Digital Commons Network^™

Experiential Avoidance And Acceptance-Based Therapy (Abbt), Addison Jo Quern

Psychology Student Publications

Anxiety is an incredibly common mental health concern that impacts individuals globally. Avoidance is a main feature that maintains the symptoms of anxiety but does not allow the individual to experience the distressing scenario, thus reaffirming that discomfort. This attempt to control or avoid anxiety can make the symptoms worse. Research demonstrates that avoidance can perpetuate anxiety, and stress can increase avoidance. Acceptance-based therapy (ABBT) is used to target avoidance behaviors to lessen the overall symptoms of anxiety. ABBT is a third wave of therapy that helps clients focus on the relationship they have with their thoughts and feelings, instead …

Present And Future Effects Of Parental Discipline - What's The Best Way To Parent?, Erica Morrison

Psychology Student Publications

Different parenting styles can have different and long lasting effects on one's children. How we parent can largely shape who your child will become.

The Relationship Between Childhood Adverse Experiences And Adult Depression, Alexander Owens

Psychology Student Publications

This paper explores the current understanding of the linkage between childhood trauma and depression. Before this, childhood trauma and adult depression are described. Overall, there are a few different ways these two constructs can be linked, and they are explored.

Supporting The Supporters: Reducing Stress For At Home Dementia Caregivers, Kendra Spitzer

Psychology Student Publications

Caring for individuals with dementia is associated with an increased mental strain, stress, anxiety, and depression. This paper explores mental health issues that can derive from caring for people living with dementia. Dementia is a highly progressive condition that impacts cognition and behavior, which affects both the individual and caregiver. While caregiving provides meaningful skills and a strong meaning to life, it also presents unpredictability and emotional distress. This paper highlights evidence-based supports to reduce mental health illnesses and burdens on caregivers. Supports such as social networks, digital mental health tools, mobile apps, and validation therapy are noted to be …

Sensory Processing In Early Childhood: Developmental Pathways To Emotional Regulation And Participation, Jadyn Kuppersmith

Psychology Student Publications

How sensory processing develops in early childhood and how it influences emotional regulation and participation in daily activities. Highlighting that all children respond to sensory input differently, which can affect their behavior, anxiety levels, and ability to engage in play, routines, and school. The paper also emphasizes how occupational therapy supports children by adapting environments and promoting self-regulation skills rather than trying to change the child.

Effects Of Screen Time On Childhood Development, Elizabeth Bridge

Psychology Student Publications

This science communication paper explores the psychological effects of screen time on childhood development. It emphasizes the effects on childhood intelligence, social skills, language skills, emotional regulation skills, and mental health.

Bipolar Disorder: Family Dynamics And Relationships, Ava M. Bailey

Psychology Student Publications

This paper explores the effects of bipolar disorder on family dynamics and relationships, both for individuals with the disorder and those living with them. It discusses bipolar disorder, along with its diagnosis, symptoms, and associated behaviors. Additionally, this paper analyzes the effects that bipolar disorder has on relationships, including parent-child in which the parent has bipolar disorder, parent-child in which the child has bipolar disorder, marital relationships, and interpersonal relationships in general.

Effects Of Exercise Of Cognitive Development In Young Children, Hannah Schlomann

Psychology Student Publications

This paper examines the relationship between physical activity and cognitive development in young children ages 0-5. Increased tablet time and sedentary behavior is becoming common for young children. This paper examines the effect of four categories of movement including screen based sedentary behavior, non-screen based sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and moderate to rigorous physical activity, as well as the effects of motor ability on cognitive development.

The Predictive Ability Of Child Characteristics And Parenting Factors On Four Developmental Domains In Toddlers, Melly Latifah, Dwi Hastuti, Neti Hernawati, Reisi Nurdiani, Raihan Ainun Hasanah

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Stunting is a chronic condition that has a significant impact on child development. This phenomenon is primarily caused by prolonged nutritional deficiency, especially during the first 1,000 days of life. In addition, as family factors also play a crucial role in children’s development, this study aims to analyze the influence of child and family characteristics, mother–child attachment, parenting practices, and the nutritional status of children (stunted/non-stunted) on children’s gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal–social skills. This study used a quantitative design with an explanatory approach involving 202 mother–child pairs with children aged 12–36 months. The findings show that healthcare …

Determining Factors Leading To Sobriety In Native American Graduates Of A Joint-Jurisdictional Court Program, Ryan Fisher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The issue of driving under the influence (DUI) is a continuous problem in rural communities, especial those in Indian Country. Alcohol use and abuse has long been a health concern for these communities contributing to higher mortality rates and increased incarceration rates for American Indian / Alaskan Native (AIAN) populations. Wellness courts, using the problem-solving court model, have been successful in helping DUI offenders achieve sobriety and wellness. While the model has been successful, there remains a lack of qualitative research into why participants find success in these programs; especially marginalized populations such as AIAN. This phenomenological qualitative study was …

Beyond The Pipeline: First-Generation College Students’ Community Cultural Wealth And Stem Degree Pathways, Douglas Havard, Zahra Gholami, Jue Wu, Danette Y. Martinez, A. J. Balatico, Lara Perez-Felkner

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines how first-generation college students (FGCS) and continuing-generation college students navigate STEM pathways by modeling four sequential milestones in the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09): high school graduation, college enrollment, STEM major selection, and STEM degree completion. Guided by Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth framework, we use survey-weighted sequential logistic regression to estimate stage-specific associations between academic preparation, psychosocial resources, and institutional context, conditional on prior attainment. Results reveal distinct generational patterns of STEM progression. For FGCS, rigorous high school mathematics preparation exerts a powerful influence on high school completion, while later-developing math self-efficacy and science identity …

Saturated Hierarchical Atomic Incremental Learning (Shail): A Behavioral Learning Perspective On Staged Mastery And Saturation, Ernest Fokoue

Articles

We introduce Saturated Hierarchical Atomic Incremental Learning (sHAIL), a learning paradigm in which complex tasks are approached through a sequence of simpler atomic subtasks, each mastered to saturation before progression. The central mechanism is a saturation criterion that detects when learning dynamics enter a plateau region, triggering consolidation and subsequent ascent to a higher level of task complexity. We develop a theoretical framework for sHAIL and show that it naturally gives rise to \emph{staircased convergence}: alternating phases of rapid improvement and genuine plateau. Within each level, classical convergence guarantees apply under standard smoothness conditions, while the hierarchical transitions are driven …

Social Media And Its Effects On Students’ Attention Spans, Katie Greff

Psychology Student Publications

How social media effects students attention spans. Students are greatly effected because of growing digital learning environments.

Moving Towards Wellness: How Exercise Can Ease Depression And Anxiety In Young Adults, Morgan Hartze

Psychology Student Publications

Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health concerns affecting young adults, impacting mood, motivation, and daily functioning. While therapy and medication can be effective, many young adults continue to experience symptoms, highlighting the need for additional strategies. Research suggests that regular physical activity is an accessible, cost-effective way to improve mental health. Moving your body boosts the “feel good” chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, while reducing stress hormones, such as cortisol. Physical activity also provides a healthy distraction from negative thoughts and helps establish routines that support well-being. Even brief amounts of moderate exercise, such as …

Couples Neutrality, Marriage Neutrality, And Two-Earner Deductions, Daniel Shaviro

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

Tax policy discussions of how to tax married couples, as compared to singles, often focus on the by now much-criticized norms of “marriage neutrality” and “couples neutrality.” While these norms are largely unpersuasive, they do offer a useful analytic starting point, because of both (a) how they relate to more validly expressed concerns, and (b) the significance of the empirical reasons why they generally do not hold.

In evaluating the proper relative tax treatment of different married couples, one of the most important factors that the federal income tax law fails to recognize is the difference between one-earner and two-earner …

Law Journal Vol. 50 Winter 2026 Masthead

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Cognitive Drunkenness: Sleep Deprivation And Cognition In College Students, Alexandra Pavek

Psychology Student Publications

Sleep deprivation is a common occurrence among college students. The purpose of the paper is to shed light on the sources of sleep loss in college students, the cognitive consequences, and the comparison to alcohol-related impairment.

The Science Of Attachment: How Early Bonds Shape Who We Become, Rani Patel

Psychology Student Publications

Attachments theories suggest the answer begins in infancy. Originally developed by John Bowlby and later supported by the “Strange Situation” attachment research conducted by Mary Ainsworth, attachment science shows that the quality of early interactions with caregivers influence how children develop trust, seek support, and manage emotions. Through years of empirical research psychologists have identified four main attachment styles, secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized, later connected to relationship patterns. Modern research also highlights that attachment patterns are not permanent, supportive experiences later in life can promote growth and change.

Educating Staff Nurses On Pain Reassessment, Katie Louise Pemberton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pain is one of the most common reasons that patients seek medical care, and chronic pain is a major health problem. The goal of this project was to address a lack of current, evidence-based knowledge of nurses regarding pain reassessment. The context for this project was a medical-surgical area in a rural hospital. The Doctor of Nursing Practice project attempted to answer the practice focus question on whether education improved knowledge related to improving pain reassessment. The project framework utilized in the doctoral project was the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model. An education program was designed with the …

Motive To Kill: The Link Between Childhood Trauma And Homicide, Natalie L. Scholz

Psychology Student Publications

What motivates some individuals to commit homicide and what role does childhood trauma play in increasing that risk? Psychology and neuroscience suggest that when a child experiences traumatic events it can change how they handle stress, emotional control, and how their brain develops. All these factors can lead to them acting out in more violent ways. The Adverse Childhood Experiences study shows that traumatic events during one’s childhood can have a negative effect on their mental wellbeing later in life making them more prone to act out aggressively and possibly having more criminal involvement. Exposure to trauma has been linked …

Children’S Perspectives On Playfulness: A Child-Centred Qualitative Study, Risa Rylander, Stephanie Burns, Jocelyn Dautel

International Journal of Playwork Practice

This qualitative study examines children’s lived experiences of play and playfulness through interviews and creative methods with 10 children aged 8–11 in a Playwork setting. Thematic analysis identified three core themes: playfulness as an internal experience; the contextual nature of playfulness; and Playwork theory in practice. Children described play as joyful, immersive, and intrinsically motivated, shaped by factors such as comfort, outdoor access, social relationships, and autonomy. They valued adult support that preserved freedom. Findings challenge narrow definitions of playfulness, emphasizing calm, solitary, and open-ended play, with implications for designing responsive, child-centred play environments.

The Effects Of Interactive Instruction In Medical Education On Learners' Motivation, Technology Acceptance, And Learning Satisfaction, Bo-Yuan Lin

Journal of Medical Education

Purpose: Medical education is characterized by complex content and high cognitive demands, which often challenge learners. motivation and engagement. With advances in educational technology, interactive teaching approaches have gained increasing attention for their potential to enhance learning experiences. This study aimed to investigate the effects of integrating an Interactive Response System (IRS) into a medical education course on learners. learning motivation, technology acceptance, and learning satisfaction.

Methods: A single-group posttest design was employed. Participants were 23 healthcare professionals specializing in respiratory therapy who attended a professional training course on the clinical application of high-frequency ventilators. During the 50-minute instructional session, …

Taiwan Healthcare Professionals' Perception, Attitudes, And Experience About Balint Groups: A Two-Stage Pilot Study, Ing-Tiat Tiunn, Chung-Han Ho

Journal of Medical Education

Background: Balint groups have been widely implemented to support medical training in many countries. However, no empirical study has yet been conducted in Taiwan to evaluate their effectiveness.

Methods: An introductory presentation on Balint groups was held at a medical center in southern Taiwan, followed by a survey assessing attendees' perceptions and attitudes toward Balint work. Subsequently, a six-session Balint group was offered to healthcare professionals who volunteered to participate. All participants completed the 25-item Resilience Scale before and after the intervention. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data.

Results: A total of 44 healthcare professionals attended …

An Innovative, Structured Standardized Patient Training Model For Gender Diversity: Curriculum Design And Preliminary Evaluation, Yu-Wen Wang, Ching-Ting Lien, Ching-Chung Lin, Chau-Shoun Lee, Min-Shu Wang

Journal of Medical Education

Background: Despite increasing emphasis in medical education, LGBTQ clinical sensitivity and care competencies remain insufficient. This study developed a structured Standardized Patient (SP) training model replacing traditional lecturing. It aims to alleviate role boundary blurring and psychological stress SPs face with highly sensitive topics while enhancing their professional comprehension.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate a structured SP training model that integrates psychological safety mechanisms to mitigate role confusion and stress in handling gender diversity topics, while enhancing SPs' professional role interpretation and cultural sensitivity.

Method: The course was implemented through systematic integration of the ``Introspection, Empathy, Deconstruction'' three-phase model: (1) …

Practice Readiness In Occupational Therapy Graduates From A Bachelor's Training Program: A Multi-Stakeholder Study In Taiwan, Kuan-Yi Li, Chi-Min Yang, Chi-Hsuan Chen, Rou-Shayn Chen, Hsiang-Han Huang

Journal of Medical Education

Introduction: The transition from academic education to clinical practice is a critical challenge for new occupational therapy (OT) graduates. While most Western countries have adopted master's or doctoral entry-level into the profession, bachelor's-level OT training remains the mainstream in Asia. This raises questions about whether such programs adequately prepare graduates for today's complex clinical environments. This study examined the preparedness of OT graduates under bachelor-level training by exploring the alignment between educational experiences and workplace expectations from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders.

Methods: A total of 547 respondents, including recent graduates, clinical educators, practicing occupational therapists, and heads of occupational …

Towards State Legislative Codification Of The Wpath Soc Guidelines, Suresh Hanubal

Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy Sidebar

Transgender rights have increasingly come under assault in the United States. As of early 2026, twenty-seven states have passed either bans or restrictions on access to gender-affirming care. The issue has also become a central focus at the federal level. The U.S. Supreme Court decided United States v. Skrmetti, a case concerning the legality of state restrictions on gender-affirming care, in the 2024 – 2025 term. Moreover, the second Trump administration has been clear that rolling back transgender rights, including access to gender-affirming care, is a priority. In this political environment, where access to gender-affirming care in the United States …

Dissociative Identity Disorder And The Creation Of The Court Forensic Psychologist, Sarah Nicole Peacock

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Turkish Hearths From A Sporting Perspective: Construction Of National Identity In Geographical Regions, Alpay Aydoğdu, Merve Güney, Hacı Ali Çakici, Burkay Cevahiṙ Ciȯ Ğ

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Turkish Hearths played an important role in the institutionalisation of Turkish nationalism in the final years of the Ottoman Empire and the early years of the Republic. The process began with the establishment of the Turkish Association in 1908, the Turkish Homeland Society in 1911, and the Turkish Power Society in 1913, and was strengthened with the establishment of the Turkish Ocağı. Turkish Hearths focused on sports activities with the aim of supporting the physical and mental development of Turkish youth, reviving national consciousness, and ensuring social unity. Sports branches operating in seven geographical regions promoted sports suitable for the …

Factors Affecting Older Adult Adjustment At A Health Promoting Hospital In Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, Onuma Kaewkerd, Yuttachai Chaiyasit, Phensiri Dumrongpakapakorn, Nuttiya Prommasaka Na Sakonnakhon

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Elderly adjustment influences quality of life and well-being and informs appropriate health promotion, holistic care, and health services. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the adaptation of older adults by focusing on a study conducted at Dong Kwang Health Promoting Hospital in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. A cross-sectional design was used for the study. The sample consisted of 100 older adults and were selected for data collection from March 22, 2023, to April 20, 2023. The research instruments consisted of questionnaires assessing personal information, spiritual well-being, stress, perceived self-care abilities of older adults, quality of life, and older …

Book Review Of Hidden Suicides And Fatal Overdoses: A Forward Path Author: Ian Rockett. Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. 2026. 271 Pages., Roger Clark

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.