Digital Commons Network^™

How Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Mbsr) Techniques Affect Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Literature Review, Piper Ritke

Honors Theses

This literature review examines the potential effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) as a non-invasive therapeutic intervention for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Traditional treatments for OCD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP), are evidence-based but can be distressing for some patients. MBSR, originally developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, emphasizes nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts and may offer a less intrusive alternative. Three peer-reviewed studies were analyzed: a randomized controlled trial comparing MBSR with cognitive therapies, a technology-supported mindfulness intervention utilizing EEG feedback, and a case study documenting individualized MBSR treatment. All studies demonstrated reductions in …

Who's On The Phone: Effectiveness Of Cloned Vishing Messages, Katherine A. Rackliffe

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Voice cloning is increasingly used as a form of phone-based phishing attack (i.e., vishing attack). The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of voice cloning on the success rate of vishing/phishing attacks. We hypothesize that calls utilizing cloned voices are more likely to deceive recipients compared to traditional vishing calls or text messages with the same phishing content. As AI cloning is a new technology, there is not much literature on this topic. To evaluate this hypothesis, we conduct a field experiment with students in university courses who receive a message purporting to be from a professor …

Exploring The Effects Of Africana Studies On Black Undergraduate Students: A Qualitative Case Study, Lanaya M. Butler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Particularly in the context of American K-12 schools, education has been manipulated to control—rather than liberate—students through the erasure and distortion of Black history, experiences, perspectives, and capabilities. Additionally, American schools prioritize memorization and obedience while failing to equip students with critical thinking skills. As a result, students are trained to become workers rather than innovators, worldbuilders, and change-makers. For nearly a century, Black educational critics have stated that these systems were designed to subjugate Black community members through dehumanization and enslavement of the mind. These critiques are foundational to the aims of Afrocentric education which posits the life experiences …

Conceptualizing The Explanatory Fully Longitudinal Mixed Methods Case Study Design: A Demonstration With An Arithmetic Education Trial With Kindergarten Children, Menglong Cong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In employing longitudinal mixed methods designs, researchers have commonly used the fully longitudinal mixed methods design. This has occurred mostly in the health sciences but less in education. The current investigation proposes a novel longitudinal mixed methods research design, explanatory fully longitudinal mixed methods case study design. It demonstrates its potential for addressing research inquiries in educational research using the arithmetic learning trajectories datasets. This study is presented in three components. The first is a quantitative phase, selecting an exploratory case from a previous arithmetic learning trajectories study (Clements et al., 2021) for qualitative analyses based on maximizing the …

Minority Stressors And Internalizing Symptoms In Sexual And Gender Minority Adolescents: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anni R. Subar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents are at elevated risk for internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, due in part to chronic exposure to minority stress. To provide a comprehensive synthesis of this literature, we conducted a meta-analysis of 32 studies, yielding 162 effect sizes from 41,360 participants aged 8– 22. All included studies examined the association between minority stress, defined as stigma-related stressors such as discrimination, victimization, and internalized stigma, and internalizing outcomes in SGM youth. The random-effects meta-analysis revealed a small but significant association (r = .25) between minority stress and internalizing symptoms, consistent across stressor …

Simple Yet Effective, Effective Yet Inclusive: A Skincare Line, Ayesha Wali Rahimoon

Lawrence University Honors Projects

This honors project addresses the lack of inclusive skincare formulations by developing a scientifically grounded skincare line with an antioxidant-rich serum, moisturizer, and cleanser tailored to support diverse skin types, particularly melanin-rich skin. The serum combines strawberry extract powder, Manuka honey, niacinamide, green tea extract, and humectants to promote hydration, antioxidant protection, and skin barrier reinforcement. Formulated with a stable pH of 5.0–5.5 and an effective preservative system, the product was tested through non-animal, biologically relevant models.

A UV protection assay using HEK293 cells demonstrated that the serum significantly reduces oxidative damage, increasing post-exposure cell viability to 80%, compared to …

Hormonal Modulation Of Perineuronal Net Density In The Female Peromyscus Californicus Hippocampus And Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Nazlee Harunani

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized extracellular matrix structures that regulate synaptic plasticity and stabilize neural circuits, particularly during the closure of critical periods, a time when the brain is highly plastic and susceptible to environmental influence. Emerging evidence suggests that PNNs may be sensitive to hormonal fluctuations associated with critical periods such as puberty and pregnancy, yet their role in the female brain, particularly in relation to other well-characterized hormonally-mediated events, remains underexplored. This project investigated whether PNN expression in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex varied following vaginal opening, or across different stages of the estrous cycle in Peromyscus …

“Eyes Can Be Blinded”: A Narratological Analysis Of Focalization In Sarah J. Maas’S A Court Of Thorns And Roses And A Court Of Silver Flames, Georga Mae Feek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the complex relationship between Feyre and Nesta, two prominent characters in Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) and A Court of Silver Flames (ACOSF). My analysis uses narratological concepts from three significant scholars in narrative theory: Gérard Genette, Shlomith Rimmon-Kenan, and Mieke Bal. I begin with a theoretical synthesis of narration and focalization and outline the various categories of types of narrators and focalizers. Then, I analyze Feyre’s focalization in ACOTAR and Nesta’s focalization in ACOSF. Through this process, I have developed rich character studies of Feyre and Nesta. My investigation of the …

The Shōnen Apocalypse: An Analysis Of The Shōnen Power System And Its Narrative Functions, Mario Da Silva Melo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My thesis has two primary goals. First, it provides an overview of the history of manga as a medium, and manga studies as a field. In doing so, I observe a lack of terminological and methodological specificity. As a result, I provide a formalist approach to thematic criticism in order to address the above issues. Second, my thesis primarily centers on shōnen power systems and their narrative functions. Power systems are "magic rules" that determine how superhuman abilities mechanically function. I identify two main power systems in shōnen manga: spiritual manipulation and transformations. My thesis posits that shōnen manga authors …

The Intersection Of Education And Empowerment: How Comprehensive Sex Education Equips Adolescents To Navigate Complex Relational Dynamics, Joleigh Wood

University Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of comprehensive sex education (CSE) on adolescents' understanding of consent, personal boundaries, and relational competence. Drawing upon social learning theory, intersectionality, and relational-cultural theory, the study employs a multidisciplinary framework to analyze how CSE functions as both an instructional practice and a sociocultural intervention. Utilizing an integrative thematic review of empirical studies, policy analyses, and national curriculum standards, the research evaluates the extent to which CSE promotes emotional literacy, fosters ethical relationship skills, and addresses structural inequities in educational access. Findings indicate that well-implemented, inclusive CSE contributes to healthier developmental outcomes by enhancing students' emotional …

The Embodiment And Experiences Of Gender Euphoria Among Transgender And Nonbinary Communities: A Mixed Methods Inquiry, Brendon T. Holloway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gender euphoria is a critical aspect of embodiment for transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people that has long been overshadowed in academic research by deficit narratives and gender dysphoria. While gender dysphoria is the distress an individual may experience related to their gender, gender euphoria encapsulates the positive emotions a TNB person may experience because of positive gendered experiences. Despite community documentations of gender euphoria since the 1970s, academic research on gender euphoria has only recently begun to emerge. This three-paper dissertation advances this body of scholarship by exploring how gender euphoria is conceptualized, experienced, and embodied in TNB communities. Utilizing …

How Executive Leaders Build Trust: Navigating Organizational Disruption During The Covid-19 Mega-Crisis, Marji Karish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic, declared a global health crisis by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, created a “mega-crisis” characterized by intersecting physiological, economic, political, social, and cultural disruptions. This study examines how senior organizational executives narrate their response to the crisis, focusing on their engagement with organizational stakeholders. Using a constructivist grounded theory methodology, I conducted in-depth interviews with 12 organizational leaders to construct the Theory of Social Crisis Leadership Communication (SCLC).

Findings highlight the centrality of trust as an interdependent relationship in which executive leaders and organizational stakeholders rely on each other to navigate crises successfully. …

Paving The Way: Cultural Relevance In College And Career Readiness Programs, Jacqueline Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students of color face persistent educational and systemic barriers that impact their success in college and career readiness (CCR) programs. Standardized approaches to CCR often fail to address the cultural identities, lived experiences, and needs of diverse learners (Castro, 2013; Malin et al., 2017; Welton & Martinez, 2014). Guided by the theoretical framework of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, with the extension of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, this instrumental case study investigates how one CCR initiative—the Legacy Scholars Program (LSP), implemented by a Western Urban School District—integrates culturally responsive practices to better serve students of color. Through interviews, observations, and artifact analysis, this …

1 Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 And Apolipoprotein-E In Alzheimer’S Disease: Virus Entry And Innate Immunity, Jim Camilleri

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus that has been detected in brains affected by Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the leading global cause of cognitive decline. In vitro and epidemiological studies support a role for HSV-1 in AD. The strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset AD is the E4 allele of APOE, which codes for apolipoprotein-E (ApoE), a protein that mediates brain cholesterol homeostasis. Previous work has suggested that ApoE can affect HSV-1 entry into cells; however, APOE has three alleles (E2, E3, and E4) and allelespecific effects of ApoE on HSV-1 entry remain undetermined. We hypothesized that …

A Multilevel Analysis Of Arrest For Sexual Assault In The United States: The Effect Of Incident, Police Department, And Community Factors, Erin Elizabeth Hoffman

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Police officers play an important role for sexual assault survivors seeking help from the criminal legal system in the United States. One of their main responsibilities is to investigate the crime to determine if there is enough evidence to arrest a suspect. Previous literature has documented police arrest decisions in sexual assault cases are influenced by legal and extralegal factors—factors that are legally relevant (e.g., presence of DNA evidence) and irrelevant (e.g., victim race) in a case. These factors span multiple levels of analysis, namely the incident (e.g., whether a weapon was used) and police department (e.g., % of woman …

Gi, Pain, Anxiety, And Mood Symptoms Among Youth With Fapds, Helen Bedree

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) frequently persist into adulthood, thus developmental considerations are critical for monitoring symptom presentation and tailoring treatments. In addition to core symptoms, such as pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, mood and anxiety symptoms often co-occur as well as negative impacts on functioning and quality of life. The current study took a developmental approach to assess core pain, gastrointestinal, anxiety, and mood symptoms among youth with FAPDs (N = 105), as well as agreement across youth and their caregivers on these key symptoms. Developmental stages included early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood. A cluster …

The Impact And Perceptions Of Return-To-Office Mandates, Brooke E. Nyberg

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

In the aftermath of stay-at-home mandates that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have reinstated mandates requiring that employees return to the office either full-time or a few days per week. Although research has been conducted on the benefits and consequences of remote work throughout the pandemic, research is lacking on the perceptions of the return-to-office mandates and how these mandates impact employees. This study aimed to comprehensively understand what employees think and feel about a return-to-office mandate as well as identify group differences and impacts of the method in which the RTO mandate was communicated. To do so, …

Examining Changes In Control Beliefs And The Role Of Self-Determination In A Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention For Elementary-Aged Students, Laura Saldana

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

To date, cognitive behavioral intervention studies for youth focus on symptom reduction to evaluate treatment efficacy without studying changes in youth coping. The present study, backed by Motivational Theory of Coping and Self-Determination Theory, used a randomized control trial design to examine the effects of a brief (5-session), group-based, cognitive-behavioral intervention called Act and Adapt – SP on adaptive coping, maladaptive coping, competence, and relatedness in a sample of academically underperforming 3^rd and 4^th graders (N = 56; M_age = 8.8 years; 62.5% female; 78.6% Latinx). Act and Adapt – SP was designed for Saturday …

A Mixed Methods Survey To Highlight Retrospective Drug Spending, Dillon Peter Thorpe

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The financial impact of substance use is poorly understood. What research has been conducted has focused on societal and medical costs, rarely on the personal finances of substance users. Less research has been conducted on the finances of people currently in recovery and abstinence. To fill in this gap, 284 current Oxford House residents completed a survey that inquired about demographics, spending habits, and reasons for staying in Oxford House. Following analysis, it was found that previous drug/alcohol spending is a highly variable metric, with a range of $0-$30,000 per month. In addition, the sample was homogenous in terms of …

The Effect Of Reading Goals On Conspiracy Believability And Memorability, Leah Patricia O'Neill

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Previous research shows that individuals who are assigned different goals for reading remember and comprehend text differently, which might also influence how individuals read texts that contain conspiracy theories. This research has revealed a connection between scores on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) and conspiracy theory belief, such that those who score higher are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of reading goals (i.e., study vs entertainment) and different types of conspiracy theories (i.e., familiar and less familiar) on participant’s believability ratings for conspiracy texts. Participants were assigned a reading goal prior to …

The Impact Of Popularity Pressure: A Moderated Mediation Model, Molly Clare Walker

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is a critical development stage where social pressures can significantly impact interactions and behavior. One such pressure, popularity pressure, refers to adolescents’ perceived obligation to meet social expectations related to having a popular status. Prior research by Wright (2020) highlights that perceived popularity pressure, often driven by parental and peer influence, is linked to maladaptive behaviors such as relational aggression. Despite these findings, limited research has yet to explore the effect of popularity pressure on adolescents’ internalizing symptoms such as anxiety and depression, in addition to the underlying mechanisms through which popularity pressure impacts adolescents’ mental health and behavior. …

The Role Of Imagination In Archaeology: Linking Contemplation And Method At The Amache National Historic Site, Sami Zepponi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Archaeology is both a science and an interpretative process, blending material discovery with imagination to reconstruct past experiences. This research, conducted through the 2024 University of Denver Amache Field School, explores the archaeological imagination and the creative and cognitive engagement that shapes historical interpretation. Using Amache, a WWII Japanese American incarceration site, as a case study, this thesis examines how material culture, landscape modifications, and reflection inform archaeological understanding. This study explores how imagination connects tangible findings to cultural narratives by integrating community-based archaeology, place and landscape theory, and contemplative inquiry. Findings highlight imagination as essential to archaeology, enabling deeper …

Peering Into The Past And Future: Connection, Challenge, Growth, And Rural Peer Mentors, Tinker Elizabeth Jacobs Duclo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peer mentoring is a recognized strategy for supporting student success, academic persistence, and belonging in higher education. However, while mentee benefits are well-documented, the long-term effects on peer mentors (PMs) remain underexplored, particularly at Rural-Serving Institutions (RSIs). My evaluation bridges that gap by examining the lasting impact of PM service through a qualitative evaluation of the Rifle Colorado Mountain College (CMC) Peer Mentor Program. Guided by Rural Cultural Wealth (RCW) theory and using the Most Significant Change (MSC) model within a constructivist framework, my evaluation centers alumni PM voices, gathering their reflections on the significant changes and impacts of their …

Cultivating Resilience In The Anthropocene: Evaluating A Gssw Ecological Justice Curriculum, Windy Selig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice evaluated the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) Ecological Justice Pathway to examine how resilience is conceptualized and cultivated within the curriculum. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm and guided by an ecological justice framework, this evaluation explored the pedagogical and curricular strategies designed to prepare social work students for the emotional, ethical, and professional demands of practicing in the Anthropocene—a time marked by ecological degradation, climate crisis, and compounding social inequities.

Through qualitative methods, including faculty interviews and curriculum document analysis, the evaluation identified both explicit and implicit components that foster student resilience. …

Understanding The Roles Of Individual And Family-Based Resilience Resources And Mechanisms In Youth With Painful Disorders Of Gut-Brain Interaction, Corinne Taylor Evans

All ETDs from UAB

Background Children living with chronic pain are at risk for many negative physical and mental health consequences. However, certain positive attributes and factors can help lessen or prevent such consequences. Children with painful disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) experience deficits in social, emotional, and physical functioning. However, it is unknown whether a combination of individual and family-based resilience factors may lower these risks and contribute to improved physical and mental health responses. Methods 120 children with painful DGBIs were recruited from a pediatric gastroenterology clinic. Children and caregivers completed a series of questionnaires measuring individual and family-based resilience resources (e.g., …

Employee Engagement Strategies For Purchasing Managers, Winona L. Sewell Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of employee engagement negatively impacts organizations through revenue loss, poor productivity, and toxic cultures. Purchasing managers are concerned with decreased employee engagement as it negatively impacts productivity and revenue. Grounded in situational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies purchasing managers use to increase engagement and productivity. The participants were six managers who have been successful in implementing strategies to increase employee engagement. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, three key themes were identified: (a) communication, (b) leadership styles, and (c) culture. A key recommendation is for purchasing managers …

Using The Token Economy To Improve Show Rates In An Outpatient/Community Mental Health Clinic, Gertrude Nabila Ndansi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The type of project was a quality improvement intervention. The identified practice problem was limited appointment shows among patients with appointments. Outpatient clinics often struggle with patients not showing up for appointments. Addressing this gap was critical for improving patient outcomes and resource efficiency. The practice problem must be addressed within the context of nursing practice by enhancing access to consistent mental health care and giving patients more timely support, leading to better outcomes and overall wellbeing.

A Clinical Practice Guideline For Enhanced Rehabilitation Assessment In Poststroke Patients, Chanda Honeywood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project aimed to develop clinical practice guidelines (CPG) to strengthen the assessment of poststroke patients for rehabilitation. The project sought to adopt an evidence-based approach to develop standardized recommendations that can help in the timely and appropriate rehabilitation of stroke survivors, thereby reducing the risk of long-term disability and readmissions. Stroke is a significant cause of disability and poor functional recovery, increased healthcare costs, and lower quality of life for patients occur because of poor rehabilitation assessment. While rehabilitation protocols already exist, discrepancies in patient evaluations result in intervention delays and ineffective uptake of rehabilitation programs, limiting the …

The Motivating Factors Of A Multigenerational Workplace Based On Work Values And Reinforcements, Alaina Lister

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are currently four generations in the workplace—Generation Z, millennials, Generation X, and baby boomers—each having its own values and motivations due to different life experiences. Leaders are facing new challenges regarding how to motivate each generation in relation to rewards, recognition, and work values. It was unknown whether there are empirical differences in motivation and leadership preferences based on generational cohort. The purpose of this study was to examine how the members of four different generations are motivated based on their preferred rewards and recognition, and the work values they hold. The targeted population were members of Generation Z, …

Employee Engagement And Productivity Among Remote Workers In The Finance Industry, Mauriom Ndikeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions made remote work a defining feature of the modern workforce. Some finance industry leaders lack effective employee engagement strategies to increase productivity in remote work environments. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore successful employee engagement strategies some finance industry leaders used to increase productivity in remote work environments. This project was grounded in Kahn’s employee engagement theory. The participants were six finance industry leaders from financial organizations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Data were collected using semistructured Zoom interviews, field notes, …