout the orientation program to increase frequency provides skills acquisition. This study examined the impact of a house-wide education program on the nurses' confidence levels of CLABSI prevention, a measured nursing-sensitive quality indicator. This quasi-experimental quality improvement study measured the confidence and comfort levels of transition-to-practice RNs and identified that …

Hybrid Machine And Deep Learning-Based Cyberattack Detection And Classification In Smart Grid Networks, Adedayo Aribisala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Power grids have rapidly evolved into Smart grids and are heavily dependent on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for monitoring and control. However, this evolution increases the susceptibility of the remote (VMs, VPNs) and physical interfaces (sensors, PMUs LAN, WAN, sub-stations power lines, and smart meters) to sophisticated cyberattacks. The continuous supply of power is critical to power generation plants, power grids, industrial grids, and nuclear grids; the halt to global power could have a devastating effect on the economy's critical infrastructures and human life.

Machine Learning and Deep Learning-based cyberattack detection modeling have yielded promising results when …

2-Day Vs. 4-Day Training Cessation Following A Step Taper In Competitive And Recreational Powerlifters, Benjamin Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare differences in maximal strength, perceived recovery and stress state, and body composition alterations in powerlifters undergoing a 2-day or 4-day period of training cessation following a step taper. Ten participants completed a 6-week powerlifting specific training protocol. Body composition, perceived recovery and stress state, and maximal strength in the back squat (BS), bench press (BP), and deadlift (DL) were assessed prior to the overreach week (week 5) and either 2-days or 4-days after the taper. Alpha criterion was set at p≤0.05. There were statistically significant increases in BP (pp=0.03) …

Effect Of Endurance Exercise Training And High-Fat Diet On Muscle Fiber Type And Aerobic Performance In Tibialis Anterior Of Mice, Sara Kelly

CSB and SJU Distinguished Thesis

Our world has an increasing demand for finding different exercise and diet combinations that lead to greater aerobic performance. Previous studies show that independently, endurance training and high-fat diets increase aerobic muscle fibers and fatigue resistance of muscle. My experiment tested whether the combination of high-fat diet and endurance training would produce greater increases in aerobic muscle fibers and fatigue resistance than either treatment alone. I predicted that there would be an increased proportion of type I and type IIa, oxidative fibers, in addition to an increase time for muscle to fatigue and a decrease in lactic acid concentrations after …

The Sanctuary Campus: Establishing Safe Spaces Of Higher Education For Undocumented And Daca-Status Students, Lizbet Martinez-Port

CSB and SJU Distinguished Thesis

The election of President Donald Trump in 2016 brought fear to undocumented and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status students on campuses across the United States. In his campaign, Trump detailed his desire to get rid of the Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Various institutions of higher education created resources, put in place sanctuary policies, and even declared themselves as sanctuary campuses to fight against the challenges that hindered undocumented and DACA students from achieving a higher education. This paper focuses on the policies at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, two private Catholic …

Inspire : Vol 5, Issue 5, Department Of Medicine

INSPIRE – Department of Medicine Archives

Content

• Medicine at National and International Forums
• In-depth: featuring– Medical Director of Princess Zahra Pavilion - Dr Haroon Khan
• Poem section
• Publications

The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Fear Of Missing Out, Anxiety, And Loneliness, Hannah Turner

Honors Theses

The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic implores consideration for how the psychopathological constructs the fear of missing out, anxiety, and loneliness are affected within this context (Liverant et al., 2004; Rajkumar, 2020). These mental well-being variables also all appear in association with social media (Hunt et al., 2018; Caplan, 2007). While previous research has explored the initial impacts of the pandemic on mental well-being (Wang, Pan et al., 2020; Bu et al., 2020), this research further examines the effect on college students’ mental well-being in the pandemic alongside social media usage. I hypothesize that levels of the fear of …

Bayesian Joint Modeling For Longitudinal Outcomes Of Exponential Families And Informative Time Points, Michael Safo Oduro

Dissertations

The benefits of longitudinal data in clinical research are immense, owing to the potential to detect phenomenon changes and trends over time. An avalanche of traditional methods exist for the analysis of this data kind, most of which are predicated on the assumption of fixed time design for study individuals. This assumption however, is not always tenable. Consider occurrences that can alter the time or visit profile of subjects in a clinical trial, such as adverse events. These may result in not just irregular visit times, but also unbalanced data on subject outcomes. Hence, one can consider visit times to …

At Risk For Success: Promising Practices In Their Own Voices, Amber Leigh Mcelwee

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study utilized high school graduate perceptions to identify pedagogical methods, educational structures, and school supports that improved their participation, inclusion, and growth within their classrooms and coursework. The research was focused on students identified at-risk to graduate high school and how educational supports affected the success or constraint in attaining their diploma. The research design applied a connected learning framework structure with a focus on student interest, relationships, and opportunities as defined by the Connected Learning Alliance. One component of connected learning was student-centered learning; therefore, an examination of John Dewey’s educational philosophy of student-centered practices and …

Mothers’ Perspectives On Language And Literacy Development In Children With Disabilities Adopted From China, Jessica B. Hovland

Dissertations

Children with disabilities and special needs make up the vast majority of those currently being adopted internationally into the United States (U.S.). China has been a leading sending country for international adoption since the 1990s and remains one of the few nations with thousands of orphaned or abandoned children, many with congenital disabilities or significant medical needs, in government welfare institutions. While most children adopted internationally (CAI), whether from China or other nations, experience developmental catch-up after adoption, children with disabilities and those who spent time in institutional settings exhibit persistent language deficits that impact literacy and academic skills as …

Are Natural Killer Cells Novel Mediators Of The Effects Of Cannabidiol On Mental Health, Sleep Quantity, Sleep Quality, And Immune Function?, Jacob Norbert Kisiolek

Dissertations

Cannabidiol (CBD) has increased in popularity since the United States Farm Bill legalized hemp production in 2018 and is now projected to become a $24.4 billion dollar industry by 2025. Since its legalization, CBD is thought to be an antiepileptic, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic, as well as an agent to improve mental health, quality of life, aspects of sleep and immune function. However, many of these claims lack scientific evidence. The purpose of this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was to determine the effects of an 8-week CBD intervention on measures of mental health, sleep quantity, sleep quality, and natural killer …

Heritability Of Maxillary Dental Arch Dimensions In A Pedigreed Sample Of Hamadryas Baboons, Samuel Park

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis presents a study of heritability of maxillary dental arch dimensions in a captive baboon colony. Arch dimensions are important subject because they influence the entirety of the craniofacial and masticatory complex. The goal of this study was to quantify the relative genetic influence on arch dimensions and the nature of this influence at different points along the maxillary arcade. Referencing virtual, three-dimensional dental cast scans, widths were measured at different points between the a) maxillary left and right canines, and b) maxillary left and right first molars (M1). Specifically, measurements were taken at the inner (lingual) gingival margin, …

Quantifying The Relationship Between Pond Size And Water Quality, Rebekah Mason

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The water quality of ponds, streams, and groundwater is at risk due to agricultural and urban development. Implementation of ponds near developmental areas can act as catchment sites to reduce further water pollution (Bichsel et al., 2015). However, maintenance of pond water quality is necessary for continued water supply to livestock and general recreational use. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between pond size (surface area range from 142 to 5336 m²) and water quality. Analysis of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, and chlorophyll-a, were conducted during the summer of 2021 and winter …

Pandemics And Animal Welfare: A Quantitative Inquiry Into How The Covid-19 Pandemic Has Affected The Companion Animal Industry In Northwest Arkansas, Kayla N. Desmet

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019, industries have been impacted globally. The companion animal care industry has not received much recognition in mainstream news, and though multiple grants have been allocated (Nolen, 2020), limited resources were available to individual facilities such as animal shelters, animal day cares, and boarding facilities. Little is known about the long-term effects of the pandemic on these facilities and how companion animal care may have changed. The purpose of this study was to explore the day-to-day impacts and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the companion animal industry in Northwest Arkansas from …

Time Course Investigation Of The Dermal Leukocyte Response To Lipoteichoic Acid In Chickens, Ian Gilbert

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is component of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria that stimulates inflammation during bacterial infection. However, few studies have investigated the in vivo immune response to LTA, and none of the in vivo studies done have been performed in birds. For this project, the pulp (a skin-derivative) of growing feathers (GFs) of chickens were used as a test site to investigate the in vivo effects of intradermally injected LTA. In Study 1, the pulp of 12 GFs of 11-week-old Light-brown Leghorn (LBL) males were injected with 10 μL of differing concentrations of LTA (0.1, 1.0, 10, 100 …

Effects Of Noise, Light, And Landscape On Birds In A Recently Urbanized County, Karina Alejandra Sanchez

Dissertations

Anthropogenic activities are drastically and rapidly altering ecosystems. Research has found that urban environments support less biodiversity than non-urban environments. This work has inspired recent interest investigating animal behavior and individual reproductive success in urban wildlife as mechanisms to why biodiversity is lower in urban areas. For my dissertation research, I used three key urban characteristics; noise, light, and landscape composition to study the effects of urbanization on avian species across Weld County, CO. I used these measurements to test the overarching hypothesis that urban land characteristics alter avian community structure and more specific hypotheses regarding how each factor (noise, …

Misinformation And Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants: The Significance Of Framed Public Health Messaging, Alexandra I. Todd

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID19) outbreak effectively disrupted worldwide operation for months, leading to tremendous economic loss and adverse health outcomes. While countries grappled to control the virus and scientists worked around the clock to deliver a vaccine in record time, a pubic health communication crisis emerged. The spread of false and misleading information, also known as misinformation, has proved to be a barrier in the fight against COVID19 and its vaccination effort. Many factors including the rise of social media, distrust of government, polarization of news sources, and fragmented media have created an environment susceptible to misinformation. Utilized correctly, …

Financial Analysis Of New Medicare And Medicaid Guidelines, Reimbursement Rates, And Increased Enrollment On Four Nebraska Clinics, Jamilah J. Abdul-Hakim

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Government health insurance plans such as Medicaid and Medicare were created with the intention of providing elderly, low-income, or disabled citizens with affordable and quality health insurance through government-contracted providers (Baicker et al., 2013). Medicare is a government health insurance program that provides healthcare to United States citizens 65 years and older, regardless of their income or past medical history. Medicaid was implemented as an assistance program to provide health insurance for low-income Americans and their families. Medicaid is administered by each state independently, which creates variation in reimbursement rates, services, and structure. (Grabowski, 2007).

Providers accepting Medicare and Medicaid …

A Survey And Analysis Of Educational Materials Addressing The Health Consequences Of Drinking Nitrate Contaminated Water In Medical Clinics Located In The Most At-Risk Areas Of Nebraska: Are Healthcare Providers Equipped To Protect And Educate Their Patients?, Laura Nagengast

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Eighty five percent of Nebraskans rely heavily on groundwater sources, including private wells, as their primary source of drinking water. Nitrate is one of the most common chemicals found in private well water. Numerous studies demonstrated the serious human health consequences from prolonged nitrate exposure. Therefore, due to the potential health risks, this project aimed to identify and evaluate the existing knowledge and awareness among healthcare providers as well as the educational materials in medical clinics in Nebraska related to health effects of drinking nitrate contaminated water.

Methods: An 8 multiple choice question survey was developed using Microsoft Forms. …

Evaluating First Responder Personal Preparedness In Douglas County, Nebraska's Volunteer Fire And Emergency Medicine Service, Kylie Johnson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In disaster response, it is essential for first responders to focus on their disaster role. Lack of personal preparedness at home could hinder a responder’s ability to focus their attention on their response role (13). Personal conflict, such as that caused between family duties and response duties, in a disaster can be mitigated through several means. One mitigation tactic is preparedness education and support offered by the responder’s organization. While the importance of responder personal preparedness cannot be understated, there is a lack of baseline data on the topic related to Nebraska responders.

To assess the state of first responder …