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From The Slime And Mud: Rumination As Fuel For Artistic Process, Olivia Van Natta

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This thesis examines my work to harness ruminative thinking as a driving force for my art practice. With a combination of drawing and painting in watercolor pencil, I activate and engage with rumination through the act of sublimation as defined in clinical psychology. Repetition of process and hand-rendered detail serve as outward channels for my obsessive cyclical thoughts. Based on my experience living with the physical effects of a hyperactive mind, I depict botanical life symbolically in an effort to communicate impressions of the bodily sensations associated with rumination, such as palpable tension, anxiety, or dread. In my research, I …

Prohibition In Sanford: Local Lives Questioning A National Narrative Presented Through Data, Discourse Analysis And Digital Mapping, Lindsey K. Yeazell

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This thesis uses a microhistorical methodology to examine the social impact and lived experience of Prohibition in Sanford, Florida, and the surrounding area – an historically "dry" community. Historiographical claims from state, regional, and national studies are tested through data sampling of Sanford Municipal Court Records; close readings of more than 200 Sanford Herald articles; and an oral history with a local museum curator based on family tradition.

This is an evidence-driven thesis. A thirty-percent sampling of 23,000 Sanford Municipal Court Records covering the Prohibition era (1920-1933) enables detailed analysis of alcohol-related arrest and enforcement patterns based on race, gender, …

My Body As A Journey Accessing Pre-Colonial Identity For Healing Intergenerational Transgender Shame, Jennifer Lagman

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

A graduate student in art therapy wrote this heuristic paper to explore shame's role as both a negative internal feeling and a cultural and social tool for evaluating and regulating behavior. As a transgender woman, she examines what it is like to be labeled as Filipino and deal with being transgender. Tiny advances have been made in the understanding of shame within the context of minority transgender self-research. Using art to expose those feelings associated with shame, balance them with affirmations, and ground them in native identity are key aspects of this process. Consequently, meeting one's shadow becomes a necessity …

Chosen Family In Lgbtq+ Community: Creating Feeling Of Safety Through Collage In Art Therapy, Zaina Berger

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This student research study investigates how collage demonstrates feelings of safety with chosen family within the LGBTQ+ community as a minority group who has undergone much discrimination and exclusion from their biological family and society at large. Currently, within the field of art therapy, there is minimal research on LGBTQ+ community, especially in regards to kinship and family. The only research about chosen family was conducted by anthropologist, Kath Weston, in the 1990’s.The student researcher defines chosen family and discusses different alternative kinship theories and practices in the last three decades. The review discusses how queer people have created meaningful …

Mindfulness And Self-Compassion: Attuning Skills In Self-Awareness To Promote Self-Care For Art Therapy Practitioners A Mixed-Methods Study Using A Mandala Art Directive And Acceptance Commitment Therapy (Act), Janeth Arcila Padilla

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study attempts to examine people in the mental health field, specifically, Art Therapists and graduate trainees who undergo many stressors in and out of the therapy space. Stressors like emotionally demanding situations with clients, to the demands of keeping up with proper work-related procedures, and needed educational requirements for practicing in the field can lead to burnout for practitioners and students in the field. Stress, burnout, and professional impairment are prevalent among mental health professionals and can have a negative impact on their clinical work, while engagement in self-care can help promote therapist well-being (Posluns & Gall, 2020). Research …

Mental Health Stigma And Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Eastern Asian/Eastern Asian American College Students And Their Parents: A Mix-Method And Art Therapy Intervention Study, Carmen Tham

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This mixed-methods study examines perceptions of mental health within the Eastern Asian/Eastern Asian American community through quantitative analysis of the Asian American Value Scale (AAVS) and qualitative examination of Tree of Life artwork, alongside responses from a Mental Health Help-Seeking Interview Guide. Ten Chinese participants, comprising five students and five parents, participated, with varying generational statuses and educational backgrounds. Quantitative findings reveal significant differences in AAVS scores based on generational status and education level, with first/second-generation respondents scoring higher on family recognition through achievement and university-educated respondents scoring higher on conformity to norms. Qualitative analysis identifies common themes of rarity …

Art Therapy Assessment And Sense Of Safety, Sophie C. Restall

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study aimed to understand how artmaking experiences during assessment may influence the formation of the therapeutic alliance at the start of therapy. Rather than measuring therapeutic alliance directly, this study identified psychological safety as a vital component of the therapeutic relationship and an important topic of study via literature on attachment theory. Using a mixed-methods, repeated-measures design, this study compared artmaking experiences and feelings of psychological safety in response to two interventions––a Human Figure Drawing (HFD) assessment and an Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) assessment. Overall, qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and quantitative data from the Art-Based Intervention (ABI) questionnaire …

How Long-Term, Aerobic Exercise Can Be Used To Treat Substance Use Disorders, Sydney Baldridge

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Improving Career And Technicaql Education For All Students: A Study Of Cte Programs At Two High Schools, Valerie Goldstein

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Ethnic-Racial Identity Modulates Emotion Dysregulation And Alcohol Use In A Community Sample Of Asian Americans, Diana Ho

Open Access Master's Theses

The common perception of Asian Americans as a low-risk group for alcohol use and related harms contributes to the dearth of research among this population within the larger substance use literature. However, dramatic increases in prevalence of alcohol consumption have been documented for this group, and a growing body of research has revealed high-risk subgroups within the Asian American community. Emotion dysregulation is one transdiagnostic factor has been linked to greater alcohol use and related harms. Conversely, higher levels of racial-ethnic identity have been found to buffer against alcohol use and related harms. The aim of the current study is …

Evaluating The Changes In Hip Function In Expectant Mothers Before And After Delivery: Correlation Between Hip Function And Delivery Outcome, Olivia Rose Greene

Open Access Master's Theses

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, approximately 800 women die daily from preventable maternal causes of death (COD). These CODs (e.g. prolonged labor, hemorrhage) are frequently connected to biomechanical limitations during childbirth. There is increased risk for complications/death during labor/delivery if pelvis/hip anatomy does not biomechanically change enough. Monitoring pelvic/hip biomechanical changes throughout pregnancy may help detect complications that arise during or prior to labor/delivery.

METHODS: Sixteen females (10 nulligravid female control participants, 6 gravid female participants) were enrolled. All participants performed walking, stair ascent, and stair descent while lower extremity optical motion capture and electromyography data (bilateral hip/knee flexors/extensors) were captured. Controls were …

The Relation Between Internalizing And Externalizing Problem Behaviors And Stem Achievement, Ashley M. Harpin

Open Access Master's Theses

Internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors displayed in classroom settings have been linked to higher prevalence of academic underachievement compared to well-behaved counterparts (Van der Ende et al., 2016). While previous research has explored how these problem behaviors impact academic subjects such as reading and mathematics, fewer studies have examined associations between internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors and STEM achievement. This present study intends to fill that gap by testing relations between internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors exhibited in kindergarten and STEM achievement in the fifth grade. The data used for this study comes from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS), …

Testing The Role Of Supporting Positive Behaviors Between Child-Centered Parenting And Prosociality, Rachel Paige Lacroix

Open Access Master's Theses

This study explored the influence of child-centered parenting attitudes on children’s prosocial behavior. Furthermore, the role of supporting positive behaviors, a positive parenting strategy, was investigated as a possible explanation of the link in the hypothesized association. Specifically, the current study examined the following questions: (1) To what extent are child-centered mothering attitudes associated with prosocial behavior? (2) Does supporting children’s positive behaviors explain this association? The research utilized secondary, cross-sectional data capturing the parenting attitudes and maternal reports of child behavior from 255 mothers of children ages 3-5 years old. Analyses were performed using the bootstrap method to examine …

Anodal Tdcs And Virtual Reality Gait Rehabilitation In Individuals With Chronic Stroke, Aracely Marks

Open Access Master's Theses

Stroke rehabilitation is a critical yet challenging aspect of recovery due to the complex nature of post-stroke motor function impairment, encompassing gait and mobility deficiencies (Langhorne, Bernhardt, and Kwakkel 2011). Traditional physical therapy, predominantly characterized by repetitive, task-specific exercises, frequently fails to fully address the nuanced rehabilitative needs of stroke survivors (Pollock et al. 2014). This thesis explores the potential of integrating two emerging technologies, Virtual Reality (VR) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), proposing that their combined use could significantly enhance post-stroke rehabilitation outcomes. This integrated approach aims to influence VR's engaging, immersive experiences with tDCS's neuroplasticity-promoting effects, potentially …

Purity Culture And Traumatic Stress In Catholic Women, Megan O'Brien Crayne

Open Access Master's Theses

Ample non-academic examples exist that attest to the contributions of purity culture teachings to traumatic stress experienced by women in relation to their sexual identity and experiences. However, these stories are not captured in academic literature. In order to fill these gaps in the literature, a phenomenological approach was used to describe the lived experience of Catholic women who would self-identify as having been “traumatized” by “purity culture.” Individual interviews were conducted via WebEx with participants who met inclusion criteria. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis, and six themes emerged: a culture of silence around sex, the importance of purity, …

Clinical Simulation Workshop For Healthcare Undergrads, Chloe Bennett, Erica Y. Hinojosa, Jennifer Roye, Steven Gellman

UTA Libraries Staff Publications - Archive

This is curriculum for a full 10-day clinical experience workshop designed for undergraduate healthcare students. It includes lesson plans and all accompanying digital materials.

Affordable Housing In New York City: Policies Towards Increasing Supply, Eliana Cestero

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Throuples And Family Law, Philip De Sa E Silva

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

As throuples and other forms of polyamorous relationships gain visibility and acceptance, courts will have to confront the legal issues that will likely arise when a throuple forms and when it dissolves. How should courts determine child custody for three equally situated parents? How should courts divide assets among three people who have cohabitated in a marriage-like relationship? This note_comment describes some of the legal problems throuples are most likely to encounter, especially regarding child custody and division of assets. This note_comment outlines some of the ideal solutions to these problems, such as forming contracts with the help of an …

Trust Building Strategies For Virtual Leaders In Higher Education, Taylor Baril

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

No abstract provided.

The Uri Free Farmers’ Market And Food Access Among College Students, Maria Meola

Open Access Master's Theses

Background: Campus-based programs to promote food access have become more prevalent on college campuses due to rising food insecurity among students. Despite this, there is a notable gap in qualitative research investigating students' experiences regarding food access and intervention acceptability. In 2021, the University of Rhode Island (URI) Free Farmer’s Market (FFM) was developed to promote student access to produce from URI campus farms. Objective: This study aims to assess student perceptions surrounding use and acceptability of the URI FFM and also understand the role this plays in student changes to food access throughout the semester. Study Design, …

Exercise In The Dark: The Effect Of Ambient Light Intensity On The Subjective Exercise Experience, Anthony J. Fioravanti

Open Access Master's Theses

Exercise is a feasible way to reduce all-cause mortality, yet participation rates are paradoxically low. A growing trend of exercise classes in the dark has been anecdotally reported as a way to increase exercise participation by removing the element of comparison. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ambient light intensity on the subjective exercise experience. Specifically, the effect of ambient light levels on social physique anxiety and affective responses was measured during group cycling exercise in two different lighting conditions. It was hypothesized that social physique anxiety (SPA) would be lower when group cycling exercising …

Measuring Motivation For Effective Headache Self-Management: An Application Of The Transtheoretical Model Of Behavior Change, Hayley M. Lindsey

Open Access Master's Theses

Migraine is a highly prevalent disease that often reduces quality of life and can be a financial burden to individuals and societies. Migraine frequency and severity are associated with sleep, stress, exercise, diet, and treatment use. Effective migraine management likely requires the use of a multiple health behavior change model. The current study applied the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change to migraine among adults to better understand factors influencing adults’ readiness to practice effective migraine self-management. Focus groups were conducted with 22 adults experiencing recurrent migraines. Through thematic analysis, seven key themes emerged: 1) effective migraine self-management includes several health …

Associations Between Fatty Acid Status And Postpartum Depressive Symptoms In Ghanaian Women At 6 Months Postpartum: A Secondary Data Analysis, Kelly L. Zarka

Open Access Master's Theses

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10-20% of women globally and has a negative impact on maternal and infant health. Omega-3 fatty acids have been implicated in psychiatric health due to their anti-inflammatory properties, contrasting with the proinflammatory effects of omega-6 fatty acids. Within Ghana, 2% of an estimated 2.3 million people are living with mental illness and are not seeking treatment due to poor attitudes surrounding mental health. We do not fully understand the risk factors associated with the development of PPD, and therefore how to inform pro-grams seeking to make positive reforms in this area.

Methods: This …

Suicidality In Autistic College Students, Sam Fisher

McNair Scholars Manuscripts

Autistic college students are significantly more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) than the general college student population. Jackson et al. (2018) found that 75% of autistic college students experienced some form of suicidal behavior at some point in their lives. Autistic college students are also more likely to successfully complete suicide on the first attempt. Suicide death is 3-7 times more common among autistic people than the general population (Cervantes et al., 2022). Co-occurring mental health conditions are also extremely prevalent among autistic people and elevate suicide risk. Yet, college campuses are often uninformed or under-informed on …

Trust In E-Commerce And Its Impact On Digital Marketing Strategies, Akshay Tailor

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The rise of e-commerce has transformed consumer behavior, with trust playing a critical role in determining the success of online platforms. Prior research suggests that privacy and security concerns, as well as transparency and social proof, significantly affect consumer trust in e-commerce. This study aimed to investigate how strong security measures, privacy safeguards, and social media marketing initiatives influence consumer trust and purchasing decisions in e-commerce environments.

Methods: A survey was conducted with 232 students from Illinois State University, focusing on key factors such as privacy protection, security, transparency, and social proof. The survey used a Likert scale to …

Enhancing Marketing Education Through Gamification: Learners’ Characteristics And Motivation In Gamification Strategies, Jagannath Kharel

Theses and Dissertations

The study investigates how the personality traits of marketing students influence their engagement with gamification elements and the resulting learning outcomes. Additionally, it explores how gamification, guided by Self-Determination Theory, enhances these outcomes, and motivates university marketing students. One hundred eleven respondents participated, testing eight hypotheses: seven examined the Big Five traits' influence on attitudes and engagement. At the same time, the final used the self-determination framework to analyze motivation in gamification. Respondents with openness and extraversion favored using gamified learning materials, with no gender differences observed. The study found that gamified learning elements, such as rewards, feedback, levels, challenges, …

Associations Between Physical Activity And Academic Achievement In Young Adolescents, Alex Wolfe

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the associations between physical activity and academic achievement among young adolescents. A secondary aim of this study was to analyze differences in physical activity and academic achievement by SES and race/ethnicity. The sample consisted of 30 middle school students (10 boys and 20 girls) between the ages of 11.0- and 14.9-years. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship between physical activity and academic achievement while controlling for SES and race/ethnicity. 2 x 2 factorial analysis of covariance were utilized to examine the differences in SES and race/ethnicity groups, as well as interactive effects within physical …

An Examination Of Students Perceptions And Achievement Results In Co-Taught High School Math Courses, Joy Bacino

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined student perceptions about the impact of their math class on their learning and compared these perceptions across co-taught and single taught classrooms and IEP status of students. Student perceptions across groups indicated some differences. Of significance is students with IEPs in co-taught environments shared less favorable comments regarding their learning and reported learning more previously in their single-taught classrooms. End of course exam scores and PSAT scores were also compared and a significant difference between the ends of course assessment scores for non-IEP students within the single taught classroom and IEP students within the co-taught classroom was …

Communication Supports To Enhance The Community Participation Of Young Children With Complex Communication Needs: A Utilization-Focused Evaluation, Amy L. Yacucci

Theses and Dissertations

This utilization-focused evaluation study aimed to describe augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports to enhance communication accessibility for children with complex communication needs in a children’s museum. Utilizing feedback from museum staff and parents of children with communication disabilities, the study sought to identify practical strategies to improve the effectiveness of AAC supports in creating more inclusive community spaces. A utilization-focused evaluation framework (Patton & Campbell-Patton, 2022) guided the assessment of embedded-aided communication supports within the museum, ensuring that findings were relevant and actionable for stakeholders. The evaluation revealed three key insights: (a) the importance of communication access through multiple …

Exclusion Disguised As Access: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Postsecondary Disability Service Websites, Lavonne Ciezadlo Kopca

Theses and Dissertations

College students with disabilities are an overlooked minority population. However, they comprise an ever-increasing student population in postsecondary institutions. Yet students with disabilities do not persist or graduate at rates similar to their able-bodied peers. People with disabilities have historically been viewed as a low-status group and have been excluded from various social, educational, and economic benefits of citizenship. This study used a critical theoretical lens of social dominance theory to explore ways that higher education may be complicit in perpetuating discrimination and inequities through policies or discourse found in the content of student disability and diversity office websites. Key …