Digital Commons Network^™

The Mediating Effect Of Physical Activity On Mental Health Among Sexual Minority Adolescents During Covid-19, You Fu, Ryan D. Burns, Hayley Almes, Xiangren Yi, Nora Constantino

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: Adolescents identifying as a sexual minority frequently experience mental health issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity (PA) has numerous benefits for mental health and emotional development. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of PA on the association between sexual minority status and mental health among adolescents during COVID-19. Methods: A sample of adolescents (grades 9-12) completed the online Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES; N = 7677; 49.6% male) in 2021. The independent variable in this study was a recorded binary response item asking about sexual orientation. The dependent variable was a …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Standardized Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tool In A Clinical Setting, Dylan Bogucki

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as any act of violence, including physical, sexual, stalking, or psychological aggression by an intimate partner, former or current. Despite being preventable, IPV remains a leading nonobstetric cause of morbidity and mortality among women, which highlights the need for systematic screening in clinical settings. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to identify women who have previously experienced or are currently experiencing IPV and to connect them with appropriate resources. Twenty-one studies were identified, all demonstrating moderate to high methodological quality and supporting the need for routine IPV screening in women’s health settings. …

Redefining Skincare For Sensitive Lives, Ashlyn G. Sierra Ms

Honors College Theses

This study outlines how a skincare company that is both ethically and effectively developed for people suffering from eczema could create accessible, affordable products as well as maintain its commitment to being inclusive. The study uses scientific data regarding eczema in order to examine why certain aspects of skin care are helpful or dangerous when it comes to individuals who suffer from eczema, in addition, it provides an assessment of current skin care product offerings that are designed for people with eczema. Using the Wise Leadership Framework, the study presents a hypothetical business plan for a new, eczema-based skin care …

Statutes Of Unjust Limitations: An Argument In Favor Of Increasing The Statute Of Limitations For Civil Cases Of Adult Sex Crimes In Texas, Athina E. Castañon

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

This Comment argues that Texas’s current five-year statute of limitations for civil claims arising from adult sex crimes is unjust and misaligned with modern trauma research. While Texas has enacted meaningful legislation for child survivors, adult survivors who experience sexual violence after the age of eighteen remain subjected to an arbitrarily short filing window that fails to account for the psychological, social, and economic barriers to reporting and litigation. Drawing on historical context, trauma-informed research, and a comparative analysis of reform efforts, this Comment demonstrates how rigid statutes of limitations disproportionately harm survivors and undermine access to civil justice.

Development And Psychometric Analysis Of An Instrument To Assess Social Stigma Associated With Parkinson's Disease, Ana Lourdes Guerra-Anzaldo, Arturo Emmanuel Espinosa-Picos, Karen Itzel Sánchez-Ramírez, Ana Jimena Hernández-Medrano, Amin Cervantes-Arriaga, Ariadna Domínguez-García, Mayela Rodríguez-Violante

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: To develop and report the psychometric properties of a comprehensive scale designed to measure stereotypes and attitudes of the general population towards people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP).

Methods: The development and analysis of the Parkinson's Disease Stigma Perception scale (PDSP) included four phases: 1) literature review, 2) item development, 3) tests of validity and reliability, and 4) dissemination of a preliminary version. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to explore underlying structures, and confirmatory factor analysis to test the model's fit.

Results: Six (2%) of the 294 survey respondents were disqualified because of incomplete …

The Compassionate Heart Patient Questionnaire: Validation And Reliability Of A Novel Measure Of Relationship-Centered Care, Dustin Willis, Everett Lohman, Lida Gharibvand, Andrew Sullivan, Lee Berk

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: To establish the validity and reliability of the Compassionate HEART Patient Questionnaire (CHPQ) for measuring relationship-centered care and exploring associations between patient ratings and mood state changes in patients with persistent pain.

Methods: Thirty-nine adults with persistent pain (> 3 months) completed pre-/post-interaction Profile of Mood States assessments and rated providers using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure and the novel CHPQ following physical therapy evaluations. Psychometric properties were assessed through factor analysis, concurrent validity (correlation with CARE), and internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha). Pre-post mood changes were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: The CHPQ demonstrated good internal …

Reducing Nurse Burnout In Medical/Surgical Units In South Carolina Acute Care Hospitals, Jessica D. Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Barriers Inhibiting African American Male Nurses’ Promotion To Leadership Positions, Amaziah Ali Dominic

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Climate Anxiety Shapes Career And Parenthood Decisions In College Students, Minha Hossain, Patrycja Sleboda-Sobolev

Publications and Research

This study examined how climate anxiety influences future-oriented decision-making among college students, with particular attention to four decision-making domains: career planning, parenthood decisions, sustainability behaviors, and geographic mobility. Although climate anxiety has become increasingly common among young adults, less research has explored how it shapes long-term life decisions within diverse U.S. college populations or how psychological and contextual factors influence these relationships. A sample of 257 undergraduate students from Baruch College completed a Qualtrics survey measuring climate anxiety, climate-related emotions, hope, self-efficacy, migration background, and future-oriented decision-making domains. Results indicated that climate anxiety significantly predicted career and parenthood decision-making, but …

Speech Acts In Children With Autism: A Pragmatic Study Of Communication Skills In Selected Igbo Autistic Teenagers, Oluchukwu Ann Anueyiagu, Ngozi Christiana Ikegwuonu

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

This study examines the speech acts of selected Igbo autistic teenagers from a pragmatic perspective, with the aim of understanding how culture influences their communicative competence. The study is anchored on Searle’s Speech Act Theory and Hymes’ Ethnography of Communication framework. It investigates how autistic teenagers within the Igbo socio-cultural environment produce and interpret communicative functions such as requesting, informing, apologizing, questioning, and expressing emotions. A qualitative case study design was adopted, involving three autistic teenagers purposively selected from special schools and therapy centres in Anambra State, Nigeria. Data were collected through naturalistic observations, audio and video recordings of spontaneous …

The Impact Of Trump Administration Immigration Policies On Connecticut Educators And Families, Elena C. Bielesz

Honors Scholar Theses

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and practices, which have grown increasingly prevalent due to the current national political climate, have adverse effects on the mental health of immigrant families and the teachers that support them in Connecticut. This study seeks to represent the opinions of Connecticut K-12 MLL (Multilingual Learners) Education Teachers and Administrators whose daily lives are impacted by the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee policies and procedures. The study employed a human subjects-based approach supported by a review of related literature. MLL Educators from around the state of Connecticut were interviewed. These interviews found that while immigration-based trauma and stressors are common …

Experiences Of Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Nurses Working In A Hospital Setting, Layla C. Bradley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Effective Strategies Psychiatric Hospital Leaders Use To Retain Staff To Avoid Turnover Costs, Christian Azuka Obiajulu Ossai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Law Enforcement Perceptions And Lived Experiences Concerning Homelessness, Pedro Osbaldo Preciado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Risk Factors As Predictors Of Maternal Filicide, Melanie Inez Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of After Care Substance Abuse Treatment Programs From The Perspective Of Released Female Offenders, Sarah Kay Blankenship

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Fifty Years And Counting: Middle School Principals’ Experiences, Beliefs, And Preparation For Serving Students Of Color With Disabilities, Lourdes Rodriguez Flores

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how middle school principals understand and support students of color with disabilities (SOCWD) on comprehensive school campuses. This topic is deeply personal and professional, shaped by my experiences as a mother, special education teacher, and district leader who has witnessed ongoing challenges in how schools serve students with disabilities, especially Black and Brown students. Guided by Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit; Annamma et al., 2013) and Social Justice Leadership (Theoharis, 2007), this study examined how race and disability intersect in school systems and influence leadership decisions, practices, and access to opportunity. Using a qualitative approach, I conducted …

Efficacy Of A Cognitive-Behavioral Group Intervention For Adhd In Collegestudents Via Telehealth, Will H. Canu, Kate Flory, Maggie W. Johnson, Laura E. Knouse, Kenneth Mcclure, Emily Miller, Emily A. Bodalski, Abby De Arellano

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: college students with ADHD often experience academic and life challenges related to executive functioning (EF). telehealth interventions are generally beneficial for emerging adults, but this claim needs to be tested for ADHD. We examined a telehealth adaptation of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for college students with aDhD that focuses on organizational, time management, and planning (OTMP) skills. Participants: students at three universities (n = 106; 72.6% female; M age =22.21; 86.7% White; 91.5% Not Hispanic or Latina/e/o) presented for ADHD treatment. Method: six group sessions and three individual sessions were delivered via video conferencing software. Results: Pre-post differences in self-report …

Redefining Skincare For Sensitive Lives, Ashlyn G. Sierra Ms

Honors College Theses

This study outlines how a skincare company that is both ethically and effectively developed for people suffering from eczema could create accessible, affordable products as well as maintain its commitment to being inclusive. The study uses scientific data regarding eczema in order to examine why certain aspects of skin care are helpful or dangerous when it comes to individuals who suffer from eczema, in addition, it provides an assessment of current skin care product offerings that are designed for people with eczema. Using the Wise Leadership Framework, the study presents a hypothetical business plan for a new, eczema-based skin care …

Irregular Warfare, Part Two: Ai Approaches, Implications, And Proposed Recommendations, James Giordano, Jocelyn Garcia

Strategic Insights

Part Two of "Irregular Warfare" looks at how artificial intelligence is transforming irregular warfare through AI-enabled, non-kinetic influence operations that target perception, trust, morale, and decision-making. State adversaries employ AI-driven cognitive and information operations below the threshold of kinetic conflict to shape strategic outcomes, exploit societal vulnerabilities, and challenge allied cohesion. This commentary also assesses the implications of AI-enabled irregular warfare for military readiness, cognitive resilience, operational planning, and strategic competition, and provides recommendations for how the Department of War can strengthen preparedness against emerging cognitive and information threats.

Academic Senate - Agenda, 05/12/2026, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Sensation-Suppression Theory: A New Explanation For Fibromyalgia Syndrome And Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Me/Cfs), Michael E. Hyland

School of Psychology

Explanations and treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are controversial, and outcomes are poor. This paper describes sensation-suppression theory, a theory modelled on self-organizing control systems that are capable of adaptation in response to inputs and used in applications of artificial intelligence. The theory shows how the need to suppress inflammatory and other causes of pain or fatigue due to challenging circumstances sensitizes the neurological processing of pain and fatigue, thereby creating the amplified sensations and abnormal cognitions of central sensitivity syndromes. These syndromes are caused by errors in an evolutionarily early behavior-control mechanism of …

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptomology, Sexual Orientation Microaggressions, Minority Stress, And Reintegration Issues Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Plus Veterans, Kerry Lynn Conway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Medication Adherence Through Motivational Interviewing, Sonia Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Huebner, Thomas G., San Jose State University

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Biographies

University of Hawai'i, Linguistics, Ph.D. 1982

University of Pittsburgh, Linguistics, M.A. Certificate: TEFL/TESL

University of Wisconsin‑Milwaukee. Majors: English and Secondary Education, B.S.

Glp-1 Receptor Agonists And Disordered Eating: Clinical Indicators And Patient Narratives, Samantha E. Schulz

Masters Theses

Introduction: The use of the medication, GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), for weight loss has increased exponentially in the United States over the past decade. The continuing rise in demand for the use of GLP-1 RAs for weight loss justifies the need to better understand the physical and psychological effects that can occur with significant weight loss. By combining a standardized screening tool for eating disorder (ED) risk with narratives from patients undergoing GLP-1 RA treatment for weight loss, this study examines associations between GLP-1 RA use patterns and risk of ED and explores patient experiences, including the role of …

In-Tsira Healing: Integrating Trauma-Informed Design And Sustainable Design Into Wellness Centers For Survivors Of Gender Based Violence, Eniola Ololade Esther Akinyemi

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Survivors of gender-based violence in Northern Nigeria face layered barriers to recovery, including trauma, stigma, displacement, and loss of livelihood. Yet the built environments intended to support them remain largely unresponsive. This thesis proposes a trauma-informed, climate-responsive wellness campus in Maiduguri, Borno State, grounded in cultural and environmental context.

The research asks how trauma-informed and sustainable design strategies can be implemented in healing centers to reduce re-traumatization, foster safety, and support reintegration through self-supportive, educational, and communal spaces?

How can trauma informed and sustainable design strategies be implemented in wellness centers to foster safety and healing while reducing re-traumatization, and …

A(Gr)Tecture: Designing An Agricultural Learning Facility To Energize Food Production In The Urban Areas Of Dominica, Kendel Constant

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis aims to explore my interests in improving the agricultural sector/farming within the urban areas of the tropical Caribbean Island of Dominica. The research will examine the issues currently challenging the agricultural sector, including hurricanes, landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, and shifts in temperature, which destroy open-field crops. In addition, other issues, including limited adoption of advanced farming techniques, an aging farmers’ population, and soil erosion, have weakened the agricultural sector in Dominica. My thesis project is to teach farming methods through an Agricultural Learning Facility that can help address these challenges, but focus on the urban areas.

The …

Can Architecture Save The World?, Stella Majewsky

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia has been under ongoing threat from mining. It sits at the border between Georgia and Florida in an area with child poverty rates up to 52 %.Heavy reliant on the timber industry, the region has suffered ecologically through hurricanes, mill closures and various other economic forces. The thesis proposes an architectural intervention in the Stephen Foster State Park in the Okefenokee. The objective is to develop an architecture that will help to protect the swamp; an architecture which invites the visitor to follow a trail into the swamp, to learn about the unique landscape, and …

Ourhaus: Supportive Housing And Cultural Campus For Aging Survivors Of The Hiv/Aids Epidemic In Atlanta, Blake A. Archbold

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis proposes a supportive housing and cultural campus for aging survivors of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Atlanta. As advances in medicine have transformed HIV from a terminal illness into a chronic condition, a growing population of long-term survivors is now reaching older adulthood while facing increased rates of chronic illness, housing insecurity, stigma, and social isolation. Atlanta, one of the nation’s historic HIV epicenters, has seen a significant rise in older adults living with HIV while simultaneously experiencing declines in HIV housing support infrastructure.

Located along the Atlanta BeltLine, the project combines permanent supportive housing with community and public-facing …