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Sharing Unexpected News After Traumatic Death: A Modified Delphi Study, Kirsten Lalli

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

BackgroundGlobally, violence against healthcare workers in Emergency Departments (EDs) is alarmingly common and increasing in prevalence. While workplace violence is possible in any patient encounter, disclosure of traumatic deaths to family and friends may be uniquely high-risk.

Research AimsThe objective of this study is to establish consensus guidelines with multidisciplinary staff to improve safety in the emergency department of a large, urban, Level I trauma center when disclosing traumatic deaths.

HypothesisInterdisciplinary professionals in an emergency department can create consensus around best practices to improve safety in the ED when disclosing traumatic deaths.

MethodsWe conducted this study using a modified Delphi …

Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Hostile Attribution On Adult Romantic Relationship Dynamics, Richeila Lora

Open Access Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine whether experiencing ACEs and hostile attributions led to engaging in conflict behaviors in adult romantic relationships. Additionally, it was examined whether hostile attributions served as a moderator in the relationship between experiencing ACEs and engaging in conflict behaviors. Participants were adults (N = 3.684) from the German Family Panel dataset. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the associations between experiencing ACEs, hostile attributions, and conflict behaviors. It was found that both experiencing ACEs and hostile attributions were related to engaging in conflict behaviors. However, hostile attributions did not serve as …

For The Right To Repair Oneself: Cybernetic Imds And The Plight Of Manufacturer Abandonment, Kathy Bacuta

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

One in four people in the United States are disabled, making them the country’s largest minority. Yet they are well-known as the forgotten minority because they are often overlooked by governments and international organizations, and are rarely included in diversity and equity discussions. This is clear in how little the United States fights for the rights of the disabled. The disability aid and big pharma industries have been accused of being parasitic, the public has been accused of being unaccommodating, and the state and federal government has been accused of being unhelpful towards supporting the lives of the disabled. However, …

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, And Vile Minds: Insanity And Competency In Courts, Sarah Elsakhawy

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Sport-Related Concussions In Division Iii Athletes: A 10-Year Prospective Analysis Of Trends And Incidence, Shaylyn R. Thorne

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Sports-related concussions (SRCs) among college athletes remain a growing area of concern due to a myriad of potential short and long-term implications. Understanding concussion trends and incidence in collegiate sports is critical for guiding prevention and management strategies. This study examined concussion injuries among NCAA Division III collegiate athletes at a single institution over a 10-year period. Analyses focused on trends in concussion incidence across sports, genders, and changes associated with institutional and NCAA policy updates. Results indicated that concussion incidence varied across sports and time, with higher rates in contact sports such as football and soccer. Significant differences occurred …

Dordt University 2025-26 Catalog, Dordt University. Registrar's Office

Academic Catalogs

Academic Catalog for 2025-26

School Counseling District Leaders' Experiences With Anti-Dei Laws And Policies: A Phenomenological Investigation, Emily Goodman-Scott, Darrell J. Sampson, Kaprea F. Johnson, Dehaven Sawyer-Mays

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

School counseling district leaders (SCDLs) are instrumental in shaping district policy, supporting school counselors, and interfacing with both internal and external constituents; as such, their systemic lens is of particular importance, given the K-12 pushback on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) occurring at the state- and district-levels. As a result, we conducted a critical application of Husserl’s phenomenology to understand the collective experience of a sample of SCDLs (N = 10) working in locations with anti-DEI laws and/or policies, specifically those restricting Black, indigenous, and people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning rights and topics. Through the …

The Nohs 2024 Code Of Ethics Update, Kevin C. Snow, Christian Williams, Ed Neukrug, Kristin Barker, Kristin Ballard, Braxton A. Morrison, Leslie C.M. Mcclane, Meghan N. Morgan, Stephanie Collins

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The NOHS Ethics committee engaged in a revision of the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals (2024). This update focused on significant changes in the field of human services as they relate to a broad group of human services professionals. The article explores interviews with key members of the revision committee sharing their thoughts on the necessity for the current revision and the ever-present importance for human service professionals to understand and engage with the NOHS ethics code as an essential living document for the benefit of client well-being, to promote the integrity of the human services profession, and to …

Incorporating A Facility Dog Into Practice: A Guide For Occupational Therapists In Mental Health Settings, Anneka Harris

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: The field of animal assisted therapy (AAT) is growing as the evidence on the effectiveness of incorporating animals into the rehabilitation process evolves; however, there is currently a lack of guidance for occupational therapy (OT) practitioners working with facility dogs in an adult mental health population. In a setting where clients have traumatic brain injuries (TBI), substance use disorders (SUD), and serious mental illness (SMI), it is important to combine best practice for both OT and AAT approaches. The objective of this project was to understand current resources available, conceptualize appropriate interventions, and provide a guide for practitioners using …

Occupational Therapy Best Practices In Maternal Health, Abby Eken

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Maternal mortality and morbidity rates have been steadily increasing in the United States due to health disparities, inadequate care, and lack of recognition of maternal health service gaps. Additionally, interdisciplinary care provided after birth often emphasizes the infant shifting focus away from the mother which impacts health and recovery during the postpartum period. Despite a wide range of maternal health services provided in the acute care setting, inclusion and referrals to occupational therapy are often lacking. Further, occupational therapists play an emerging role in maternal health that is frequently misunderstood and insufficiently recognized.

Purpose: The goal of this project …

The Identity Factor, Jessica Feinberg

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Addressing Barriers To Preventive Healthcare Access Through Community Outreach In Underserved Populations, Deneisha Sparks

Theses and Dissertations

Access to preventive healthcare is a significant public health challenge, particularly for underserved populations in Muscogee County, Georgia. This project addresses systemic barriers such as transportation, limited health education, and economic constraints, which contribute to health disparities and reliance on emergency room services. Guided by the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework and the Health Belief Model (HBM), the project aims to enhance access to preventive care, improve health literacy and identify barriers to healthcare access.

This program evaluation report examined a community-based initiative that utilized a mobile health unit to improve access to preventive healthcare in underserved areas of …

How Do School Counselors And School Social Workers Support High School Bullying Victims: A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study, Dalentina N. Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

Bullying and student aggression are increasing in public high schools. Bullying and cyberbullying are a safety concern, and victims of bullying have shown a decline academically and emotionally. Additionally, high schools need increased support with bullying behaviors. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore school counselors’ and school social workers’ insights and perspectives regarding the support they provided to bullying victims in two school districts in rural Georgia. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory was the framework used to focus research on understanding how environmental systems influence an individual’s development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from a purposeful sample of …

The Relationship Of Preschool Variables To Kindergarten Early Literacy Skills, Michele Davis Thomason

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of Pre-K experiences on kindergarten early literacy skills in Alabama. A convergent parallel mixed-methods research design was utilized to analyze assessment data from My Teaching Strategies AlaKiDS and Renaissance STAR Early Literacy for kindergarten students in a rural Alabama district. The students were divided into three groups for comparison: students who attended Alabama First Class Pre-K, those in private programs using the Abeka curriculum, and students with no formal Pre-K experience. The dissertation utilized Vygotsky’s constructivist theory to assess the influence of early educational environments on the cognitive development through scaffolding and the Zone of …

Distribution Of Supplemental Educational On Pharmacology To Assist Mental Health Technicians On The Behavioral Health Unit In Leading Group Therapy Sessions: A Quality Improvement Project, Bree T. Mastromarino

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background

Staff within the microsystem strive to provide quality care to patients experiencing acute mental health crises in hopes of stabilizing their condition, allowing them to function safely and appropriately among others. This will hopefully lead to eventual rehabilitation back into society. The main technique used in this microsystem for the rehabilitation of patients is providing group therapy (GT) sessions. These sessions teach healthy coping mechanisms and encourage internal reflection on triggers that could be contributing to emotional instability.

Local Problem

Recently, the leadership team has made the decision that Mental Health Technicians (MHTs) and social workers will lead the …

Annual Report Of Undergraduate Research Fellows From August 2024 To May 2025, Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs. Morehead State University.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Reports and Publications

Annual Report of Undergraduate Research Fellows from August 2024 to May 2025.

Psychopathology, Symptomology, And Treatment In Offspring Of Holocaust Survivors: An Integrative Systematic Review, Lauren Grace Escobar

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the symptomatology, psychopathology, and treatment of offspring of Holocaust survivors (OHS). A comprehensive search was conducted in PsycINFO, PILOTS/PTSD, and Scopus for studies published between 1990 and 2024. Inclusion criteria required peer-reviewed studies, reports, books, literature reviews, and meta-analyses written or translated into English that reported on symptomatology and treatment for OHS. From an initial yield of 2,532 articles, 119 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that OHS demonstrate significantly higher levels of symptomatology and psychopathology reported in nine clinical classifications. Psychodynamic treatment was the most commonly found treatment modality for OHS, …

A New Dawn Of Joy: How Joy Is Cultivated Among Black Transgender And Nonbinary Young Adults In Florida, Courtney Marciá Gardner

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The state of Florida had a record-breaking number of implemented and proposed policies between 2023-2024 that impacted transgender and nonbinary individuals. Black transgender and nonbinary people are particularly impacted by these policies due to the compounded effects of their race and gender identity. Nonetheless, despite the growing literature on Black transgender and nonbinary individuals, a lack of research exists examining positive aspects of intersectional experiences among Black transgender and nonbinary individuals. This qualitative study shifts away from deficit centered frameworks by investigating how Black transgender and nonbinary young adults in Florida cultivate joy in their lives. This study uses a …

Queer And Thriving: Community As Resilience In An Anti-Lgbtq State, Lauren Aitken

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people are subject to unique, chronic, and socially based stressors known as minority stressors. Community can be an important resource for LGBTQ people which can help mitigate the harmful effects of minority stressors. This study sought to understand how minority stressors, such as institutionalized forms of prejudice, discrimination, and violence, affect LGBTQ people in Central Florida and how community connectedness can be used as a resource to mitigate those effects. This study used Central Florida as a research site because of its large LGBTQ population within a state where anti-LGBTQ laws are consistently …

Resilience And Stress: Trauma, Grit, Resilience And Perceived Organizational Support In First Responders, Paige Gallas Parker

Theses and Dissertations

First responders comprise an underserved and under-researched population, despite consensus that their work involves exposure to potentially traumatic events. Inconsistent definitions of “first responder” and unclear prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) limit efforts to assess and promote resilience. This study examined the relationships between grit, resilience, perceived organizational support, and trauma symptoms in a sample of 234 first responders (69% firefighters, 29% lifeguards) employed by a large West Coast fire department. Measures included a demographics questionnaire, the Professional Exposure to Traumatic Events (PETE), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the Short Grit Scale …

Outcomes Of A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Testing Brief Interventions To Increase Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Rural People Who Inject Drugs Attending Syringe Services Programs, Hilary L. Surratt, Sarah Brown, Abby L. Burton, Will Cranford, Laura C. Fanucchi, Christie Green, Stephanie M. Mersch, Rebecca Rains, Philip M. Westgate

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background: Kentucky is one of seven states with high, sustained rural HIV transmission tied to injection drug use. Expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been endorsed as a key HIV prevention strategy; however, uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) has been negligible in rural areas. Syringe services programs (SSPs) have been implemented throughout Kentucky’s Appalachian region, providing an important opportunity to integrate PrEP services. Objectives: The primary objective was to examine preliminary efficacy and effect sizes of the study interventions on PrEP initiation among HIV-negative PWID. Design: Parallel group randomized controlled trial. Methods: Eighty participants were enrolled from …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Healthcare Access, Kyla M. Frost

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and healthcare access, and ACEs and healthcare access among people of color. The current study is a secondary data analysis of the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A disproportionate stratified sample (DSS) design and a simple random sample design were used to collect data. The current study examined 48,865 participants who completed ACEs through telephone surveys. The results showed a statistically significant negative relationship between ACEs and healthcare access. The results also showed …

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities As A Risk For Child Maltreatment, Maddie Hawley

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and child maltreatment. Data from the 2022 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) from the state of Minnesota was analyzed. The sample was made up of 38,083 reports of child maltreatment, where the average age of the child was 7.66 years. 51.2% of the children in the sample were female, and White children comprised the largest portion of the sample at 39.6%. Results of this study showed that children with IDDs are at an elevated risk of child maltreatment compared to typically …

Impacts Of Sexual Assault On Mental Health In Adolescents, Nicole Trip

Graduate Research Papers

The current study focuses on the impacts of forced sexual activity on mental health among high school students. This study is a secondary data analysis, using the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), which is nationally representative data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A total of 19,945 high school students with an average age of 15.89 years, and about half of the students were White and male. This study found that experiences of sexual assault are associated with increased depression and suicidal ideation. This study also found that female youth experienced a higher level …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Chronic Health Conditions In Black Individuals, Emily K. Etringer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and chronic health conditions among Black individuals of different genders. The study employs quantitative research methods and utilizes secondary data analysis on the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, range, and inferential statistics, such as correlation analyses, independent groups t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. This research revealed a statistically significant finding that Black individuals with an ACE score of 4+ have more chronic …

Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Impact Of Social Support, Cultural Background, And Early Interventions, Alysha Haaland

Graduate Research Papers

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a critical public health issue that leaves enduring psychological, emotional, and social impacts on survivors. This paper examines the interrelated roles of social support, cultural background, and early interventions in promoting long-term resilience and recovery, with a particular focus on male and culturally diverse survivors. Grounded in Trauma and Resiliency Theory, this literature review highlights key protective factors—including emotional, informational, and instrumental support—while exploring how cultural norms, religious beliefs, and systemic stigma shape survivors’ coping strategies and access to care. The paper also evaluates the effectiveness of early interventions such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, …

Police Interactions On Adverse Mental Health Outcomes Within Black Communities, Anessa Smith

Graduate Research Papers

This study examines the relationship between police interactions and psychological distress among Black adults, contributing to existing research on systemic racism and mental health disparities. Utilizing secondary data analysis, the 2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this study focuses on the analysis of a nationally representative, address-based sample of non-institutionalized Black adults residing in California, with a sample size of 1,009. The study examines associations between the number of police stops over a three-year period and psychological distress by gender. Findings indicate that a higher frequency of police stops is significantly associated with increased psychological distress. However, no statistically significant …

Transforming Lives For Eternity: 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, Southern Adventist University

Strategic Plans

Southern Adventist University's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.

Harming To Healing: Exploring Harm Reduction In Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Treatment, Athena Lewin

Scripps Senior Theses

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is a maladaptive behavior that impacts individuals from all backgrounds, yet existing interventions often neglect harm reduction tactics that may enhance treatment outcomes. This study presents a quasi-experimental design to assess the effectiveness of harm reduction education when combined with a dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) based and motivational interviewing (MI) based counseling for young women (ages 18-26) who meet the criteria for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Disorder (NSSID). Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving only DBT/MI based therapy or an experimental group receiving both the DBT/MI based therapy and harm reduction education, which will …

A Discussion Of Positioning Theory: An Interview With Michael Bamberg And Luk Van Langenhove, Pasi Hirvonen, Michael Bamberg, Luk Van Langenhove, Bo Allesøe Christensen

Psychology

Since 2015 a Positioning Theory conference has been held biannually in either Europe or the US. These conferences have become a significant event for scholars and practitioners interested in the development and application of PT providing thereby a platform for discussing the latest research, sharing insights, and fostering collaborations. In the fourth edition of the conference, organised in Finland in July 2024, Professor Van Langenhove and Professor Bamberg both provided keynotes and Pasi Hirvonen and Bo Allesøe Christensen seized the opportunity of engaging both in an interview discussing their insights, contributions and personal thoughts about PT and its history. © …