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2025 December, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for December of 2025.

Enhancing Learning Path Recommendation Via Multi-Task Learning, Afsana Nasrin

All Theses

Personalized learning is a student-centered educational approach that acknowledges and adapts to the unique characteristics of each learner by customizing content, pacing, and assessments to meet individual needs. Key components include learner profiles, cognitive styles, learning objectives, adjustable pacing, and enabling technologies such as intelligent learning environments, intelligent tutoring systems, and data mining.

A key strategy for implementing personalized learning is learning path recommendation, a technique that guides learners through tailored sequences of content. This approach sequentially recommends personalized learning items, such as lectures, exercises, to address each student’s specific needs. Recent advances in deep learning, particularly deep reinforcement learning, …

Understanding Dental Hygienists’ Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Regarding Hpv Vaccination, Paula M Cuccaro, Jihye Choi, Kawtar Zouaidi, Efrat K Gabay, Michael Mackert, Josefine Ortiz Wolfe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourage oral health professionals to strongly recommend human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to prevent HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. This study examined oral health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HPV vaccination. We used purposive sampling to recruit participants through state and national oral health societies and social media platforms. Flyers outlining eligibility criteria were distributed, and eligible participants completed an online survey. Primary measures included participants' HPV-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and willingness to receive HPV-related training and recommend HPV vaccination to patients, including parents of adolescents. Only responses from dental hygienists …

Updated Prevalence Estimates Of Obesity Among Adults In The United States, 2005–2018, Ashley W. Kranjac, Dinko Kranjac

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Body mass index is an imperfect measure of excess adiposity but is ingrained in both research and clinical practice to define and diagnose adult obesity. The addition of waist circumference measure is recommended to fully capture obesity-related health risks at a population level. The latest reframing of obesity by the Lancet Commission relies on body mass index and waist circumference, as well as organ dysfunction and functional limitations, to differentiate between preclinical and clinical obesity.

Methods

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2018), we adhere to the proposed redefinition to examine obesity trends in the …

Combine Ebis: A Novel Collaborative Method For Building Interventions From Existing Evidence-Based Interventions, Justin Knox, Kara Portier, Christopher Magana, Maggie Denning, Christopher M Ferraris, Emily Dove-Medows, Cho-Hee Shrader, Ohemaa Poku, Phil Kreniske, Robert Remien, Efrat Aharonovich, Jennifer C Elliott, Denis Nash, Kathryn Lancaster, Till Baernighausen, Kayo Fujimoto, Adam Carrico, John A Schneider, Alida Bouris, D Scott Batey, Sheree R Schwartz, Jose Bauermeister, Patrick S Sullivan, Joseph G Rosen, Gina Wingood, Milton Wainberg, Deborah Hasin, Elvin Geng, Patrick A Wilson, Stefan D Baral

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Combining evidence-based interventions (EBIs) is a discrete process from adapting EBIs, and specific guidance for how to combine EBIs could be helpful amidst the proliferation of frameworks that combine and stage EBIs and calls for services to be combined or bundled. To address this gap, we developed and applied the COllaborative Method for Building INterventions from Existing Evidence-Based Interventions (COMBINE-EBIs) approach, a five-step process for combining EBIs.

Methods: The five steps of COMBINE-EBIs are: (1) Identify and Select EBIs, (2) Develop a Shared Conceptual Model, (3) Evaluate the Conceptual Model, (4) Create a Single Combined Protocol, and (5) Refine …

Energy Flow Differences In Throwing Arm Joints Between Javelin And Weighted Balls In Male Javelin Throwers, Hans-Peter Köhler, Kristof Kipp, Nikola Prvulović, Maren Witt

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: To enhance release velocity during competition, javelin throwers incorporate implements of varying mass into their training regimens. Previous research has demonstrated that, although velocity contributes quadratically to the computation of kinetic energy, heavier implements generate substantially greater kinetic energy at the moment of release, despite markedly lower release velocities. The primary objective of the present investigation was to analyze energy transfer within the throwing arm to gain deeper insight into the biomechanical mechanisms underlying the use of implements with different masses.

Methods: The three-dimensional coordinates of 16 reflective markers were recorded for 6 athletes during throws using 6 different …

Utilization Of Mushroom Stems As A Feed Resource For Sustainable Poultry Production, Kayla Stamps

All Theses

Soybean meal (SBM) is the primary protein source in poultry diets; however, its escalating cost and the environmental impact of soybean cultivation underscore the need for sustainable alternatives. Mushroom stems are generated at large volumes as agricultural waste, yet contain bioactive compounds and essential nutrients that may benefit poultry health and productivity. Despite these attributes, limited research has evaluated their potential as feed ingredients across different poultry species. This study addressed this gap by investigating whether mushroom stem powder can partially replace SBM in poultry diets while improving performance, health, and environmental outcomes.

Specifically, four experiments were conducted to evaluate …

Associations Between Feed Efficiency And Feeding Behavior In Yearling Angus Bulls In A Competitive Environment, Amelia Katz

Master's Theses

Feed efficiency in beef cattle is a complex trait shaped by physiological, behavioral, and social factors that influence how animals access and utilize feed resources. This study examined feed efficiency classification and how it is influenced by feeding behavior, competitive interactions, and bunk approach patterns in yearling Angus bulls housed in a drylot over two years. Bulls were grouped into high and low feed efficiency categories using residual feed intake and feed conversion ratio within pen and year (n = 40 per year; n = 40 per treatment). Continuous electronic monitoring quantified feeder visitation, feeding duration, intake, and rate. A …

Serum Concentrations Of Inflammatory Markers And Selected Nutrient Metabolites In Holstein And Jersey Cows Across The Transition Period, Avery Orr

Master's Theses

The transition period, spanning the weeks surrounding parturition, requires dairy cows to undergo synchronized metabolic, endocrine, and immunological adjustments that support the onset of lactation but also heighten disease susceptibility. Although individual inflammatory or metabolic biomarkers have been extensively studied, the integrated immunometabolic dynamics that occur across this period and the difference between breeds is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to characterize longitudinal patterns in key nutrient metabolites and inflammatory markers in Holstein and Jersey cows and assess how these systems interact across the transition period.

A total of 63 Holstein and Jersey cows were sampled …

Potential Adverse Effects On Lifestyle And Food Intake Pattern In Night Shift Workers, Stacie L. Coleman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Abstract

Night shift work is prevalent in healthcare and other industries, yet its effects on lifestyle factors such as food intake, sleep quality, and mental health remain underexplored. This study investigates the impact of night shift schedules on nurses’ wellness, focusing on eating patterns, sleep, physical activity, and mood. A sample of 13 nurses were divided into two shift groups: day (n=5) and night (n=8); and they completed a questionnaire to assess the variables related to their behavior, food choices, eating habits, sleep patterns.

The results of previous research studies indicate that night shift nurses are more likely to adopt …

Cosmetic Surgery And Physiological Disorder: You Should Talk To Someone About Your Unwinding Anxiety, Mona Muzammil, Washain Muzammil

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance — a flaw that appears minor or can't be seen by others. But you may feel so embarrassed, ashamed and anxious that you may avoid many social situations.

When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely focus on your appearance and body image, repeatedly checking the mirror, grooming or seeking reassurance, sometimes for many hours each day. Your perceived flaw and the repetitive behaviors cause you significant distress and impact your ability to function in …

Factors Affecting Diet Selection In Sheep Fed Endophyte-Infected Toxic Fescue, Jordan Thomas

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tall fescue infected with endophyte‑producing fungi can induce fescue toxicosis in grazing ruminants, reducing performance and altering forage intake. Isoflavones—such as biochanin A, a major compound in red clover (Trifolium pratense)—have been proposed to mitigate these effects through improved palatability and vascular relaxation. This study examined whether inclusion of ground red clover (GRC)—either directly or combined with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)—affected voluntary diet selection in lambs offered toxic fescue.

Thirty‑two lambs were housed individually and assigned randomly to one of four diets: (1) toxic fescue silage (CONT), (2) silage + 5% GRC (RC5), (3) silage + 10% …

Seasonal And Diurnal Variation In Forage Nutritive Value Of Cool-Season Grasses As Predicted By Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (Nirs), Ann Marie C. Riley, Isabelle A. Kagan, Brittany E. Davis, Laurie M. Lawrence, Chris D. Teutsch, S. Ray Smith

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

A better understanding of seasonal and diurnal variation in forage nutritive value may help to maximize protein intake and digestibility for grazing livestock. Forage nutritive value was evaluated in four cool-season grasses common to Kentucky pastures: orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.; OG), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. perenne; PRG), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.; KBG), and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.; TF]. In 2015 and 2017, 10 cool-season grass cultivars representing four species, planted in quadruplicate (40 plots) in central Kentucky, were maintained vegetatively with 2–4 week mowing and sampled in the morning and the afternoon at the same …

Integrating Innovative Sensing And Ground Measurements For Forage Mass Estimation In Rye Pasture, Pedro Henrique Jota Fernandes

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The United States beef industry relies on forages to provide up to 80% of total lifetime dry matter intake, making accurate forage mass estimation essential for determining stocking rates, improving grazing efficiency, and supporting economic sustainability. Traditional methods to quantify forage mass, however, are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This thesis presents research efforts to achieve accurate forage mass estimation in cereal rye pasture by integrating novel sensing technologies.

Chapter 1 reviews the importance and evolution of forage mass estimation methods, from destructive clipping to indirect approaches based on canopy measurements. It then introduces remote sensing, from proximal tools to drone- and …

Investigation Of Changes In Exotic Bird Serum Vitamin D Levels Between Indoor And Outdoor Housing, Alexander J. Marley

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is directly related to sunlight and is involved in multiple physiological processes including calcium metabolism, feather quality, and chick development. Most vertebrate species are capable of both absorption of exogenous vitamin D and internal synthesis of vitamin D, with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), being more accessible and bioactive in bird species. In exotic bird species, dietary requirements for vitamin D3 are largely unknown, and the ability to maintain adequate serum concentrations of vitamin D3 metabolites without direct sunlight exposure also requires evaluation. Concerns arise in situations where individuals may be housed indoors for extended …

Does Reducing Videofluoroscopy Frame Rate Affect Dige/St Grades In Modified Barium Swallow Studies?, Shitong Mao, Carla L Warneke, Sheila N Buoy, Ariana J Sahli, Brinda Rao Korivi, Carly E A Barbon, Kristy K Brock, Katherine A Hutcheson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Understanding the effects of reduced frame rates on the reliability of Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) ratings for swallowing safety and efficiency is essential for clinical practice. While previous research has examined frame rate (simulated pulse rates) implications concerning penetration, aspiration, and residue ratings, the impact on summary grading systems like the Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) remains unclear. This study analyzed a total of 315 full MBS videos collected from 278 patients, and 76.25% of patients were diagnosed with head and neck cancer (mean age 62.51 years, SD 8.53; 12.23% female). We performed pairwise comparisons of DIGEST grades …

Comparison Of In-Hospital Complication Rates After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement In Patients With Bicuspid Versus Tricuspid Aortic Valves: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Tingxi Zhu, Jiawei Luo, Xuan Huang, Lulu Liu, Kehan Li, Wei He, Xiaobo Zhou, Yingqiang Guo, Xiaoyan Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a popular alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients with valvular heart disease (VHD), particularly for those with aortic anomalies.

Aims: The study aimed to compare the risks of post-TAVR complications between patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves and to identify associated risk factors.

Methods: The association between complications and valve type (bicuspid or tricuspid) was assessed. The study also explored various combinations of factors to understand their impact on complications. Separate analyses were conducted to identify specific risk factors for each complication.

Results: Out of the 1154 eligible …

A Person-Centered Approach To Digital Health Technologies For Cancer Prevention: Qualitative Findings On Use Of Technology-Based Interventions In Houston, Texas, Preena Loomba, Scherezade Mama, Thuan Le, Stacy Mitchell, Elizabeth Dominguez, Karen Basen-Engquist, Larkin L Strong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and obesity are significant, yet preventable contributors to morbidity and mortality among adults. This qualitative study examined internet access and technology use, and barriers and facilitators to engaging in digital cancer prevention programs.

Methods: We conducted 30-60-min semi-structured interviews of Hispanic adults (n = 12) and cancer survivors (n = 10) from two lifestyle intervention trials (September 2021-April 2022) in Houston, Texas, who transitioned from in-person to virtual delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews examined in-person versus virtual experiences and were thematically analyzed.

Results: Participants (95 % women, mean age for Hispanic adults …

Real-World Disease Burden And Health Care Resource Utilization For Patients With Barth Syndrome, Lindsay Marjoram, Yonglin Huang, Mary Kay Koenig, Bruce H Cohen, Eric Anderson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an ultra-rare, X-linked genetic disorder for which there is limited economic data. Because compiling such data that target rare indications is difficult, we assessed real-world data to increase understanding of the cost of BTHS based on disease burden and health care resource utilization (HCRU).

Methods: A search of the published medical literature identified individual case studies and registry data used to assess the burden of disease and potential costs associated with BTHS, including the potential ability of developing treatments to positively impact those costs. In addition, a claims database analysis was conducted to assess HCRU …

Utility Of Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-7 As A Biomarker In Cholestatic Infants With Congenital Heart Disease, Sindhu Pandurangi, Michael E Kim, Nicolas Noriega, Bradley Conant, Jangdong Seo, Reena Mourya, Pranavkumar Shivakumar, Anna L Peters, Andrew Misfeldt, Meghan Chlebowski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) is a novel biomarker for diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA), the most common cholestatic liver disease in infancy. There is a pressing need to determine the utility of MMP-7 levels in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) to avoid unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures in this high-risk population. We investigated the utility of MMP-7 in discriminating BA from non-BA cholestasis in infants with CHD and whether MMP-7 elevation was present in infants requiring treatment for clinically significant PH.

Methods: This is a single-center cross-sectional study including infants < 180 days of age with cholestasis and serum MMP-7 levels collected from 2019 to 2023. Demographic data and descriptive statistics were summarized with medians with interquartile ranges and frequencies with percentages. Median MMP-7 levels were assessed via Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Results: A total of 149 patients were included. Patients …

Chemotherapy Alone For Stage Ii-Iva Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A 20-Year Follow-Up, Mateus Trinconi Cunha, Matheus Sewastjanow-Silva, F Christopher Holsinger, Adam S Garden, Adel K El-Naggar, Jeffrey N Myers, Jan Lewin, Ann M Gillenwater, J Jack Lee, Fadlo R Khuri, Eduardo M Diaz, Renata Ferrarotto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Current treatment options for nonmetastatic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma include radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and surgery, which can result in significant morbidity. This study reports the 20-year outcomes of a single-modality chemotherapy as a larynx preservation strategy in patients with stage II-IVa laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Methods: In this single-institution, single-arm, prospective clinical trial, 31 patients with stage II-IVa LSCC received three or four cycles of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and a platinum agent (TIP). Patients with a pathologic complete response (pCR) by biopsy assessment received three additional cycles without local therapy. Patients with a partial response underwent conservation laryngeal surgery (CLS). …

Challenges And Opportunities In Multidisciplinary Supportive Care During Radiotherapy For Head And Neck Cancer, Jeffrey C Shogan, Anna Lee, Yvonne M Mowery

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Pancreatic Cancer-Related Diabetes And Type 2 Diabetes Differ In Multiple Aspects Of Glucose Homeostasis, Frederico G S Toledo, Yisheng Li, Fuchenchu Wang, Melena D Bellin, Randall Brand, Kenneth Cusi, William Fisher, Yogish C Kudva, Walter G Park, Zeb I Saeed, Dhiraj Yadav, Robert V Considine, Sarah C Graham, Dana K Andersen, Jose Serrano, Mark O Goodarzi, Phil A Hart

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aims/hypothesis: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma-related diabetes mellitus (PDAC-DM) is a paraneoplastic syndrome with a poorly understood pathophysiology. PDAC-DM is often clinically confused with type 2 diabetes, resulting in delayed cancer detection and poorly individualised hyperglycaemia treatment. We investigated whether these forms of diabetes can be distinguished at the metabolic level.

Methods: Adults with either cancer treatment-naive PDAC-DM (n=28) or type 2 diabetes (n=97), and with diabetes onset within 3 years, underwent mixed-meal tolerance tests to investigate glucose metabolism. Outcomes included insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index), insulin secretion (insulinogenic index), beta cell function (oral disposition index), insulin clearance, and postprandial glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 …

The Role Of Neutrophils In Vasospasm And Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Is It Time For A Sah Clinical Trial Targeting Neutrophils?, William W Wroe, Hussein A Zeineddine, Spiros L Blackburn, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Devin W Mcbride

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a devastating neurological disease, and one of the primary drivers of morbidity after aneurysm rupture is the phenomenon of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Significant knowledge has been gained over the past two decades of the impact of neuroinflammation in DCI; and neutrophils are now believed to play a major role. There is significant human subject data showing the rise of neutrophil related inflammatory markers and neutrophil's association with poor outcome after aSAH, but as of yet no trials involving human subjects have been done specifically targeting neutrophils. There is however a growing body of evidence …

Fusobacterium Sphaericum Sp Nov, Isolated From A Human Colon Tumor Adheres To Colonic Epithelial Cells And Induces Il-8 Secretion, Martha A Zepeda-Rivera, Yannick Eisele, Alexander Baryiames, Hanrui Wu, Claudia Mengoni, Gianmarco Piccinno, Elsa F Mcmahon, Kaitlyn D Lacourse, Dakota S Jones, Hans Hauner, Samuel S Minot, Nicola Segata, Floyd E Dewhirst, Christopher D Johnston, Susan Bullman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancerous tissue is a largely unexplored microbial niche that provides a unique environment for the colonization and growth of specific bacterial communities, and with it, the opportunity to identify novel bacterial species. Here, we report distinct features of a novel Fusobacterium species, F. sphaericum sp. nov. (Fs), isolated from primary colon adenocarcinoma tissue. We acquire the complete closed genome and associated methylome of this organism and phylogenetically confirm its classification into the Fusobacterium genus, with F. perfoetens as its closest neighbor. Fs is phenotypically and genetically distinct, with morphological analysis revealing its coccoid shape, that while similar to …

Over-Reliance On Aesthetics? The Appearance-Reveals-Character Lay Theory Increases Consumers’ Devaluation Of Unattractive Produce, Shilpa Madan, Krishna Savani, Gita Venkataramani Johar

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Approximately 40% of all produce is rejected because it appears unattractive, contributing significantly to food waste. Whereas previous research attributes this devaluation to the ugly-is-bad effect, this research identifies an important moderator of consumers’ reliance on this heuristic: the lay theory that a person’s outer appearance reveals their inner character. Specifically, consumers who believe that people’s appearances reveal their character are less willing to accept unattractive (vs. attractive) produce because they generalize their lay theory to produce and are, thus, more likely to infer that unattractive produce is of lower quality. Consumers who do not hold the lay theory do …

Fungicidal Management Of Spring Dead Spot Using Improved Modeling And Application Strategies, Michael Vincent Battaglia

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Spring dead spot (SDS) is a destructive disease of bermudagrass (Cynodon Rich. spp.) in parts of the world that experience winter dormancy. Fungicides are often necessary to properly manage SDS, and significant research has been conducted to improve fungicidal effectiveness. Several studies were conducted with the objectives of improving fungicide application timing, method of fungicide application, and long-term fungicidal efficiency. In the fungicide application study, a cooling degree-day (CDD) model based on soil temperatures was developed. The CDD model showed that isofetamid was highly effective against SDS during a wide application window in autumn, while tebuconazole was inconsistently effective and …

Impact Of Peripheral Circadian Misalignment And Alcohol On The Resiliency Of Intestinal Barrier And Microbiota, Laura Tran, Maliha Shaikh, Phillip A Engen, Ankur Naqib, Dulce M Frausto, Vivian Ramirez, Malia Gasteier, Zlata Bogin, Kristi Lawrence, Lijuan Zhang, Shiwen Song, Stefan J Green, Faraz Bishehsari, Christopher B Forsyth, Ali Keshavarzian, Garth R Swanson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Circadian organization is involved in many gastrointestinal tract (GIT) functions such as the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. There is compelling evidence that perturbation of the circadian clock decreases intestinal epithelial cells' resiliency to alcohol-induced injury. One of the most common causes of circadian misalignment is wrong-time eating (largest meal at dinner) in modern societies. Yet, few studies have examined the importance of peripheral circadian rhythms of the GIT to alcohol consumption. Eating patterns during physiologic rest time, defined as wrong-time eating (WTE), misalign the peripheral circadian clock of the GIT and the body's central clock. This study aims to …

Knowledge Mapping And Visualized Analysis Of Research Progress In Onconephrology: A Bibliometric Analysis, Yiwei Wang, Shuling Fan, Wei Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Onconephrology is an expanding subspecialty focused on the management of cancer patients with renal injury. This study used a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to emphasize the need for cooperation between oncologists and nephrologists, exploring current trends and future research areas in onconephrology.

Methods: Relevant literature on onconephrology published between 1 January 2000 and 27 April 2024 was retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection, followed by manual screening. Bibliometric analyses were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix software.

Results: A total of 1,853 publications, including 1,647 articles and 206 reviews, by 11,606 authors …

Emotion Regulation Flexibility And Well-Being In College Athletes In Aesthetic Sports, Kaitlyn D. Chamberlain

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined emotion regulation flexibility and well-being (including psychological well-being, physical well-being, perceived sport performance and worth of sport participation) in athletes in aesthetic sports. This population experiences high environmental demands and constraints and thus low control over their environment. Collegiate athletes within aesthetic sports and female athletes experience specific social factors and demands that threaten their well-being, compared to those experienced by male athletes and athletes within non-aesthetic sports. Consistent with the transactional theory of stress and coping, individuals with less power to regulate their environment will require greater ability to regulate themselves in accordance with their changing …