Digital Commons Network^™

Gym Sexual Harassment And Bystander Intervention: An Application Of The Reasoned Action Approach, Eric Schisler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective. The purpose of this study was to modify and validate an instrument to examine factors associated with being an active bystander when witnessing sexual harassment at a gym or fitness center. Using Fishbein and Ajzen’s Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), this study aimed to better understand the influence of a person’s attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) on their intention to be an active bystander when witness to someone being sexually harassed at the gym in the next 30 days. Methodology. This study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, with phase one taking place between June and …

A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Interoceptive Awareness In Adults Who Stutter, Hazel Malcolm

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stuttering is commonly described as a disorder of speech fluency characterized by primary speech behaviors that are judged by external observers to be typical of stuttering, including part-word repetitions, prolongations, and blocks (i.e., silent prolongations or postural fixations). Despite wide use in the field of speech-pathology, definitions focusing on these ‘primary’ behaviors have also been criticized as ‘surface’ or ‘perceptual’ definitions that favor the experience of a listener over that of the speaker. Recent qualitative evidence suggests that, when asked, adults who stutter (AWS) instead define stuttering as an internal feeling or awareness of being ‘stuck’ that is surrounded by …

Evaluating The Effects Of 6-Day And 7-Day Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocols Using Sex-Sorted Semen On Pregnancy In Beef Cattle, Nicole Noel Noga

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study, 527 beef heifers from three locations across two states were enrolled between November 2020 and May 2021 for experiment 1, divided into three sub-experiments: 1A (n = 85), 1B (n = 383), and 1C (n = 59). These heifers were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Treatments 1 and 2 involved a 6-day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol, including administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 100 μg IM; Factrel; Zoetis Animal Health, Parssipany, NJ) and a CIDR insert (EAZI-BREED CIDR; 1.38g P₄; Zoetis Animal Health) on Day 0, followed by prostaglandin F2α (PGF_2α; …

Co-Creating A Process Of Tacit Knowledge Seeking Using Appreciative Inquiry: An Exploratory Case Study, Kristina Lewis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In today’s dynamic workplaces, knowledge exchange among employees is vital for organizational innovation and competitive advantage. However, existing literature on knowledge management has primarily focused on knowledge sharing, neglecting the proactive process of knowledge seeking, particularly regarding tacit knowledge. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the social process of tacit knowledge seeking in the workplace. Using appreciative inquiry as a method for collecting data, this qualitative exploratory single case study examines how employees seek tacit knowledge in an international consumer products organization. Guided by a social constructionist framework and appreciative perspective, the study seeks to understand the …

Reflection And Connection: Trauma-Informed Yoga And Its Aid In Trauma Healing In Female Identifying College Students, Gabrielle V. Sandoval

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic experiences affect female identifying folks at an unequal rate compared to other populations. Trauma-informed yoga (TIY) has become a popular intervention for treatment of symptoms related to trauma. By utilizing tenets such as meditation, intentional movement, and trauma-informed language and positioning, this practice focuses on the mind-body-connection to establish feelings of safety. Although trauma education and interventions are becoming commonly implemented on college campuses, there is a gap in implementation and empirical studies evaluating such campus programs. To explore how TIY could aid this population, a four-week yoga intervention was created. Four participants engaged in a weekly TIY class …

Mental Health In College Journalists: Recognizing Causes Of Trauma And Recommendations For Training In College Programs, Sydney R. Mulvenon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

News reporting serves as an important vehicle for sharing breaking news across diverse communities, yet it often entails significant stressors. Some news reporters may experience trauma while covering challenging stories or navigating negative experiences within the newsroom. Many professionals in journalism have expressed concerns about the lack of awareness of mental health in the field. Addressing this need, this research using a documentary format, explores the need for integrating trauma training and awareness initiative into college-level journalism programs. Drawing on stories from former journalists and other professionals connected to journalism, this documentary highlights the pressing need for trauma-focused coursework to …

A Mobile Application Intervention For Insomnia Among College Students, Veronica Floyd

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous studies have found that the prevalence of insomnia among college students is high. This has implications for students mental and physical well-being, academic performance, and the onset of more chronic insomnia symptomology. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the front-line treatment for insomnia, but cost and time are often barriers to treatment access. The goal of this study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a more cost-effective self-guided version of CBT-I (via mobile application). Fifty-five college students, who were mostly women (82%) and mean age 19.3 (SD = 2.3) years with moderate insomnia symptoms were …

Evaluating The Association Between Daily Fluctuations In Sleep And Blood Pressure, Mara Egeler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a major contributing factor for heart disease, with nearly half of US adults meeting criteria. While studies have begun to examine the relationship between insomnia and blood pressure (BP), little is still known regarding the relationship between daily fluctuations in sleep and BP. This study aimed to provide further clarification on the role insomnia plays in the development of hypertension, including the impact that daily fluctuations in sleep have on fluctuations in BP. Participants included 61 adults from the greater Northwest Arkansas area (63.9% White, 67.2% Female, 30-79 y) who completed 10 consecutive days of sleep and blood …

The Constant String Of Crises: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Twitter Responses To Celebrity Crisis Communications, Megan Willman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Celebrity crises are more prominent in today’s social-media-fueled world than ever before. Public relations teams are hired to handle these instances on behalf of the celebrity, but no one can control the discourse that ensues on social media. The end goal of these teams is to restore trust and reputation with stakeholders and fans. Although there have been many studies on crisis communications, there are few studies thus far that have examined the strategy as well as the discourse of such timely crises. The public figures included in this paper are Ashton Kutcher, Lizzo, Luke Combs, Mila Kunis, and Taylor …

Navigating Transitions: Utilizing Autoethnographic Writing Prompts To Support Nontraditional College Students, Brijet Lynn Beazer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the transition nontraditional students undergo as they embark on their college journey and the unique challenges they face. Leveraging autoethnographic writing prompts as an intervention strategy, the project employed a participatory approach over virtual platforms to capture the tapestry of experiences and connect participants to form a supportive community. Participants included older individuals with work experience, some who experienced parenthood, or those returning after an extended break. Through crafted prompts, individuals shared their academic journey, balancing work, and family responsibilities. The reflections gathered provide valuable data, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs of nontraditional students. The …

Decolonizing Neo-Liberalism, Empowering The Local: A Global South Reading Of Noir In The 2000s., Jean-Hugues Bita’A Menye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research aims at providing a Global South reading of noir in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It relies on the premise that noir, a sub-genre of crime fiction born in France during World War II, offered new avenues of literary creation and political criticism. Based on a selection of authors from the U.S., Mexico, Algeria, and Cameroon, the dissertation explores how authors from underrepresented or formerly-colonized communities discuss the impact of neoliberal thinking in their communities. With an emphasis on race and gender dynamics, nation building and terrorism, police corruption and brutality, or the growth of organized, each …

Examining The Direct And Mediating Relationship Between Immigration, Family Structure, And Crime: A Community-Level Analysis., Obed Asare

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT Amidst debate about immigration into the United States, many in the public and varying levels of government have questioned its impact on vital social institutions of social control. Public perception often associates immigrants with increased crime, though empirical research reveals a consistently null or negative association at the community-level. Scholars have proposed that immigrants contribute to community revitalization and foster social control, at least some of which may be tied to the ways that immigration reshapes aggregate family structures across the community. However, few empirical studies examine this important relationship. The current study aims to bridge this gap in …

Perceptions Of Families, Students, And Teachers On Iep Engagement For Families And Students Of Color During Junior High And Senior High School Iep Conferences, Amillia K. Oswalt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of families and students of color and their teachers during junior high and high school IEP meetings. This study, informed by DisCrit, explored the similarities and differences of families, students, and teachers during IEP meetings as well as the use of research-based practices designed to increase family engagement for culturally diverse families. Participants completed surveys and participated in interviews about their experiences. The student’s most current IEP was also reviewed to determine the ways in which teachers document family and student engagement within the IEP document. The major themes identified were that research-based practices …

Three Years Of Abrahamic Accords: A Contemporary Episode Of False Peace, Wael Abdelhafez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Abrahamic Accords mark the latest phase in the peace negotiation efforts concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict. Through diplomatic maneuvers, temptations, and promises, the United States managed to persuade four Arab countries to depart from the principles of the Arab Initiative and instead sign the Abrahamic Accords, establishing full normalization treaties with Israel. Many other countries and significant powers maintain divergent perspectives on the Abrahamic Accords. After three years, The Accords offer numerous potential economic, security, and strategic benefits, with Israel standing to gain the lion's share. This thesis explores the connection between the Frustration-Aggression Theory and the ongoing violence in …

Institutionalized Stigmas: Hiv Stigma, Racism And Heterosexism Among Medical Students In The Southern United States, Krishen D. Samuel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Intersecting and related forms of stigma, including HIV-related stigma, racism, and heterosexism, disproportionately impact both communities vulnerable to acquiring HIV and people living with HIV (PLHIV), ultimately impacting more distal outcomes related to HIV prevention, treatment, and epidemiological patterns in the United States (US). The Southern US is the region most impacted by new HIV diagnoses, mainly among Black men who have sex with men (MSM). However, there is a paucity of research on medical students, specifically those in the Southern US, regarding stigmatizing attitudes they may hold towards PLHIV, and how these associate with racism and heterosexism. This …

The Interplay Of Chronic Alcohol Misuse And Facial Recognition Abilities, Morgan Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Both perpetrators and eyewitnesses of a crime have often been found to be under the influence of alcohol. While research has been conducted on the short-term effect of alcohol on eyewitness memory and lineup performance, little research has investigated the long-term effects of chronic alcohol misuse on facial recognition abilities. The current study investigated the effect of alcohol misuse on facial recognition and whether duration of misuse contributed to this effect. Participants (n = 370) completed an online survey which consisted of a well-tested facial recognition paradigm plus several surveys pertaining to individual differences of interest. We found race match …

A Comparative Examination Of Background Attributes, Criminogenic Factors, Status Changes, And Preparatory Activities Across Ideological And Non-Ideological Mass Shootings, Brynn Schuetter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The overall focus of this study is the relevance of extreme ideology as a distinguishing factor underlying the motivational circumstances of mass shootings in the United States over the last few decades. Along with comparatively examining the lethality of mass shootings, background attributes, criminogenic factors, status changes, and preparatory activities are compared across ideological and non-ideological mass shooters. Data are extracted from the Extremist Crime Database (ECDB), the Bias Homicide Database (BHDB), and Schildkraut’s Database on Mass Shootings. Results highlight key differences in offenders’ experiences of personal status changes and engagement in preparatory activities prior to committing mass shootings. These …

Examining The Impact Of Parental Punishment And School Punishment On Delinquency And Criminal Justice Contact, Mia Robert

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prior research states the important role that both parents and schools play in setting children up for success. However, few researchers have studied how parents and schools work in tandem to achieve these outcomes. The current study aims to fill this gap by understanding the relationship between parental harshness and exclusionary discipline at age 9, specifically suspension, and how it affects delinquency and later criminal justice contact at age 15. Using longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), this study aimed to answer the following two research questions: 1) Does increased parental harshness and harsh …

Exploring The Intersection Of Masculinity, Mental Health, And Mass Shootings, Kaitlyn Campbell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Few studies have explored how intersecting challenges to masculinity and mental health can precipitate mass shootings. This study examines how responses to strained masculinity and mental health disorders combine across varying situational and social contexts to explain why and how offenders commit mass shootings. Data come from the U.S. Extremist Crime Database, Bias Homicide Database, and other open-source data on mass shootings. Drawing from Allison and Klein’s (2021) concept of “strained masculinity”, this study utilizes a qualitative narrative approach to uncover themes of strained masculinity and mental health issues among perpetrators of mass shootings. Different storylines emerge capturing ways some …

Advancing Qualitative Inquiry In Agricultural Communications: An Analysis Of Theories, Methodologies, And Standards For Quality, Karli Yarber

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation offers a deep dive into the evolving landscape of qualitative research within the field of agricultural communications. Through a trio of research articles, this research critically assesses the application of theories, methodologies, and standards for quality across studies published in six disciplinary journals from 2003 to 2023. The first manuscript explores the theoretical frameworks guiding qualitative research in agricultural communications, uncovering a diverse but scattered theoretical underpinning with Framing, Diffusion of Innovations, and Uses and Gratifications Theory emerging as the most prevalent. The second manuscript meticulously examines the methodologies employed, revealing a growing acceptance and application of qualitative …

Erased From The Curriculum: Studying The Role Curriculum Plays On Students Political Attitudes At The University, Julie Jann Gallagher

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

University curriculum shapes political identity. Most studies focus on secondary education, overlooking the influence of university curriculum and its effect on students’ political attitudes. For this study, I examine the curriculum of three classes: American Government, African American Studies, and Astronomy. I argue that exposure to race-specific curriculum shapes racial identity. The results will suggest that students who take non-race-specific courses are more likely to support racially neutral and colorblind (White Nationalist) attitudes. I argue that curriculum affects students’ political attitudes.

The International Experience: Foreigners In Fayetteville, Khadn Blaine Adderley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project is aimed toward showcasing the stories of some international students who currently attend or recently attended the University of Arkansas and have lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas. With the University of Arkansas being home to a range of international students from all over the world, it’s important to get an understanding from some of those students who leave their home country to spend the next four years as a member of the Fayetteville community. This project is a podcast that is split up into four episodes, highlighting the experiences of international students, University of Arkansas employees who assist with …

Evaluating The Effects Of A Noninvasive, Commercial-Grade Neurofeedback Technology And Mindfulness On Sleep Quality In Elite Athletes, Sydney Anne Hammit

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Proper sleep is a vital element in the lives of elite athletes due to its effects on recovery, performance, and mental and emotional health. However, despite the importance of sleep quality, elite athletes are experiencing notable difficulties with both sleep quantity and quality. While sleep is necessary for all individuals, it is specifically essential for elite athletes. Sleep quality issues can be accompanied by both physical and psychological struggles, which is concerning for the population of elite athletes who are struggling with sleep quality at higher rates than the general population. Despite the increasing awareness of sleep quality struggles …

Understanding Young Adult Consumers’ Attitudes And Intentions Towards Showrooming Behavior, Juliana Marconi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid advancement in information technologies, retailers integrate omnichannel marketing strategies to provide consumers with low prices, good products, and unique shopping experiences. Omnichannel retailing brings changes to consumer decision-making processes. Consumers use all channels (online and offline) simultaneously at the same time during the product search, purchase, and aftersales stages. Some consumers prefer to check out a product in a brick-and-mortar store, but purchase it online. This is referred to as showrooming. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of mobile devices and smartphones in shopping, consumers search e-commerce sites using mobile devices while they shop in …

The Effect Of Crime On Mental Health In South Africa, Magda Tsaneva, Lauren-Kate Laplante

Economics

This paper examines the impact of district-level crime rates in South Africa on individual depression symptoms. We use panel data from the National Income Dynamics Survey collected between 2008 and 2014 and estimate an individual fixed effects regression model, thus controlling for characteristics of the individual's environment that could affect crime and mental health. We find that an increase of one standard deviation in property (violent) crime is associated with a 7.2 (8.7) percentage point increase in the probability of depression symptoms. Analysis of potential mechanisms suggests that indirect exposure to crime likely affects mental health by increasing stress rather …

Healthcare Providers’ Screening And Counseling For Tobacco Use Among Youth In The United States: Prevalence, Practices, And Providers’ Perspectives, Adeola Omolade Ayo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Youth tobacco use is a public health concern in the United States (U.S.) with about 2.8 million middle and high school youth reporting current tobacco use in 2023. Healthcare providers (HCPs) can play a crucial role in addressing youth tobacco use through screening and counseling, yet rates of these interventions are suboptimal. Tennessee has a high prevalence of youth tobacco use and not much is known about these interventions in Northeast Tennessee. This study has several objectives: 1) conduct a scoping review of available evidence on screening and counseling for youth tobacco use and identify related gaps; 2) assess youth …

An Environmental Struggle: Nature’S Role In The Poetry Of Seamus Heaney And Robert Frost, Jake Lawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Both New England’s Robert Frost and Northern Ireland’s Seamus Heaney are considered major poets of the 20^th century. Both poets present speakers who rely upon rural settings to explore troublesome feelings and difficult experiences. Their speakers project their human experience onto nature, but because nature is indifferent, they cannot find solutions for their personal discomfort and uncertainties. By examining the writers in this order—Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mary Oliver, Seamus Heaney, and Robert Frost—a spectrum concerning the poet and their relationship to nature emerges. By considering John Ruskin’s pathetic fallacy, we will see a movement from irrationality in transcendental depictions, …

Influence Of Medication Assisted Treatment Weaning On Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome And Outcomes Among Infants Born To Women With Opioid Use Disorder, Rakesh Adelli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a drug withdrawal syndrome exhibited by infants born to mothers with opioid use disorder (OUD). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other professional societies endorse opioid agonist pharmacotherapy (MATs) as the optimal treatment for OUD during pregnancy. This study focuses on impact of weaning of MAT drugs on the incidence of NAS and neonatal birth outcomes among babies born to women with opioid exposure.

The study population included eighty-six pregnant women with OUD, divided in to weaning and non-weaning groups based on their choice to wean the MATs during pregnancy. Univariate analysis was …

The Association Between Prenatal Care And Postpartum Depression: Current State And Future Directions, Esther Adebayo-Abikoye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health challenge and associated with poor maternal and infant health outcomes. Quality prenatal care decreases adverse outcomes in pregnancy and may reduce PPD risk factors. This study critically reviews the evidence about the role of prenatal care practices in reducing PPD prevalence across population groups and examines the association between prenatal care timing and counseling content with PPD prevalence.

Methods

A scoping review was completed across eight databases to synthesize evidence about prenatal care and PPD across different contextual settings. National data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) was used …

The Aspirations Of The Youth Of South Sudan Towards Tertiary Technical Education, Peace, Development And Civic Engagements, Sunil Orathel

Doctoral Dissertations

South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world, gained independence on July 9, 2011, following many long years of civil war and untold human suffering. After a decade of independence and millions spent from international assistance, neither stability nor development have been secured in the country. Although primary education is improving, tertiary education, particularly tertiary technical education, is considered a neglected sector. This descriptive mixed-method study documents and analyzes 1,461 surveys and 60 interviews, capturing the aspirations of the secondary school youth and stakeholders across the nation of South Sudan towards tertiary technical education, peace, development and civic engagements. Historical …