Digital Commons Network^™

Association Of Body Mass Index With Gait Dynamics And Fall Risk In College Students, Diego Diaz-Vega, Heontae Kim, Ho Han, Jungyu Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Although falls are typically associated with older adults, identifying early indicators of fall risk among young populations may help prevent future mobility decline. Because body mass index (BMI) is a modifiable factor that can influence balance and gait stability, understanding its role in early fall risk is important. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in fall risk and gait characteristics across BMI categories in college students. METHODS: Fifteen college students participated in this study and were classified into normal, overweight, or obese groups according to BMI. Fall risk was assessed using the Fall Risk Assessment …

Enhancing Dispositional Mindfulness And Emotion Regulation In Youth Athletes Via A Breathwork And Visualization Intervention, Imare Tasby, Louis Hein, Rene Barbier, Kenia Gonzalez, Mei-Jing Ang, Sven Hoekstra, Kelvin Wu

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Competitive youth sports impose significant psychological demands, often leading to stress and maladaptive emotional regulation. Dispositional mindfulness protects against burnout, yet practical interventions for youth athletes are scarce. Breathwork and visualization offer a physiological gateway to emotional control, but their efficacy in this population is unclear. PURPOSE: This study examined the efficacy of a 12-week breathwork and visualization intervention on dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal vs. expressive suppression) in adolescent soccer players. METHODS: Twenty-seven athletes were initially recruited from Soccer Central San Antonio. Following 5 dropouts (1 intervention, 4 control), a final sample of 22 participants …

The Effect Of A 12-Week Breathwork And Visualization Intervention On Inhibitory Control And Cognitive Flexibility In Adolescent Soccer Players, Louis Hein, Jace Nicolet, Tiffany Gomez, Mei-Jing Ang, Sven Hoekstra, Kelvin C. Wu

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Cognitive inhibition and flexibility are essential for soccer performance, enabling players to adapt to dynamic environments. However, accumulated season fatigue often degrades these executive functions. The Neurovisceral Integration Model posits that prefrontal cognitive function is linked to cardiac vagal tone, suggesting that autonomic regulation may support inhibitory control. While breathwork is known to enhance autonomic regulation, its potential to preserve cognitive function in youth athletes is untested. PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of a 12-week breathwork and visualization protocol on inhibitory control (Stroop) and cognitive flexibility (Task-Switching) in adolescent soccer players. METHODS: Athletes were recruited from Soccer Central San …

Cross-Validating The Healthy Step Length Equation: Evaluating Prediction Accuracy In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Jungyu Lee, Ho Han, Heontae Kim, Diego Diaz-Vega

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Step length is a key indicator of gait efficiency and mobility in older adults, closely associated with fall risk, frailty, and overall health. However, most available prediction equations are based solely on height or have not undergone empirical validation, which limits their precision and applicability in aging populations. PURPOSE: This study aimed to cross-validate the newly developed Healthy Step Length Equation, which incorporates age, sex, height, weight, and walking speed, by comparing it with three commonly used height-based models to evaluate its predictive accuracy, and clinical relevance in older adults. METHODS: A total of 174 healthy, community-dwelling adults …

Mental Effort Responses To Low Cognitive Load Stimuli During Euhydrated Versus Hypohydrated Fatigue State, Austin Dunn, Lily Hargrove, James Rowe, Luis Aguerrevere, Eric Jones

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Improper body water regulation contributes to physiological changes, affects mood states, and impacts regulation of behavioral responses. With improvements in eye tracking technology (fixation duration and pupil diameter), the ability to quantify focal points and mental effort has expanded greatly. PURPOSE: To examine the effects that fatigue states and hydration, (euhydrated (Eu) vs. hypohydrated (Hypo)), has on average fixation duration and pupil diameter using five separate low cognitive load hydration stimuli. METHODS: Six college aged males underwent two trials of active fatigue/dehydration in an environmental chamber at 35℃ until 2% body water loss was achieved. Fluid restriction and ad-libitum consumption …

Exploring A Live-Streamed Audience’S Impact On Performance, Rating Of Perceived Exertion, And Social Physique Anxiety During The Ymca Bench Press Test, Daimien J. Campos, Amber M. Shipherd, Christopher M. Hearon

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The presence of an audience impacts exercise performance, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and social physique anxiety (SPA) through self-presentation theory. Research has found physical audiences influence exercise performance, RPE, and SPA, whereas recorded digital audiences show increased SPA but no changes to performance or RPE. Given audience visibility appears necessary for these changes to occur, live-streaming platforms, an unexplored area in research, may offer a viable alternative by providing real-time viewer feedback. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a live-streamed audience on physically active males’ and females’ exercise performance, RPE, and SPA during a YMCA bench press test. METHODS: …

Do Different Practice Approaches Affect Intrinsic Motivation Based On A Goal-Directed Behavior?, Elissa D. Torres-Colon, Anthony W. Fava, Emily J. Sauers

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Optimizing motivation leads to enhanced motor performance and improved psychological health in human performers. However, the influence of the type of practice approach on intrinsic motivation among softball pitchers when they learn new pitches is less clear. PURPOSE: To compare intrinsic motivation in adolescent softball pitchers following a practice session using two different practice approaches. METHODS: Fifty adolescent-aged softball pitchers seeking to obtain a breaking pitch (drop ball) were randomly assigned into two practice designs, each with the same goal-directed behavior of “creating as much downward vertical break on the ball as possible.” One group practiced using a …

Impacts Of Perceived Trauma On Occupational Performance Among Firefighters And Law Enforcement Officers, Pedro Caniz, Ashley Khanhkham, Steven E. Martin, Lisa C. Colvin, Michael Conner, Drew Gonzalez

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

First responders (FRs) frequently face traumatic incidents, which can lead to posttraumatic stress, emotional exhaustion, and decreased job performance. Although tactical teams are more vulnerable to trauma-related mental health problems, there is limited research on how perceived trauma and coping self-efficacy influence perceived barriers to seeking help. PURPOSE: To assess perceived trauma exposure, symptom severity, coping self-efficacy, and help-seeking barriers among U.S. FRs. METHODS: A nationwide online survey was distributed via email and social media to recruit active FRs. The survey collected demographic data, years of service, trauma exposure, the PTSD Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5), and the …

Administering Sustainability: How Trust In Government And Managerial Support Strengthen Green Core Competence And Organizational Advantage, Mohammed Hassan, Nassr Mohammed Ali, Methaq M. Alisaa

AUIQ Humanities and Social Sciences

This study examines how green core competence contributes to competitive advantage in Iraqi firms, and how this relationship depends on both organizational and governance conditions. Drawing on the Resource-Based View, the Job Demands–Resources model, and stakeholder theory, the study tests a mediation–moderation model in which positive mental health mediates the effect of green core competence on competitive advantage, while trust in government and top management support strengthen key links in the process. Using survey data from top-management respondents in Iraq and partial least squares structural equation modeling, the results show that green core competence is positively associated with competitive advantage, …

Behavioural–Personality Framework For Adaptive E-Learning, Hisham Al Ghunaimi

AUIQ Humanities and Social Sciences

Purpose: This study examines the limited integration of behavioural theory—specifically the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)—in the design of e-learning systems. MBTI is considered because personality variation influences learner motivation, engagement, and behavioural responses, yet most digital platforms rely on uniform instructional strategies. The study focuses on higher-education e-learning, where behavioural disengagement and psychological strain are increasingly reported.

Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative conceptual content-analysis approach is used to synthesise secondary evidence from peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and institutional reports (2015–2024). The analysis identifies three theoretical categories—behavioural reinforcement, personality-based differentiation, and adaptive learning interaction—which shape the proposed behavioural–personality framework.

Findings: Three core patterns …

Quality Improvement Project: Leveling Pharmacology: A Faculty Development Initiative, Allison Berg

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to address limited faculty self-efficacy in developing higher-level, competency-based pharmacology questions for clinical quizzes within an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. A faculty needs assessment identified an overreliance on recall-based pharmacology assessments, contributing to gaps in students’ clinical reasoning and medication competency. Guided by Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy and Lewin’s Change Theory, a structured faculty development session was implemented to improve faculty confidence and skills in writing application-based pharmacology questions. A pre- post intervention design was used with ADN faculty participants (N = 5) at a …

Designing A Systemic Intervention For Student Loneliness And Social Connectedness Using A Mixed-Methods, Co-Creation Approach, Sophie Homer, Jackie Andrade, Jon May, Edward Meinert, Madison Milne-Ives, Onshell Relf, Alvise Rogers, Emily Cornford, Rebecca Richardson

School of Psychology

Loneliness and social (dis)connectedness are significant public health concerns, particularly among university students. Despite calls to reconceptualise loneliness as a systemic issue, interventions typically target individual students. This series of studies used a sequential mixed-methods and participatory action approach to explore students’ social experiences and co-design a digital health solution. Focus groups (Study One) and a survey (Study Two) revealed that students see universities as partly responsible for their social connectedness, with perceptions of campus space being key. These insights informed the co-design of MAPP (Study Three), a preventative, system-focused digital solution. MAPP is an interactive campus map that visualises …

Development Of Professional Identity In Medical Students Through Interprofessional Simulation: A Qualitative Study, Louis Fiander, Marie Bryce, Thomas Gale

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundProfessional identity development in doctors is associated with confidence, resilience and alignment with professional values. Empirical study has found that Interprofessional Simulation-based Education (IPSE) is associated with professional identity development in medical students but does not demonstrate how. An IPSE curriculum is in place within the University of Plymouth medical curriculum. Using reflexive thematic analysis of participating medical student's interview data, subsequently triangulated with theory from sociological and psychological literature, potential mechanisms of professional identity development through IPSE are discussed and implications for educational design explored.MethodsA qualitative approach was adopted utilising semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 …

Social Media And Health Disinformation, Ammar Haroon, Emily Sarmiento

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

In our presentation, we looked at how social media acts as a facilitator of health disinformation. In particular, we looked at the strategies that social media platforms use and how that contributes to health disinformation online.

The Dangers Of Science Denial: Creationism And Cult Organization, Elizabeth Sherman

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

In this research, my evaluation of my evidence led me to claim that the same factors that contribute to poor mental health outcomes in former cult members are present in the Young Earth Creationist(YEC) movement, suggesting that former YEC members may face similar mental health risks. I concluded this claim by evaluating to what extent the YEC movement’s organizational structure compared to that of cults, as defined by social psychologist Alexandra Stein, in order to evaluate if the same structures that led to negative mental health outcomes in cult members existed within the YEC movement. My evaluation led me to …

Strategies Of Science Denial In Contemporary Politics, Yumi Li

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My presentation applies the FLICC acronym to different sources of science denial during the COVID-19 pandemic and Trump's handling of it.

Scrolling For Meaning: How Social Media Influence Young People’S Spirituality And Trust In Scientific Authority, Archna Yadav

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project examines how social media and secular digital culture influence the spiritual growth, moral values, and trust in science among young people. My claim is that social media acts like a parallel source of authority, shaping ideas about meaning, morality, and truth. Evidence from studies shows that many young people now form personal belief systems by blending religious ideas, secular practices, and even pseudo-scientific claims. The warrant is that online algorithms, influencers, emotional content, and identity-based communities strongly guide what youth believe. As a result, spiritual and moral formation is increasingly shaped by digital platforms rather than traditional institutions.

Faith And Evidence: Can Religious Belief And Science Coexist? An Investigation Of Galileo’S Discoveries And The Heliocentric Model, Amelia Atia

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My research project focuses on the middle ground between science and religion. I focused on Galileo’s discoveries and how he experienced backlash due to his Heliocentric model, since it contradicted religious beliefs. By studying Gaileo’s model, I was able to better understand the concept of science denial. I have proposed that there’s a middle ground between science and faith. This is supported by Tycho Brahe, as he was able to propose a theory that still accepted the Geocentric model as it is applied to the physical world and also accepted the Heliocentric model as it applies to the natural world.

Manufacturing Doubt: How The Conservative Movement Shaped American Climate Denial, Bjorn Anderson

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The American conservative movement has used its power to spread climate change denial through organizational infrastructure, psychological exploitation, and sustained messaging campaigns, producing measurable polarization in public opinion. I reference articles which document the organizational infrastructure of the movement, which study psychological mechanisms that explain conservative receptiveness to climate denial, and which detail the resulting shift in societal beliefs through data analysis and polling. These sources establish a relationship between the deliberate campaign from corporations and conservative leaders and resulting increases in climate change denial.

How Does Language Learning Work?, Luis Wiley

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Major Pressure, Emma Scudero

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Learning To Learn: The Value Of General Education Courses, Trefor Szabo

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Old School Is Back In Style, Rachel Semple

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Death With Dignity: A Human Right, Crystal Loza

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

The Underdog, Rachel Semple

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

From Hell To Heaven, Mary Hildeburn

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Opened Arms, Open Hearts, Rachel Semple

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Learning With Ai: The ‘Icing On The Cake’ Approach, Ejike Okonkwo

Essays in Education

Drawing on a narrative review based on inductive thematic analysis, this paper examines the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The analysis shows that while AI offers useful educational benefits, they often come into conflict with concerns about how AI affects learning, including risks of overreliance and potential constraints on learners’ critical thinking and creative capacities. Consequently, the paper develops the “icing on the cake” conceptual framework, which conceptualizes AI adoption as non-linear and positions AI as a complementary tool rather than a substitute for human learning. The framework is grounded in reflection, metacognition, and skill development, and …

The Counseling Experiences Of Gifted Adults, Kelli Busbee, Theodore Remley

Adultspan Journal

In this transcendental phenomenological study, we followed the traditions of Moustakas and explored the counseling experiences of adults who had been identified as gifted during their school years and had experienced counseling for issues related to anxiety, depression, perfectionism, or hypersensitivity. We identified the following themes after interviewing participants: (1) growing up gifted; (2) challenges for gifted individuals at the college level; (3) living with anxiety and depression as a gifted adult; (4) medication and tools used by gifted adults; (5) being a perfectionist and dealing with hypersensitivity as a gifted adult; (6) experiences in counseling as a gifted adult; …

Impact Of Brøset Violence Checklist On Safety Events In A Mental Health Unit, Maritess B. Bernardo, Catherine Mann

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Practice Problem: There is an increased global risk of violence among health workers (WHO, 2023) that may result to physical, emotional, and psychological harm to patients and staff; resulting in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, increased medical costs, and victim mortality (Grossman & Choucair, 2019). Workplace violence (WPV) involving patients, families, and healthcare workers is an escalating public concern (Bellman et al., 2022). Mental health facilities are at a higher risk for the occurrence of safety events (Hawkins & Ghaziri, 2022). The mental health unit had a monthly average of 17.33 incidents in 2022 and 14 occurrences pre-implementation in the adult …