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Essays In Applied Microeconomics, William Cunningham

Economics Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contributes to three interconnected areas of economic research: microeconomics, behavioral economics, and urban economics. Each chapter examines how individual decision-making processes may produce more pronounced economic patterns, while highlighting the role of psychological factors and spatial considerations in shaping outcomes. Chapter 1 studies the causes and dynamics of segregation in US neighborhoods. A conditional instrumental variables estimator allows for unbiased estimation of preferences for past neighborhood minority shares by addressing endogeneity concerns present in my theoretical model. I use estimated preference parameters to simulate neighborhood population dynamics for Texas. I regress measures of racial animus and xenophobia on …

Improving Medication Adherence Among Patients With Anxiety, Abong Miyeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Addres+D14sing medication non-adherence among patients with anxiety disorders is crucial in nursing practice due to its significant impact on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. This doctoral project explores the effectiveness of staff education in enhancing nurses' skills in promoting medication adherence within this population. The practice-focused question for this project is "What evidence supports the effectiveness of a staff education program in increasing nursing staff knowledge about evidence-based strategies for improving medication adherence among patients with anxiety disorders?" The purpose of this doctoral project is to investigate the effectiveness of staff education interventions in improving medication adherence among individuals with …

Faculty And Administrators' Perspectives Of Generative Artificial Intelligence At An Online Higher Education Institution, Devon Edmund

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that faculty and administrators in higher education are not prepared to address the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) innovations in institutional policies and practices. The pace of advancement of GAI in higher education (HE) left institutions to determine policies and practices without industry best practices or guidelines established by accreditors or regulatory bodies. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of faculty and administrators at an online HE institution on how to respond to the emergence of GAI through institutional policies and practices. The theory supporting the study …

Supporting Young Learners With Disabilities In Inclusive Classrooms: A Toolkit For General Education Teachers, Emily M. Raleigh

Masters Projects

Many young elementary students with disabilities often experience difficulty maintaining engagement in their learning and managing their emotions in general education classrooms. These challenges can have a negative influence on their ability to interact with their peers, develop foundational academic skills, and feel a sense of belonging. At the same time, many general educators report a lack of effective training, strategies, and confidence in implementing supports to students with disabilities, particularly in the areas of self-regulation and engagement. This project responds to this issue through the creation of a visual support toolkit developed for use in inclusive early elementary classrooms. …

Opening The Black-Box Of Mental Disorders: An Actor-Network Theory Analysis Of Schizophrenia, Brandalyn Morris

McNair Scholars Manuscripts

Schizophrenia is a poorly understood mental dysfunction. It is culturally specific and encompasses several disease entities that defy robust classification. Using a few of the methodological notions from Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network Theory (ANT), this research seeks to disambiguate schizophrenia. The scope and focus of this examination will be restricted to three actors/actants within the assemblage of this mental disorder. By appropriating tools and terminology from ANT to reveal human and non-human actors and actants within the DSM classification system, the medical model of mental illness, and psychopharmacology, the objective of this research is to describe how the current concept of …

Consequences Of The Double Empathy Problem Within The Clinical Environment: A New Model For Neuroinclusive Care, Sofia Jimenez

Theses and Dissertations

As diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rise, the neurodiversity and autistic self-advocacy movements have challenged traditional deficit-based clinical models and called for more inclusive, affirming approaches to care. Recent research disputes the long-held belief that autistic individuals have deficits in perspective-taking, revealing that miscommunication between autistic and neurotypical individuals results from mutual misunderstanding, a concept known as the double empathy problem (DEP; Milton, 2012), with the triple empathy problem (TEP) extending this framework to healthcare settings. Our study investigates the consequences of the DEP and TEP within clinical environments, focusing on interactions between neurotypical speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and adult …

Genetic Overlap Between Functional Impairment And Depression And Anxiety Symptom Severity: Evidence From The Glad Study, Megan Skelton, Jessica Mundy, Abigail Ter Kuile, Brett Adey, Cherie Armour, Joshua Buckman, Jonathan Coleman, Molly Davies, Colette R. Hirsch, Matthew Hotopf, Ian Jones, Gursharan Kalsi, Georgina Krebs, Sang Hyuck Lee, Yuhao Lin, Andrew M. Mcintosh, Alicia J. Peel, Christopher Rayner, Katharine Rimes, Daniel J. Smith, Katherine N. Thompson, David Veale, James T.R. Walters, Christopher Hübel, Gerome Breen, Thalia C. Eley

School of Psychology

BACKGROUND: Functional impairment in daily activities, such as work and socializing, is part of the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and most anxiety disorders. Despite evidence that symptom severity and functional impairment are partially distinct, functional impairment is often overlooked. To assess whether functional impairment captures diagnostically relevant genetic liability beyond that of symptoms, we aimed to estimate the heritability of, and genetic correlations between, key measures of current depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment.

METHODS: In 17,130 individuals with lifetime depression or anxiety from the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study, we analyzed total scores …

Real-Time Experiences Of Racism And Stress In Association With Postpartum Weight Retention: A Longitudinal Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Dara M Méndez, Amanda L Tapia, Sarah A Sanders, Andrea D Casas, Marquita Smalls, Esa M Davis, Stephen L Rathbun, Tiffany L Gary-Webb, Lora E Burke, Serwaa S Omowale, Linda A Adodoadji, John J Gianakas, Y Lai, Maisa Feghali, Meredith L Wallace

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Racial inequities in postpartum weight have been documented with limited studies on the influences of racism and other forms of discrimination. In a prospective longitudinal study applying ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and ambulatory assessment of weight, we measured the association between discrimination, stress, and postpartum weight change. The Postpartum Mothers Mobile Study is a cohort of 313 pregnant and birthing individuals who were followed during their second and third trimesters through 1 year postpartum. They were recruited in clinical settings between 2017 and 2020 in a major city center in Pennsylvania. Measures of racism and gender-based discrimination were collected via …

Students Lack Effective Collaboration Skills, Robin E. Vanderwel

Masters Projects

It has been seen through field experience and through research that students lack the ability to effectively learn through collaboration. The research has shown that there tends to be a lack of authentic learning when using collaboration projects/activities because students do not possess the skills that are needed to collaborate effectively. The ability to collaborate needs to be explicitly taught through modeling and scaffolding. This project examines research on the importance of collaborative learning and the required skills that students need to be successful. The project used research to develop a professional development session that allows teachers to see the …

Coming Out And Social Acceptance: Understanding Lgbtq Veterans' Minority Stressors, Conrado Augustine Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study explored the experiences of LGBTQ veterans residing in Ohio, examining the relationship between the coming out process, social acceptance, and minority stress. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) military veterans face higher rates of minority stressors, resulting in higher rates of suicidal ideation and mental health issues, which impact healthcare practices that affirm their identity. Discrimination, microaggressions, coming out, identity disclosure, and social belonging were identified as key contributing factors. Guided by Meyer’s minority stress theory, the study aimed to assess whether levels of outness, and identification with the LGBTQ community correlated with experiences of minority …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Assessment, Josie Weber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was focused on a staff education initiative to enhance the proper use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a validated depression screening tool, in an outpatient behavioral health (OBH) clinic. Despite its clinical utility, the PHQ-9 is often underused or inconsistently applied due to knowledge gaps among nursing staff. Inconsistent screening can delay diagnosis and treatment, negatively affecting patient outcomes. I conducted this project to address these gaps by implementing structured training to promote high-quality, patient-centered care. The practice-focused question was: Does a structured PHQ-9 training session improve staff knowledge in an outpatient behavioral health clinic, as …

Socioeconomic Determinants Of Depression And Anxiety Disorders In Puerto Ricans Living On The Island And The Mainland, Herman Alvarado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows that, among Hispanics, depression and anxiety disorders are the two most prevalent mental disorders, particularly for Puerto Ricans. The socioecological model approaches mental health conditions from a perspective where multiple levels in society influence health-related behaviors. Based on this approach, this quantitative study looked at how socioeconomic factors - marital status, education, employment, and residential status were related to a diagnosis of depression or anxiety in Puerto Ricans. This study also explored whether there were differences between two groups of Puerto Ricans: those living on the island compared to those living in the 50 states. Analysis was conducted …

Perceptions Of Nonclinical Healthcare Executives On Advancing Physical Therapists Into Executive Healthcare Leadership Positions, Lindsey Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare professionals often aspire to transition beyond clinical roles into organizational leadership. In particular, physical therapists may seek executive leadership opportunities beyond rehabilitation departments. However, there is limited understanding of how nonclinical healthcare executives perceive physical therapists advancing into these roles. This qualitative study aimed to understand nonclinical healthcare executives' perceptions regarding physical therapists’ advancement to executive healthcare leadership positions. The study was guided by new institutional theory and Level 5 leadership theory and addressed four research questions to explore these perceptions in depth. A general qualitative methodology was employed, with data collected through semistructured, virtual interviews with eight nonclinical …

Helping Families Learn About Social Emotional Learning, Madalyn Ross

Masters Projects

Having developmentally appropriate social-emotional skills is an essential component of a growing child, yet many children lack the social-emotional skills necessary to be successful in the classroom. Families play an important role in the development of a child, but research shows that there are significant gaps in the knowledge and use of social-emotional learning (SEL) that families have. This project explores the importance of family involvement and knowledge surrounding SEL by looking at certain aspects that hinder SEL growth, such as trauma and excessive screen time, and aspects that help children excel in SEL development, such as teacher education and …

Association Between Allostatic Load And Accelerated White Matter Brain Aging: Findings From The Uk Biobank, Li Feng, Zhenyao Ye, Zewen Du, Yezhi Pan, Travis Canida, Hongjie Ke, Song Liu, Shuo Chen, L Elliot Hong, Peter Kochunov, Jie Chen, David K Y Lei, Edmond Shenassa, Tianzhou Ma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

White matter (WM) brain age, a neuroimaging-derived biomarker indicating WM microstructural changes, helps predict dementia and neurodegenerative disorder risks. The cumulative effect of chronic stress on WM brain aging remains unknown. In this study, we assessed cumulative stress using a multi-system composite allostatic load (AL) index based on inflammatory, anthropometric, respiratory, lipidemia, and glucose metabolism measures, and investigated its association with WM brain age gap (BAG), computed from diffusion tensor imaging data using a machine learning model, among 22 951 European ancestries aged 40 to 69 (51.40% women) from UK Biobank. Linear regression, Mendelian randomization, along with inverse probability weighting, …

Perspectives On Career Advising At A Large Private Religious Institution, Lane Toshio Muranaka

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the role of career advising at Brigham Young University (BYU), a faith-based institution where professional guidance focuses on spiritual development and purpose-driven learning. Through qualitative interviews with career advisors across various disciplines, the research explores how advisors define student success, integrate faith into their advising practices, and support students in aligning their career aspirations with personal meaning and the university's religious mission. Grounded in the belief that holistic education fosters lifelong success, BYU emphasizes the development of the "total person," including moral and spiritual dimensions. Findings reveal that student success is not solely measured by employment outcomes …

Examining The Factor Structure And Correlates Of The Flourishing-At-Work Scale In United States School Psychologists, Nikita Pike

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Despite moderate levels of stress and burnout in their work, school psychologists in the United States tend to be satisfied with their jobs. Although researchers have addressed why school psychologists view their work as important, there is yet another important feature of the workplace that has not been examined in this population: flourishing at work. This study aimed to enhance the understanding of flourishing at work in school psychologists by examining an existing scale, the Flourishing-at-Work Scale, completed online by a national sample of United States school psychologists. Data from a sample of 369 practicing school psychologists were used in …

Examining The Active Ingredients In An Anti-Stigma Intervention For Individuals With A Criminal History, Kaylee Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Obtaining employment is key to successful reintegration for people who have been incarcerated. However, employers are often hesitant to hire formerly incarcerated persons due to general negative attitudes toward them and concern that they will not exhibit positive work behaviors. Interventions to reduce general types of stigma exist, with primary strategies involving education and/or contact. Most research examining the effectiveness of stigma-reducing strategies largely focus on reducing identity-based stigma (e.g., race, mental illness), with limited research on reducing choice-based stigma, such as those with criminal histories. However, regardless of targeted stigma, there is no consensus regarding which intervention format (i.e., …

A Critical Seat At The Table: A Qualitative Examination Of Resiliency And Retention Among Black School Psychologists, Jasric Bland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

As discussions on systemic racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in education increase, advocacy for Black students is essential, as their voices are often undervalued (Anderson & Graham, 2015). School psychologists play a crucial role in decisions that affect students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being, yet the challenge of increasing Black representation in the field persists (Goforth et al., 2021; Grapin et al., 2016; Proctor et al., 2017), making advocacy and representation a challenge. This raises an important question about retaining Black practitioners within school psychology, however, research on the resiliency and retention of Black school psychologists remains limited. Further studies …

Predictors Of Sanction Length Following Correctional Disciplinary Hearings: The Role Of Individual Characteristics, Misconduct Type, And Placement In Segregation, Jade Renee Horton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Misconduct by incarcerated individuals is a significant threat to institutional safety. While research has highlighted discrepancies in who engages or who is reported as engaging in misconduct and suggests staff biases may impact disciplinary decisions, available research tends to narrowly focus on the use of disciplinary segregation as an outcome and often neglects other potential disciplinary outcomes that are less serious and the predictors of those outcomes. The current study examined predictors of the seriousness of outcomes, measured in length (weeks) of imposed sanction, of disciplinary hearings. It was hypothesized that those who are identified as Black, with a serious …

Gender And Sexuality In Homeschooling: An Analysis Of Gender Constructs And Sexual Behaviors Within Homeschooling Communities, Hannah Grace Badley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Homeschooling has grown increasingly popular as a form of alternative education both in the United States and globally. However, research examining the public health implications of this homeschooling is minimal, especially research focusing on sexual behaviors and gender identity development. Similarly, research on homeschooling tends to focus on the caregivers' or parents' perceptions or motivations to homeschool, as opposed to centering the experiences and voices of those who are or were homeschooled. Because of this, very little is known about the ways homeschooled youth experience sexual health education, how gender identity development occurs, and how homeschoolers access reproductive healthcare. To …

Matters Of The Heart And Mind: Cardiovascular And Psychosocial Risk Factors For Cognitive Impairment And Dementia Among Older Adults In The Us, Markquest Jarius Ajoku

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Cognitive function decline has been associated with cardiovascular and psychosocial factors. The resulting cognitive impairment and dementia (CID), including Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia, impose a significant burden among older adults (aged 65 or older), which is expected to increase by 55% or more. CID affected 20% of older adults in the US, and the risk of CID doubles every five years after age 65. This study examined the impact of heart diseases or stroke, depressive symptoms in middle-age, and loneliness on the risk of CID among older adults in the US. We conducted a longitudinal study using the …

The Shorthorn: August 16, 1968

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: July 5, 1968

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: January 12, 1968

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: February 16, 1968

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: November 10, 1967

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: November 17, 1967

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: October 20, 1967

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: October 6, 1967

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1960s

No abstract provided.