Digital Commons Network^™

Describing The Lived Experiences Of Professional School Counselors: Providing And Advocating For Services To Address Childhood Trauma, Toawondia T. Underwood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The professional school counselor’s role is to enhance student success by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. Professional school counselors often focus on addressing the needs of students impacted by trauma, who exhibit increased absences, behavioral challenges, and diminished academic performance. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to understand the lived experiences of professional school counselors providing and advocating for services to address childhood trauma. The American School Counselor (ASCA) National Model served as the structural framework, and the theory guiding this study was Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. The research engaged 15 practicing professional school counselors from …

Qualitative Evaluation Of Eeg Neurofeedback For Anxiety In Adults, Leah M. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders globally, yet many treatment options are inaccessible, ineffective for some, or lack long-term efficacy. One treatment for with substantial research support is neurofeedback, though it remains categorized as an experimental treatment and is underutilized in clinical practice. The qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of adults who received neurofeedback treatment for anxiety. The purpose was to understand participants’ perceptions of neurofeedback’s efficacy and the interactive effects of neurofeedback and psychotherapy. Data were collected from two Oregon clinics that offer Neurofeedback and from students at Liberty University. An open-ended survey …

The Impact Of Psychological Well-Being, Gratitude, And Self-Efficacy On Resiliency In High School Students: A Predictive Correlational Study, Jennifer Nevard-Blanco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational study was to examine the impact of psychological well-being, gratitude, and self-efficacy on resiliency in high school students in a northeastern state. This study is important because the promotion of positive psychological factors such as gratitude, self-efficacy, and psychological well-being have been identified as predictors of increased resilience, buffering the negative effects of stressors and adverse circumstances. The sample was composed of 110 high school students from a public school in the northeastern part of the United States. Data was collected using four self-report instruments: Ryff's Psychological Well-being 18-item scale, the Gratitude Questionnaire …

Public Safety Injuries: Treatment And Organizational Support Variations Experienced By Injured Employees, Patrick S. Daugherty Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Public safety employees work in an environment characterized by a greater risk of injury than the workplaces of employees engaged in other professions. The deterioration of trust in public safety workers has increased both the violence against them and their risk of injury, negatively affecting their retention and recruitment efforts. The effect is exhausted and overworked employees who answer an increasing call volume with less resources, resulting in greater stress and frustration. Frustration can be expressed with negativity and isolation toward accommodated employees while they attempt to recover from their injuries. This phenomenon raises the question of “What treatment variations …

Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselors’ Perspective Of Parental Engagement And Involvement, Dominique Rose Lynn Woods

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to describe Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselors' (TDTCs) lived experiences with parental engagement and involvement (PEI) for TDTCs, within their professional collaborations in Virginia. The study focused on a specific aspect of TDTC’s lived experience: their perspective of PEI. Several theories were reviewed as a foundation for research development. Bronfenbrenner's (1979) Ecological Systems Theory has been an essential component of the research, as it emphasized that a child's development involves multiple elements of their environmental and social systems. Stroul and Friedman's (1986) Systems of Care Theory provided a foundation for understanding …

Psychological Safety And Its Impact On Teacher And Staff Morale, Yvonne R. Crace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Psychological safety is a concept that has been around since 1965. Psychological safety exists when employees feel safe to share their ideas and opinions without fear of retaliation, retribution, or belittlement. Studies on psychological safety have mainly focused on businesses and corporations and work team learning behaviors. In recent years, it has become evident that psychological safety is needed in additional types of industries, including all stages of education, from primary to graduate school. In education, teachers and staff often feel isolated and have concerns about voicing their opinions which creates relational stress and conflict, thus lowering staff morale. This …

A Study Of The Relationship Between The Stress Responses From Rehearsal Preparations For Music Ensemble Performance Evaluations And Performing Arts Adolescents’ Working Memory, Gregory Thomas Minter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The organization of memory retrieval is vital to the association between stress responses and negative educational achievements. These stress responses offer an opportunity to study the harmful consequences of prolonged strain on the developing brain, which may impair emotional restraint, self-control, and cognitive development. However, little research considers the fundamental notions of how stress responses from rehearsals for music ensemble performance assessments impact adolescent working memory. This mixed-methods study explored how rehearsal-related stress in music ensemble settings may affect adolescents' working memory. Participants included high school students in grades nine through 12 who participated in performing arts band ensembles. The …

Bridging The Gap: Does Individual Crossfit Open Performance & Event-Type Influence Crossfit Games Team Performance?, Anthony J. Mack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individual CrossFit Open (CFO) and CrossFit Games (CFG) performance factors, including physiological metrics, sex, competitive experience, and workout pacing strategies, are well established; however, there is a gap in the literature comparing CFO and CFG team performance. The purpose of this study was to examine whether individual CFO scores and event category (i.e., monostructural, gymnastics-skill, weightlifting, or work capacity) influence a team's final score at the CFG. Teams (n = 196) from the 2018-2024 CFG seasons were included in data collection. Data from CFO workouts (n = 28) and CFG team events (n = 62) were extracted from games.crossfit.com. Scores …

Examining Perceived Leadership Effectiveness Among Secular And Christ-Centered Leaders, Koljonna S. Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Successful leadership has been studied extensively and several theories of effective leadership exist. Though there are many leadership theories that provide explanations for leader behaviors and outcomes, this study aimed to explore effective leadership that is Christ-centered and inspired by Christian faith. Research has shown that the success or failure of an organization is often dependent upon its leadership and the leader’s ability to be effective. This study proposed that the most effective leadership is reliant upon a relationship with God and an understanding of His Word. Therefore, this study examined how leaders who have Christ-centered or secular worldviews describe …

Synthetic Social Engineering Scenario Generation Using Llms For Awareness-Based Attack Resilience, Jade Webb, Faranak Abri, Sayma Akther

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Social engineering is found in a strong majority of cyberattacks today, as it is a powerful manipulation tactic that does not require the technical skills of hacking. Calculated social engineers utilize simple communication to deceive and exploit their victims, all by capitalizing on the vulnerabilities of human nature: trust and fear. When successful, this inconspicuous technique can lead to millions of dollars in losses. Social engineering is not a one-dimensional technique; criminals often leverage a combination of strategies to craft a robust yet subtle attack. In addition, offenders are continually evolving their methods in efforts to surpass preventive measures. A …

Association Of Chronic Conditions With Bladder Health In Women: Cross-Sectional Results From The Rise For Health Study, Camille P Vaughan, Gerald Mcgwin, Jean F Wyman, Siobhan Sutcliffe, Diane K Newman, Ariana L Smith, Colleen M Fitzgerald, Todd Rockwood, James Griffith, Sheila Gahagan, Alayne D Markland, Prevention Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (Plus) Research Consortium

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Women with multiple chronic conditions are more likely than women without them to report lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS); understanding the association of common and coexisting chronic conditions with bladder health across adulthood may inform prevention efforts.

METHODS: Data were collected from May 2022 through December 2023 from a regionally representative cohort of community-dwelling adult women in the US. Chronic conditions were assessed by self-report and bladder health, and LUTS were measured using validated questionnaires. Analyses were limited to women aged 40 years or older and included multivariable linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for age, body mass index, …

Health And Climate At Cop29: Advancing Integration And Bridging Research Gaps, Rupa R Patel, Yevheniia Varyvoda, Hiba Baroud, Philip J Landrigan, Aminata Kilungo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Climate and health science is a rapidly growing, interdisciplinary field and holds importance during intergovernmental climate adaptation and mitigation policy negotiations. The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convened stakeholders for negotiations and scientific discourse. This viewpoint presents insights gained by the authors' participation at COP29 focused on health and climate. The authors analyze the evolving integration of health into the UNFCCC process, dissect the contributions and the role of the Research and Independent Non‑Governmental Organizations (RINGOs), a constituency to achieve this endeavor, and identify the key …

Differences In Nurses’ Perceptions Of The Work Environment, Joanne D. Muyco, Alexis Elizabeth Hayes

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nurses play a critical role in delivering safe, high quality patient care. However, nurses continue to face staffing shortages, turnover, workplace violence, and challenging work environments. Research shows that work environments have a direct impact on nurses and the quality of care provided. Nursing leaders are in a prime position to advocate for healthy work environments that will sustain the nursing workforce and provide nurses with a workplace that is safe, empowering, and satisfying. This research study was part of a larger non-experimental descriptive study on healthy work environments. The study assessed how nurses in different professional roles within a …

Nursing Students' Lgbtq+ Healthcare Knowledge And Attitudes: A Roadmap For Interventions, Judith Bacchus Cornelius, Charlene Downing, Ryan Michael Oducado, Evangelos C. Fradelos, Riksa Wibawa Resna

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: While awareness of LGBTQ+ health needs is rising, these topics remain underrepresented in nursing curricula, often due to limited faculty preparation and absence of standardized guidelines (Dalbey, 2023; Moore et al., 2023). This educational gap affects nursing students’ readiness to care for LGBTQ+ patients, particularly in non-Western settings, where cross-cultural research is limited (Ozcan et al,, 2021; Wang et al., 2022. This study examined nursing students' knowledge and attitudes toward LGBTQ+ healthcare across five countries—the United States (U.S.), South Africa, the Philippines, Greece, and Indonesia.

Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted with 150 third-year undergraduate nursing students who …

The Universal Humanuniverse Living Experience Of Feeling Lonely: A Parsesciencing Inquiry, Maria Elizabeth Wheelock

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Feeling lonely is a universal humanuniverse living experience. Universal humanuniverse living experiences are phenomena that occur throughout a lifetime and experienced to some degree by everyone. Feeling lonely within the context of the humanbecoming paradigm is a phenomenon concerned with living quality since individuals structure personal meaning in choosing to feel lonely or not from moment to moment. Feeling lonely has not been substantially investigated within nursing.

The purposes of this inquiry were to (a) discover the discerning extant moment of feeling lonely, (b) enhance understanding of the universal humanuniverse living experience of feeling lonely, (c) add to the body …

A Systematic Review Of Symptoms In Adolescents With Ckd, Rileigh M. Fagan, Janet S. Carpenter, Heather K. Hardin, Rebecca J. Bartlett Ellis

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects an estimated 15 to 75 children and adolescents per million worldwide. As a disease and symptom multiplier, childhood CKD is burdensome and leads to decreased quality of life. It is essential to explore current knowledge of the symptom experience in adolescents with CKD to help reduce burden and improve quality of life. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore the state of the science of the symptom experiences in children and adolescents with conservatively managed CKD.

Methods: This systematic review included articles identified through searches in Scopus, PubMed, Cumulative Index to …

The Sibling Experience Of Pediatric Patients Discharged From The Picu: Qualitative Meta-Synthesis, Jessica Keller

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

A QMS was conducted to describe the sibling experiences of children discharged from the PICU to promote future research of the sibling experience and identify interventions for sibling support. The research question was: what are the experiences of siblings of children discharged from the PICU?

When a child is in the PICU, the family must face life-threatening diagnoses and difficult decisions. This stress impacts family dynamics shared by parents and children (Rennick et al., 2021). Siblings may assume additional responsibilities without having the support of their parents. Manning et al. (2017) identified siblings have unmet needs that are not fully …

Thriving As A Recent Graduate With Learning Disability: A Mixed Methods Study, Eunice Korkor Assem-Erhaze, Nicole Harder, Wanda Chernomas

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The nursing shortage is critical globally (Buchan & Catton, 2023). Several factors contribute to this, including disability. Promoting retention measures for nursing graduates, particularly those with learning disabilities (LD), helps address the nurse shortage in line with equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Federal laws mandate that academic institutions offer reasonable accommodation to students with LD to enhance their educational outcomes. However, the automatic accommodations offered to these students ‘fade away’ after graduation, although LD is a lifelong difference. Workplace stress and lack of transition support increase graduate nurse turnover, which LD exacerbates. Recent graduates with learning disabilities (RGwLD) are required …

Virtual Dementia Tour For Family Caregivers: Thematic Analysis, Zina Karana, Olimpia Paun, Amber Kujath, Ben Inventor

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose & Background: In the United States, over 90% of persons with dementia (PWD) receive assistance from family caregivers (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). Family caregivers of PWD experience greater caregiving challenges and increased burden compared to caregivers of older adults without dementia (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). Caregiver empathy increases caregiver wellbeing and reduces caregiving burden (Han, 2020). Simulation interventions have been identified as tools to effectively increase empathy (Batt-Rawden et al., 2013; Peng et al., 2020; Slater et al., 2021). The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT) simulation affected empathy levels in family caregivers of …

A Comprehensive Scoping Review On Problematic Media Use & Psychopathology In Children & Adolescents, Katelin Crane, Helene Moriarty, Guy Weissinger, Sarah Domoff, Paul Bernhardt, Sydney Harris, Sarah Hughes, Jennifer Yost

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: While existing research on psychopathology and problematic media use (PMU) in children and adolescents continues to grow and presents a complex, multifaceted issue, the direction of this relationship remains unclear. This scoping review aims to map the directionality of the relationship between PMU and psychopathology (encompassing both symptoms and diagnoses) in children and adolescents.

Methods: This scoping review examines longitudinal studies that addressed the relationship between psychopathology and PMU in children and adolescents (ages 6 to 18 years old). Searches of databases, reference lists of included studies, and relevant conference abstracts were performed to identify studies meeting the inclusion …

Using Gamified Teaching Platforms In The Medical Education Of Medical Officers And Soldiers, Ming-Huei Wang, Gui-Yun Wang, Hsiao-Yun Wu, Hung-Hsun Hsu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Health service nursing officers and soldiers are responsible for maintaining the health of both military personnel and civilians. Their training mainly focuses on classroom lectures and technical operations. With an increase in volunteers specializing in medicine and nursing, the demand for enhanced medical education has grown. Adjusting the environment and teaching models to boost learners' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation—while balancing academics and practice and incorporating military medical experts' experience—is crucial. We aim to introduce innovative teaching into traditional models to study its correlation with learning effectiveness among military medical personnel.

Methods: We replaced traditional homework assignments with a gamified …

Integrating Traditional And Modern Postpartum Care By Tai-Yuan Caregivers: A Phenomenological Study, Prangthip Thasanoh Elter, Namfon Vorawalai, Palita Phota

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Thai hospitals increasingly integrate local wisdom into postpartum care.¹ Tai-Yuan, an ethnic Tai group from the ancient Lanna Kingdom, is distinguished by their unique dialect and cultural practices that continue to thrive in various regions of Thailand.² Nakhon Ratchasima Province Thailand’s Tai-Yuan community maintain cultural practices that combine Buddhist beliefs with ancestral wisdom. While traditional practices show beneficial properties,^3-4 understanding of caregivers' experiences is limited. This research explored the experiences of caregivers providing postpartum care for Tai-Yuan women.

We employed Heidegger’s interpretative phenomenology to collect data from seven primary caregivers via semi-structured interviews. Analysis followed Interpretative Phenomenological …

New Deals In Southeast Asia: Women’S Leadership In Asean Under The Shadow Of America First, Ian Magowan

The Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development

This paper examines how ASEAN states strategically recalibrate gender governance amid U.S. hegemonic retrenchment following Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection. Bridging feminist international relations, comparative institutionalism, and political economy, it theorizes strategic gender mainstreaming—the instrumental repurposing of gender norms by states to sustain legitimacy while navigating geopolitical realignment. Using original panel data (2000–2024) and multi-model regression techniques, including fixed effects, instrumental variables, and vector autoregression, the study demonstrates that U.S. aid withdrawal produces regime-contingent effects: democratic regimes increase women’s parliamentary representation, while hybrid regimes experience decline. Contrary to linear norm diffusion theories, findings reveal that Chinese trade engagement—despite lacking explicit …

The Effectiveness Of Bibliotherapy On Improving Satisfaction With Body Image And Reducing Cognitive Biases Among A Sample Of Female Adolescents, Ahmad Al-Sharifin, Nour Bani Fayadh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bibliotherapy in improving body image and reducing cognitive biases in a sample of adolescent girls. The study sample consisted of 30 female students, who were randomly assigned to two groups. To achieve the study's objectives, two scales were used to measure satisfaction with body image and cognitive biases, alongside a student's bibliotherapy manual. The results showed an improvement in body image post-test scores among the experimental group compared to the control group. The results also indicated that cognitive biases post-test scores in the experimental group decreased from a high level to a …

The Challenges Faced By Teachers In Administering Specially Developed Classes In East Jerusalem Schools, Seham Al-Tibi, Nouwar Al-Hamad

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by teachers in administering specially developed classes in East Jerusalem schools from the teachers’ perspective. A descriptive survey approach was employed, targeting a sample of 125 male and female teachers in the region. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 57 items. Three independent variables were examined: teacher’s gender, educational stage, and years of experience. The results indicated that teachers perceived the level of challenges as high. Additionally, significant statistical differences were found at the (α = 0.05) level between the means of two domains—school administration and teacher—in relation to the …

Tv Versus Video Games: Their Distinctive Effects On Adolescent Behavior And Academic Achievement, Faiaz Rahman, Kathy L. Schuh

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

The current paper uses data collected from a publicly available, nationally representative data set to examine the effects of TV viewing and video gaming on adolescent behavioral problems and cognitive achievement. Results revealed that extended hours of TV viewing were associated with greater anxiety/depression and antisocial problems. On the other hand, extended hours of video gaming were associated with higher reading comprehension scores. Differing effects of TV viewing and gameplay by an individual’s sex was also found during the analysis. It is also important to note that the opposite effects that the two media has on outcomes, indicate that, although …

Identifying Barriers And Creating Resources To Improve Participation In Competitive Adaptive Rock Climbing, Amy C. Griswold, Susan Macdermott

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this project was to (1) identify barriers to participation in competitive adaptive rock climbing for adults with a physical disability and (2) create and distribute virtual educational resources to meet identified barriers. The need for this project was highlighted by athlete and coach self-report of limited ability to engage in competitive adaptive rock climbing, also known as paraclimbing. The sample consisted of 108 adaptive athletes, adaptive rock-climbing coaches, staff members in rock climbing gyms, and volunteers at adaptive rock-climbing events. Participants anonymously completed a ten-minute mixed methods virtual survey using Microsoft Forms. Thematic and inferential statistical analyses …

Chacahoula 2025, Volume 92, Alayna Pellegrin

Chacahoula

The 2025 issue of Chacahoula includes December 2024 and May 2025 graduating classes, as well as stunning photography student life on the banks of Bayou Desiard. With features covering students, faculty, and staff, this year's time capsule preserves an academic year in the life of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

What Motives Influence Parents’ Commitment To Their Children’S Sport Participation In The United States?, Katherine N. Alexander, Daniel J. M. Fleming, Mitchell Olsen, Travis E. Dorsch, Kat V. Adams

Human Development and Family Studies Student Research

Background: The public often places value on youth sport involvement in the United States due to its potential to foster positive outcomes for participants. Although sport parents are key socializers and provide access to appropriate participation opportunities for children, less is known about how their perceptions of their child’s motives influence their sport commitments. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to understand how parents’ perceptions of their child’s motives for sport participation were associated with time/travel sport commitments. Methods: Participants (N = 1250) were parents in the United States reporting on their child’s youth sport participation. Measures …

Holidays, Religiosity, And Democratic Attitudes, Hannah Ridge

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

Decades of research have linked religion and religiosity to support for democracy and authoritarianism. This study uses a temporal religious prime during national surveys – the European Social Survey and the National Election Survey – to identify the effect of religion on regime-type preferences. Jewish Israelis who took surveys on Friday or Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, expressed more openness to non-democratic governance. They also interpreted the word democracy in a more populist way. Furthermore, non-religious Jews were less democratic on the Sabbath and more interested in strongman rule than they were on days without the religious connotation. Similarly, more religious …