Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Serotonin 1a Receptor Modulation On Behavioral Flexibility In Btbr And C57bl/6j Mice, Cassandra Cavazos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by a subset of symptoms known as restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs). RRBs are categorized into both lower order and higher order RRBs, where the latter can be described as behavioral inflexibility. The BTBR T+ tf/J (BTBR) mouse strain has been an extensively used animal model that demonstrate the behavioral symptoms of these individuals, including inflexible behavior. Currently, there are few effective treatments for individuals with ASD that express RRBs. Past research has investigated treatments that target serotonin due its historic involvement in ASD. 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamine) tetralin) is a research …

The Role Of 5-Ht6 Receptor Activation In Learning Consolidation, Jasmine Alyssa Robinson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus on serotonergic dysfunction as a contributor to cognitive deficits in disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia drives researchers to investigate the functional impact of specific serotonin receptor types on executive functioning. By discerning the potential enhancement or impairment effects, this endeavor seeks to unravel the complex interplay between serotonin receptors and cognitive abilities. Specifically, within the three domains of learning, acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval, we find serotonergic modulation to be pivotal. Recent studies have highlighted the 5-HT6 receptor as a novel target for cognitive enhancement. However, the majority of the research investigates the effects …

Experiences Of Work Meaningfulness Through The Lens Of Work-Family Identity, Rebecca Aliya Steiner

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In today's growing workforce, there is a need for individuals to feel worthwhile and valuable for the work that they do in an organization, with the experience of meaningfulness at work seen as increasingly important among employees. The purpose of this study was to investigate work-family identity and its role in experiences of work meaningfulness. Specifically, we utilized a cross-sectional survey design to examine the moderating effects of boundary management and FSSB in determining the relationship between identity and experiences of work meaningfulness. We tested our hypotheses using data collected from 196 employees who were categorized as either “work-identified” or …

The Utilization Of Music And Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response In Reducing Stress, Robert Scott

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Stress is often identified as a “silent killer” and the negative impact on one’s mental and physical well-being is greatly impacted without intervention. This study sought to determine which form of coping, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) or music, is an effective strategy for reducing stress. The study was conceptualized using the positivist paradigm of research. An electronic survey was dispersed to participants via the website SurveyMonkey. Descriptive data was collected using demographic information gathered during the first portion of the survey. Participants’ self-identified stress levels were gathered before and after they viewed their randomly assigned coping strategy (ASMR or …

A Systematic Review On The Effectiveness Of The Gun Violence Restraining Order, Bonnie Galloway, Yasmeen Gonzalez-Ayala

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) is a type of restraining order that prevents individuals, who pose a significant risk to themselves or others from having, owning, and buying firearms, firearms parts, ammunition, or magazines. This gun law was enacted in January 2016, in response to the many mass shootings that had occurred prior to this legislation. Objective: This study systematically reviewed published articles to examine the effectiveness of GVRO. Methods: We used the following databases to identify articles: OneSearch, Google Scholar, and Google. The search terms used included “gun violence restraining orders” and its abbreviation “GVRO,” combined with other …

The Role Of Social Support And Emotional Regulation In Relationship With Adverse Childhood Experiences And Food Addiction, Negin Ghaffari

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic experiences that occur before the age of 18 and can have long-standing impacts on mental and physical health. Individuals with high exposure to ACEs may be at increased risk for depression, substance use disorders, and cardiovascular disease (Hughes et al., 2017). Social support has been shown to play an essential role in reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes, such as substance dependence following exposure to adverse experiences. Furthermore, emotional regulation difficulties have been shown to mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and food addiction. There has been little research on adverse events in …

How Did The Covid-19 Pandemic Impact Extended Foster Care Social Workers While Providing Social Services, Omar Ramirez, Victoria Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study used ten interviews with Extended Foster Care (EFC) workers about their experiences with EFC youth from a county agency before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic using a qualitative research design. The purpose of the research was to learn from EFC social workers how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their ability to provide services to the EFC youth, negatively or positively, and how supported they felt in delivering these services. Data was collected by interviewing the ten participants via Zoom. Data was analyzed by categorizing the responses with different colors based on the responses. Significant findings were identified regarding agency …

Factors Affecting The Enrollment And Graduation Rates Amongst African American Males In The United States, Tracie Johnson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This study explored factors that interfered with the matriculation and graduation rates into and from college among African American males in the U.S. Low rates have been associated with systemic racism and exclusion. The study hypothesized, that 60% of the participants ended the matriculation process or did not graduate from college due to racism and or/exclusion. Criteria to participate in the qualitative study, at least 18 years of age, born a biological male, of African American descent or origin, desired to attend college but did not enroll, attended college but did not graduate with a college degree. Samples were …

Social Media Told Me I Have A Mental Illness, Kathleen Knarreborg

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study assessed and addressed the attitudes and behaviors towards mental health information on social media, specifically regarding how it influences viewers behaviors and attitudes relating to mental health. Method: Using a quantitative research design, the study collected data through Qualtrics from a 15 question survey called the Mental Health Information Scale (MHI). The survey, distributed across several social media platforms, aimed to understand user attitudes and engagement with mental health content into three dimensions: stigma, self-diagnosis, and confidence in the validity of the content. Findings: There were 99 participants in this study, 69.9% female, 21.4% male. The factor …

Code For Care: Hypertension Prediction In Women Aged 18-39 Years, Kruti Sheth

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The longstanding prevalence of hypertension, often undiagnosed, poses significant risks of severe chronic and cardiovascular complications if left untreated. This study investigated the causes and underlying risks of hypertension in females aged between 18-39 years. The research questions were: (Q1.) What factors affect the occurrence of hypertension in females aged 18-39 years? (Q2.) What machine learning algorithms are suited for effectively predicting hypertension? (Q3.) How can SHAP values be leveraged to analyze the factors from model outputs? The findings are: (Q1.) Performing Feature selection using binary classification Logistic regression algorithm reveals an array of 30 most influential factors at an …

The Obstacles Facing Homeless Veterans With Mental Illness When Obtaining Housing, Melissa Miro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study explored the barriers that homeless veterans face when seeking housing. The study adopted a post-positivist paradigm, and the data was collected through virtual interviews conducted on Zoom who are in contact with veterans through their employment or personal lives. The barriers mentioned in this study are the type of individual struggles that each veteran faces, the lack of communication between programs assisting veterans, veterans unaware of their services, veterans who have been incarcerated, the type of discharge the service member obtained, and programs being shorthanded. Additionally, the researcher included preferable options for veterans that included The Housing …

What Is The Readiness Of Social Work Students To Work With Autistic Individuals?, Ignacio Aguilar Pelaez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The focus of this research proposal is to assess the readiness of social work graduate students to work with Autistic individuals. The study was conducted in partnership with an undisclosed Southern California university. The study was conducted from a positivist perspective and used the social model of disability theory as a theoretical orientation. Researchers surveyed 64 MSW students utilizing a Qualtrics survey, specifically designed for this study. The results in this study indicate that most of the social work students who participated in this study possess a satisfactory understanding and knowledge of ASD. Although the results showed that over …

Assessing And Meeting The Needs Of Homeless Populations, Mitchell Greenwald

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Problem Formation: As homeless populations have continued to grow, it is important to analyze services and replace ones lacking efficacy. This research sought to locate gaps in service delivery and to let the data fuel newer, innovative services. Significance: This study brought greater awareness of needs and services available to homeless people and to clinical staff at the agencies who work with them. It also provided new ideas for interventions that might better meet client needs. Design: This study was designed as a mixed-methods project. It was believed that master’s level social work students would be an ideal group to …

Career Motivation As Mediator Between Cultural Self-Construal And Interest, Mengxuan Zhang

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Understanding the association between career motivations and interest-occupation congruence can help people with different cultural backgrounds make better career decisions. The goal of the study was to examine how cultural differences predicted interest congruence, and whether career motivation was a significant mediator in the prediction. I hypothesized that independent self-construal would be associated with internal career motivation most strongly (H1), while interdependent self-construal will be associated with interpersonal career motivation most strongly (H2). Additionally, internal career motivation would mediate the relationship between independent self-construal and interest congruence (H3), and whether internal career motivation mediated the relationship between interdependent self-construal and …

What Are The Barriers To Seeking Psychotherapy Services Across Different Racial And Ethnic Groups?, Deysee Chavez, Elisa Rodarte

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored barriers to seeking psychotherapy services across racial and ethnic groups among adults of 18 years of age or older (2) any individual who has considered, sought, or received mental health services (3) residing in Southern California. The surveys consisted of questions from the Barriers to Mental Health Services Scale Revised (BMHSS-R) sub-scales; Help Seeking, Stigma, Knowledge and Fear of Psychotherapy, Belief about Inability to Find a Psychotherapist, and Belief that Depressive Symptoms are Normal. It was hypothesized that Latino individuals face greater barriers when seeking psychotherapy services as compared to other racial groups. This study consisted of …

Interpreting Geochemical Sourcing In The Northwest Great Basin: The 26wa12962 Sample Study, Tyler Alexander Reinholt

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Located in Northwest Washoe County Nevada along the California and Nevada border, 26WA12962 is an upland spring site consisting of habitation debris and several thousand pieces of debitage on the surface. The purpose of this research project is to interpret energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) results of 80 random samples of obsidian, and fine grain volcanics such as basalt and dacite from the excavations on 26WA12962 that were conducted in 2021. This thesis will investigate if there is a preference for a specific source, as well as assisting in gathering data within a lithic landscape. To accomplish this goal, I …

Homelessness In The Coachella Valley, Katrina Clarke

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Homelessness continues to be a major social issue, as thousands of individuals and families in the United States continue to be unsheltered. This problem is more acute in the State of California. Despite the implementation of poverty-relief programs, this issue has shown no signs of slowing down. The existing literature contains multiple studies conducted on factors associated with homelessness. However, the Coachella Valley, an area located in Southern California, has received little attention from the literature on homelessness. This study sought to understand the phenomenon of homelessness in the Coachella Valley, mainly its causes and means of prevention. Taking a …

Child Maltreatment Primary Prevention Methods In The U.S.: A Systematic Review Of Recent Studies, Maria Godoy-Murillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Child maltreatment remains a widespread issue in the United States of America, (U.S.). Identifying effective methods of preventing child maltreatment is key to reducing the prevalence of this issue. Objective: This systematic review provides an overview of contemporary primary child maltreatment prevention methods in the U.S. to investigate their effectiveness. Methods: Using the OneSearch database, the following keywords were included: (“prevention methods” and “child maltreatment”), (“parental leave” and “child maltreatment”), (“primary prevention” and “child maltreatment”), (WIC and “child maltreatment”), (“home visit” and “child maltreatment”), (“child abuse and neglect” and “primary prevention”), (“affordable housing” and prevention and “child maltreatment”), (“early …

Stress And Help-Seeking In Farmworkers In The Coachella Valley, Alexis Garcia, Daniela Mejia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

California farmworkers are a vulnerable population who face unique stressors that may increase their risk for mental health problems. The study’s purpose is: (1) to quantitatively investigate the relationship between stress and help-seeking attitudes among Coachella Valley farmworkers and (2) to qualitatively explore the factors affecting the utilization of mental health services. Data came from 28 participants recruited through the snowball sampling method. Quantitative data from the Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory (MFWSI) and the Mental Health Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS) suggests no relationship between help-seeking attitudes and stress levels. Qualitative data analysis revealed themes that reflected cultural views. Results show …

Justice-Involved Students: Effects Of Using Support Services To Overcome Barriers, Gabby Walker, Sofia Alvarenga

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigated formerly incarcerated students' perspectives on the effectiveness of re-entry programs in alleviating barriers to higher education. The study focused on six barriers: parole and probation, collateral consequences, admission, housing, and stigma, aiming to provide insights into program effectiveness. Using an exploratory, quantitative approach, data was collected through surveys distributed via social media and online platforms. Parole and probation were not perceived as significant barriers by participants. Challenges related to collateral consequences, such as limited access to housing and employment opportunities, were highlighted as barriers. Participants did not view recidivism as a significant obstacle to pursuing higher education. …

Factors That Impact Foster Youths’ High School Graduation, Esther Thomas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the factors that influence foster youth high school graduation rates. Over 50% of foster youth do not graduate high school and even fewer enroll in higher education. The study analyzes social workers’ belief about foster youth high school graduation. Social workers have direct contact with and influence on foster youth, so understanding the extent to which there, beliefs and actions factor into foster youth graduation rates seems important.

This study utilized a quantitative, online survey designed by the researcher to collect exploratory data. The researcher posted invitations to participate in the study on social media sites used …

Resilience In Fatherhood: Exploring The Impact Of Absent Fathers On Black American Men's Parenting Narratives And Practices, Ericah Thomas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the role of Black American fathers and how they parent in the absence of their fathers growing up. Though a common narrative frames Black fathers as largely absent in the lives of their children, recent literature has aimed to demystify societal factors that may lead to this judgment. Influences such as media representation, welfare policies, and child support laws may contribute to the preservation of this trope (Rambert, 2021). Considering this misconception, it is important to advance the knowledge regarding Black fatherhood through their lived experiences despite circumstances that may perpetuate this myth.

The primary goal of …

Supporting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals In Higher Education: A Quantitative Study, Lisa Marie Jones-Wiertz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

People from various backgrounds in the United States have college aspirations. However, those with marginalized characteristics, particularly formerly incarcerated individuals, face multiple barriers in their quest for higher education. This study carries a twofold purpose: (a) determining the extent to which formerly incarcerated individuals in higher education in California feel supported and (b) determining types of support associated with educational success among formerly incarcerated individuals in higher education in California. Using the Person-in-Environment Framework, the nonprobability sampling methods of convenience and snowball, and a quantitative research design, this study surveyed 51 formerly incarcerated students enrolled across the California State University …

Gender Dysphoria In Adolescence And The Models Of Care: A Systematic Literature Review, Arnold Briseno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This systematic literature review examines and compares the efficacy of gender-affirming care and mixed-method approaches in treating adolescents with gender dysphoria. Through a detailed analysis of existing empirical studies, the research aims to identify optimal strategies that support the mental health and well-being of adolescents who are exhibiting criteria of gender dysphoria. The findings suggest a nuanced landscape where gender-affirming and mixed-method care models offer valuable benefits, highlighting the importance of individualized and flexible treatment approaches. This work contributes to the ongoing discourse on adolescent mental health care, advocating for policies and practices that prioritize the needs of this population, …

Study Exploring Feelings Of Self-Blame And Shame Among Individuals Raised By Severely Mentally Ill Caregivers, Joanie Minion

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus of this quantitative research project is to explore feelings of self- blame and/or shame among people who were raised by a primary caregiver with severe mental illness. Examples of serious mental illness (SMI) that are used in this study are bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder (MDD) if psychotic symptoms are present, or it is treatment-resistant. Twenty-six adult participants were recruited via the researcher’s social media account and through others’ sharing the research project information. Demographic data and data regarding self-blame and shame as a child and as an adult and if they felt their family, friendships, …

Client Perpetrated Violence And Safety Culture In Child Welfare: A Systematic Literature Review, Amber Castro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Interpersonal client and workplace violence pose significant challenges in contemporary society, particularly within health care and social service sectors. Social workers, dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations, face heightened risks of client perpetrated violence (CPV) due to the nature of their work. Despite being a global issue, CPV remains underreported and often normalized within social work practice, specifically in child welfare. This paper explores the prevalence and impacts of CPV on child welfare social workers, aiming to identify key risk factors and promote a culture of safety within child welfare agencies. Utilizing a systematic literature review encompassing quantitative and qualitative data, …

Substance Use Treatment Within The Us Prison System, Timothy Hicks

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the challenges and effectiveness of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment within US prisons, focusing on treatment availability, accessibility, and outcomes. Through a literature review spanning PsycINFO, Academic Search Premier, Criminal Justice Abstracts, JSTOR, and PubMed, it addresses the literature gap and healthcare needs for incarcerated individuals. The research identifies limited SUD treatment availability and explores the impact of medication-assisted treatments (MATs) and therapeutic interventions. It highlights barriers such as systemic stigma and inconsistencies in treatment access and quality. Findings advocate for evidence-based treatment's role in reducing recidivism and call for policy reform and enhanced collaborative efforts to …

Traffic Analysis Of Cities In San Bernardino County, Sai Kalyan Ayyagari

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research offers an in-depth analysis of vehicular traffic within San Bernardino County, California, aiming to spotlight congestion areas and suggest improvements for more efficient and sustainable transportation. Leveraging 2021 data from StreetLight Data, traffic patterns in 15 key cities were examined based on their population sizes, covering various vehicle types to dissect dynamics and flow. The methodology focused on analyzing trip purposes and metrics to calculate Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and its influence on congestion and environmental factors.

Findings indicate considerable disparities in traffic volume, purposes, and timings across different urban areas, with population density and intercity connections significantly …

Parity In Higher Education In Prison Programs: Does It Exist?, Michael Lee Griggs, Vianey Luna

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The expansion of college-in-prison (CIP) programs, especially in California, where incarcerated college enrollment increased from 11,472 students to over 15,000 in two years, has spotlighted higher education for incarcerated individuals. This increase, supported by legislation that expands funding for CIP programs and allows time off sentences for successful course/degree completion, is further bolstered by the restoration of Federal Pell funding for incarcerated students after a 28-year ban. Despite the acknowledged benefits of CIP programs in reducing recidivism and enhancing post-release outcomes, existing research highlights the need for additional exploration into the quality of CIP programs. Senate Bill 416 further emphasizes …

Barriers To Gender-Affirming Care, Gloria Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of transgender and nonbinary individuals who have accessed or are thinking of seeking gender-affirming medical care in a rural California county. The study adopted a post-positivist approach, and data was gathered from ten qualitative interviews with study participants. In the data analysis phase, the researcher utilized a bottoms-up approach and engaged in open, axial, and selective coding. Data analysis of qualitative interviews revealed sixteen open codes and connections between these codes. These codes were then categorized into three themes: the impact of an individual’s experience when accessing care, barriers to …