Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Lived Experiences Of Geriatric African American Males In Recovery And Participation In Spiritual Social-Oriented Communities, Gail Venerable

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use among older persons has increased among the aging baby boomer generation. At the same time, individuals aged 65 and beyond see increased longevity. The utilization of alcohol and drugs as a means of managing associated challenges has been shown to contribute to health problems that lead to a diminished quality of life and early death rates. Empirical investigations have demonstrated that social-oriented interventions such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have a beneficial role in sustaining an individual’s recovery process. However, joining such programs may pose challenges for African American males 65 and older due to African Americans’ distrust of …

Exploring The Validity Of Adolescent Responses To A Measure Of Psychological Flexibility And Inflexibility, Caleb D. Farley, Tyler L. Renshaw

Psychology Student Research

Validating measures of psychological flexibility (PF) and psychological inflexibility (PI) has occurred in multiple adult samples, but little research has validated PF and PI measures with adolescents. This manuscript describes two studies exploring the validity of responses to the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) with two samples of adolescents. The first study used exploratory factor analyses on responses to the MPFI with a sample of 16–17-year-olds (N = 249). The results yielded a reduced and simplified measurement model that consisted of two general factors: one for PF and the other for PI. These exploratory findings were further investigated with …

The Relationship Between Remote Followers’ Perceptions Of Leader’S Emotional Intelligence And Followers’ Psychological Safety, Gender, And Tenure, Jeanine P. Stroud

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study explored the relationship between remote workers’ perceptions of their leaders’ emotional intelligence and their self-reported psychological safety, with gender and tenure as moderating variables. Data from 172 remote employees using a cross-sectional online survey revealed that perceived leader emotional intelligence was a significant predictor of psychological safety, both as a composite measure and across its four dimensions of emotional intelligence: self-emotional appraisal, others’ emotional appraisal, regulation of emotion, and use of emotion. Gender moderated the relationship with the combined interaction of worker and leader gender in female leader–female follower dyads. Tenure with the leader did not moderate …

“I Will Never Be Out With This Campus”: Impacts Of Lgbtq+ Microaggressions, Clara E. O'Brien

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

This study reports on the results of a mixed method analysis on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ microaggressions experienced at a non-affirming Free Methodist affiliated university campus. The impact of religiously based LGBTQIA+ microaggressions on religion-sexuality conflict and, in turn strength of religious faith and sexual identity distress was examined. Further, I explored whether racial identity moderated the relationship between religiously based LGBTQIA+ microaggressions and sexual identity distress. Participants (N = 248) included students, faculty, and staff identifying as LGBTQIA+. Quantitative results suggested that that greater religion-sexuality conflict was associated with greater strength of religious faith (B = .239, …

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation As A Treatment Modality For Functional Bowel Disorder And Irritable Bowel Syndrome And Possible Correlations With The Gut-Brain Axis: A Review, Lauren Draper, Devin Pfister, Ethan Zaugg

Annual Research Symposium

Functional Bowel Disorders (FBD), including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), are highly prevalent gastrointestinal conditions classified as Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions (DGBIs) under the Rome IV criteria. These conditions, marked by abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and significant psychological comorbidities, present substantial challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. Conventional therapies primarily target gut-centric mechanisms but often yield limited efficacy, underscoring the need for approaches that account for the complex interplay of the gut-brain axis in DGBI pathophysiology.

Anesthesia And Pain Management In Conflict-Affected Regions: Addressing Global Health Barriers To Access And Quality Of Care​, Naeel Uddin, Sierra Brown, Maria Easler, Ayanda Mkhize, Marwa Hamdam, Chandu Goli, Lauren Draper

Annual Research Symposium

This poster examines how to deliver safe, effective anesthesia and pain control in areas with limited resources and ongoing security threats. Focusing on portable technology, ketamine-based protocols, and telemedicine, we highlight ethical considerations, training needs, and global collaborations. Our findings outline a pathway to reduce suffering and improve surgical outcomes in vulnerable populations by addressing challenges unique to conflict settings.

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Substance Use Behaviors In U.S. Adults, Nelson Weaver

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented societal changes in recent years. Beyond the direct health impacts of COVID-19, the pandemic has significantly impacted various aspects of society, including substance use behaviors. Substance use has been a longstanding public health concern in the United States as a means to combat stressors. Substance use-related issues impact over 18 million Americans, causing detriments to financial, interpersonal, and societal well-being. The present study aims to analyze the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures on substance use behaviors in U.S. adults before the pandemic and during the pandemic with Asian, …

Verbal And Numeric Eyewitness Confidence Differentially Affect Decision-Making, Pia Pennekamp

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Eyewitness confidence is typically communicated verbally (e.g., certain). Interpretations for verbal confidence statements are variable which could affect decision-making. I explored the extent to which confidence format (i.e., verbal vs. numeric) influences juror decision-making. Participants (N = 468) read a trial vignette in which an expert witness draws attention to the eyewitness's confidence in their suspect identification (uncertain, or certain, or 28%, or 88%). Participants rated the expert's recommendation, rendered a conviction decision, and provided confidence in their decision on a scale of 0 = Not at all confident to 10 = Completely confident. Mock-jurors were more likely to convict …

Transhumanism And Artificial Personality, John D. Mayer

UNH Personality Lab

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Methods For Binning Responses To Open-Ended Survey Items About Everyday Events: A New Tailored-Binning Approach, Derrick M. Angier, John D. Mayer

UNH Personality Lab

Psychologists and other researchers employ diverse types of surveys and survey items. Lifespace-type items include questions about a person’s external life conditions and activities, for example, “How many hours did you spend playing video games last week?” and elicit countable responses, for example, 0 hours, < 1 hour, 1-2 hours, 3-5 hours, etc., where the response intervals are referred to as bins. We report on a procedure for creating tailored bins for participants and compare it to two other binning approaches in an original and a replication study (Ns = 263 and 246). The Tailored binning approach developed here is highly structured, but, for convenience, can also be applied in less formal fashions. In the structured form focused on here, it compares favorably with alternative approaches such as Equal Percentage and Equal Interval methods. The pros and cons of each method …

Experiencing The First Year Of Covid-19 Pandemic: Feelings And Thoughts Of Emerging Adults, Miljana Spasić Šnele Phd, Ivana Janković Phd, Jelisaveta Todorović Phd

The Qualitative Report

COVID-19 brought many changes in the daily functioning of many individuals, including emerging adults, due to social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and the closure of public institutions, thus representing a threat to physical and mental health. We investigated how emerging adults felt regarding their experience during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were also interested in what they had been thinking about in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic one year after its declaration. To answer these questions, we conducted a qualitative study. The participants included 51 students aged 19 to 28 years old. Conducting thematic analysis six themes related …

“But How Do I Start?” A Beginner’S Guide To Your First Qualitative Project, Jason B. Whiting Phd, Bria Nicole Davies

The Qualitative Report

Many new qualitative researchers feel overwhelmed and struggle to find direction in existing books and articles about qualitative methodology. Qualitative methods have a long history that includes different philosophies, practices, and methods, and there are endless ways to interpret and use these tools within these traditions. This article introduces basic qualitative methods with the intent to guide a first-time researcher through a first social science research project, such as a thesis or dissertation. It frames the process as a five-step journey with guidelines to follow and additional resources that can be accessed related to each phase. Although the craft of …

The Disinformation Vaccine: A Case For Integrating Comprehensive Disinformation Education Into First Year Writing Classes, Benjamin F. Jackson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Students’ exposure to disinformation and misinformation is far greater than it has ever been. As the ability of generative AI to produce image, video, and audio deepfakes grows more sophisticated, disinformation will become even easier to spread and harder to detect. The rapid spread of social, political, scientific, and medical disinformation has been deadly and its potential is disastrous. Security experts now warn that dis/misinformation is the greatest threat to national security. Americans at large and students in particular have a demonstrated lack of information literacy when it comes to detecting false information, and bad actors nationally and globally are …

African American Mothers’ Descriptions Of Teaching Their Daughters Racial Socialization And Identity Development In Affluent Communities, Vashonda Helen Eason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American mothers’ experience of teaching self-love and confidence to their daughters while faced with discriminatory practices has been examined regarding African American parenting in urban and low-income areas. However, the experiences of African American mothers who face similar discrimination but live in affluent communities are less understood. Grounded in motivation and systems theories, the purpose of this qualitative ethnographic study was to describe how African American mothers in affluent communities teach racial socialization and identity development to their daughters. Ten African American mothers residing in the Northwest Arkansas region participated in one-on-one in-person interviews to explore their individual experiences …

University Counselor Perceptions Of Safety And Safety Coping Strategies After On-Campus Mass Shootings, Tonya Sims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For over 2 decades, mass college campus shootings have been a problem in the United States. College counselors are required to assist and support others on campus after mass shootings and coping with their own concerns and safety. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore coping strategies and perceptions of safety of college counselors in response to the potential risk of gun violence on campus. The framework was based on Figley’s principles of stress theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of eight university counselors. Narrative data were collected and analyzed manually for emerging themes. …

Inclusive Space For Everyone Door Sign (Printable 8.5 X 11 Inch), Joan H. Robinson

Open Educational Resources

This is a printable 8.5 x 11 inch door sign for faculty, staff, and administrators to let people know it is an inclusive space for everyone. For improved visibility, print with a color printer and cut along the dotted line.

See also: 11 x 17 inch door sign.

Experiences Of Minority Workers: A Three-Study Dissertation Evaluating Recruitment And Workplace Experiences For Minority Workers, Jennifer Saucedo

Dissertations and Theses

Through a series of three manuscripts, the dissertation explores the experiences of minority groups across different points of the employee life cycle. As minority employees often face a negative set of unique stressors inside and outside of work, this series of papers attempt to further our understanding of minority experiences during the organizational stages of recruitment and retention. The first manuscript tests the effects of recruitment material on pre-hire applicant outcomes for minorities by integrating literature on realistic job previews (RJPs) and diversity recruitment. The experimental study finds that leader diversity testimonials that provide a mix of positive and negative …

Moral Positioning In The South China Sea Disputes Between The Philippines And China, Eryan Ramadhani

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

For the past two decades, disputes between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea (SCS) have experienced continuous escalation. Benigno Aquino III filed an arbitration case against China. This legal success was later overturned by Rodrigo Duterte in exchange for closer relations with China. However, his decision did not cease hostility in the SCS. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. then brought the Philippines back on legal track and steered the country closer to the United States, which further heightened tensions. Built on this background, this article intends to explain the unceasing escalation in the SCS using Positioning Theory (PT). This …

Predictors Of Treatment Adherence Among Individuals With Bipolar Disorder And Comorbid Substance Use Disorders, Monique Dawn Romeo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) require lifelong treatment to manage their symptoms, and many also struggle with comorbid substance use disorders (BD-SUD) that complicate treatment adherence. Despite these challenges, there has been limited research on what factors predict successful treatment adherence in this population. This study was thus conducted to identify key predictors of adherence among individuals with BD-SUD. Several factors were examined, including age, gender, type of substance used at admission, opioid medication-assisted therapy, length of stay in inpatient psychiatric care, type of discharge service, and participation in self-help groups before discharge. The study applied a donut model framework …

Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, And Self-Care Practices: Mental Health Professionals Working In The Community, Autumn Brooke Wohlford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health has been thoroughly researched in recent years. However, following community-level mental health professionals' mental health patterns is an emerging concept in the present research field. Due to the recent high demand for mental health professionals in their communities, burnout and compassion have increased. In recent years, researchers have focused on increased burnout and compassion fatigue, as well as the use of self-care practices in mental health professionals. To further contribute to the research, using a quantitative research study, burnout rates, compassion fatigue, and self-care practices were examined in mental health professionals using a multiple linear regression. Sixty mental …

Child Sexual Abuse And Mental Health: The Role Of Intrusive Thoughts And Spiritual Warfare, Sheriese S. Sanchez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A number of psychological issues are experienced by individuals who have experienced CSA, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, as well as intrusive thoughts contribute to the perpetuation of the mental health problem. Studies have shown that spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, reading the Bible, and reciting scripture affirmations, can improve mental health, improving one’s psychological well-being. Further, intrusive thoughts may be initiated by dark spiritual influences. Despite ongoing research, there is a lack of integration between disciplines of science and biblical truth concerning the impact of immaterial spiritual dimensions on psychological states. To understand intrusive thoughts, one must …

Understanding The Relationship Between Food And Connection To God, Angela M. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A person’s relationship with God is a personal one, as is the choice of the food we eat. Today we see more and more people struggle with unhealthy relationships with food. And our relationship with food affects more than just our physical health. Food and diet can play a role in how we hear from God. The present qualitative study aimed to understand the relationship between food and connection to God. Specifically, this study aimed to explain lived experiences with food and if diet affected connection to God. A total of twelve Christian, adult men and women participated in 1:1 …

Effects Of Coping Strategies On Acculturation-Based Conflict And Mental Health Symptoms Among Asian American Youths, Jennifer Yu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Various research has identified numerous culturally specific stressors as contributors to Asian American (AA) youth mental health problems and their functional impairments. Proper coping strategies are crucial for children to manage stresses resulting from relational conflicts, and a specific coping strategy may either facilitate engaging in adaptable responses or avoiding the conflicts. However, there is a lack of studies to determine the types of coping strategies that have been effective among AA youths to reduce conflicts with their parents and to decrease their depression and anxiety. To address these limitations, this research study aimed at exploring the types of effective …

Learning From Sesame Street: A Qualitative Analysis Of Acceptance, Inclusion, And Cultural Diversity, Justin M. Polette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sesame Street first aired on public television in 1968. Sesame Street was developed by television producer Joan Ganz Cooney in partnership with educational and developmental psychologists to bridge the achievement gap in school readiness, specifically in underserved and underrepresented urban communities. This achievement gap was credited to societal racism and a lack of acculturation and racial diversity. Sesame Street was one of the first television programs, and the first children’s program, to feature an urban setting and a culturally diverse cast. During the 1940s, television programming was an almost exclusively white, Caucasian medium. The roles written for minority characters were …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Mindfulness Practice In Enhancing Memory Function In Veterans, Margarita A. Balish

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In recent years, mindfulness practice has become more prevalent in treatment methods for mental health issues, and it is an underlying component in many existing therapies. Quantitative studies have been accomplished on the benefits of mindfulness practice in various population groups to include Veterans, but there is a lack of understanding of the perceived effectiveness of mindfulness practice on memory function in Veterans. Therefore, perceived effectiveness of mindfulness practice in enhancing memory function in Veterans was examined in this qualitative study. Ten Veterans, 18 years of age or older participated in a digitally guided mindfulness application over the course of …

Worldview And Moral Injury: An Exploratory Multiple Case Study On Behavioral Health Providers’ Descriptions Of Moral Injury, Mark C. Lane Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The concept of Moral Injury continues to gain research traction in the helping professional fields. Researchers continue to debate different components of Moral Injury. Defining, assessing, and treating Moral Injury captures much of the psychological literature. Despite this, standardized holistic conceptualization and treatment have yet to be realized. Worldview influences all aspects of every endeavor in human life. As such, this qualitative exploratory multiple case study from a Christian post-positivist position explored how Department of Defense or Veteran Affairs behavioral health providers’ worldview influences their descriptions of the construct of Moral Injury, its morbidity, and how behavioral health providers choose …

Response To Intervention: Educator Perception Of A Systematic Framework To Support Reading Achievement And Improve Efficacy, Sarah Christine Ducko

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Response to Intervention, a multi-tiered system of supports, utilizes data-based decision making for early identification and intervention, and when implemented with fidelity, results in positive outcomes for student achievement. While RtI has been studied, continued societal changes and individual needs necessitate further research to shed light on current educator perspectives. This qualitative phenomenological study sought to explore educators’ lived experiences of RtI in reading with regard to their knowledge, training received, strengths, and challenges of implementation. An anonymous online survey was distributed to elementary educators in four school districts within Chester County, PA. Data was analyzed to identify significant statements …

Relationship Between Daily Hassles In Different Domains And Later Anxiety And Depression With A Moderator Of Rejection Sensitivity Among Adolescents, Ashley Vasquez Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exposure to stress can affect youths’ well-being; however, there was a need for research on how different types of stress or daily hassles are associated with emotional adjustment. Daily hassles common in adolescence, can occur in multiple domains including school, family, peer, appearance, and sports. Being sensitive to rejection may strengthen associations with emotional adjustment problems, especially for hassles in interpersonal domains. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the associations between daily hassles in different domains and later anxiety and depression and how nervous and angry rejection sensitivity moderated those relationships. This study was based on …

Aviation Maintenance Technicians’ Perceptions Of Safety Management System Implementation At Maintenance, Repair, And Overhaul Facilities, Stanley Matthew Losiewicz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A safety management system (SMS) is challenging for an aviation maintenance facility and even more significant for the aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) entrusted to perform the work due to organizational, methodological, and consistency issues. The incorporation of an SMS is new in the United States for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities that operate under the Code of Federal Regulations Part 145. AMTs constitute the bulk of the workers in an MRO. By default, a safety culture and safety consciousness existed in MROs prior to an SMS, and this study was conducted to understand the perceptions of the AMTs in …

The Effects Of The Devaluation Of The Egyptian Pound On Auc Student Happiness, Mariam Kharboush, Nour Dabbour, Nelly Abdelwahed, Nour Heikal

The Undergraduate Research Journal

The aim of this research is to investigate the difference in measured happiness between students who pay the full tuition cost at the American University in Cairo (AUC) versus students who are on financial aid/scholarship in light of the devaluation of the Egyptian Pound. The literature review found that there are five key determinants for the happiness of university students: financial satisfaction, academic performance, leisure time, social support, and high levels of self-confidence and esteem. These five factors were used in the conceptual framework along with the utility theory. This study was executed through an online Google Forms survey that …