Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

First-Year Experiences Of Lgbtq+ Students: Belongingness, Resilience, And Utilization Of Resources On Campus, Sarina Sauceda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Entering college brings independence; however, it also presents new challenges. Navigating young adulthood, with academic/social pressures, makes the first-year increasingly difficult (Alessi et al., 2017). LGBTQ+ students are at heightened risk of negative mental health outcomes (e.g., increased depression/anxiety levels; Alessi et al., 2017; Thacker Darrow et al., 2022). For LGBTQ+ students, the first-year of college poses additional issues, such as discrimination or lack of belonging (Thacker Darrow et al., 2022; Hood et al., 2018). Overall, there is little research of this population, and less is known about specifically the first-year. It is important to understand those experiences, so that …

College Students' Perceptions Of The Student-Teacher Relationship, Lauren E. Biggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Humans, as social creatures, pursue relationships with others to fulfill various needs. As such, when we enter school, we naturally seek to establish relationships with teachers, who act as significant individuals in our lives. In general, research has shown that students with close, warm relationships with their teachers tend to experience more favorable outcomes related to academic achievement, behavior, and social-emotional factors. Students with more negative relationships with their teachers conversely tend to experience poorer outcomes. Though decades of research have consistently shown this correlation, few studies have examined the relationships between college students and their professors. The current study …

Physical Activity Levels In First-Year University Students, Jerealya Cogdell

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to see if physical activity (PA) is affected for students since transitioning from high school to their first semester in college. The study was conducted by asking questions pertaining to PA via an online survey through the platform Qualtrics. It will be administered to students at Georgia Southern University. However, only the data from freshmen students that meet specific criteria will be accounted for in this study. The data will be analyzed using Chi-squared to determine how PA is affected due to this transition. The data will compare the results from high school senior …

Leadership Development Through Athletic Experience, Antoine Grace

All Student Scholarship

This qualitative research aims to find the relationship between athletics and leadership development by examining athletes' and nonathletes' students, life, leadership experiences, and learned behaviors. The research utilized a purposive sampling to recruit a diverse group of participants from the university that classify as either student-athletes or non-sport-playing students. The collection of data from participants has been conducted using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis has been used to identify patterns and themes in the interview data, allowing for a meaningful understanding and interpretation based on aspects of athletes' and non-athletes' experiences. This study aims to contribute to the existing literature on …

The Aftermath Of The Pandemic’S Effect On College Student Depression, Lorena Sedano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The present study examines how stress from the aftermath of the pandemic has affected college student depression. Using qualitative methods, ten college students voluntarily participated in recorded interviews. During these interviews students shared how the return to normality affected their experiences with depression, and the experiences of other students on campus. The study examined coping mechanisms to their adaptations, student’s individual stories, the effects that were viewed on campus, and their experiences during this transition. Students also completed the PHQ-2 and brief questions from the perceived stress scale. During the completion of the PHQ-2, 60% of students reported to have …

Exploring The Effects Of Mindful Nature Walks On College Student Anxiety, Grace Young

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals pursuing a degree in higher education face challenges that lead to greater levels of anxiety than that of the general U.S. adult population. This disparity, further heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, presents a need for higher education institutions to search for ways to address this spike in student anxiety and other mental health concerns. This mixed-methods study explored mindful nature walks as a low-cost and easily accessible way for college students to reduce levels of experienced anxiety. Using validated quantitative measures, this study examined the impact of three weekly, consecutive 30-minute mindful nature walks on state and general anxiety …

Hdfs Spring 2024 Newsletter, Raeann Hamon

Human Development and Family Science Student Work

Annual spring newsletter created by the Human Development and Family Science Department. Student, faculty, and alumni updates.

• Message From Dr. Johns
• Dr. Hamon Legacy Award
• HDFS Administrative Assistant News
• Kim Valvo - Outstanding Alumni Recipient
• Jordan Thompson AFCS Board Election
• NCFR News
• FCS News
• Elder Service Partner Program
• MCFR News
• FCCLA And Dr. Hamon’s PA FCS Award
• FCS Educator Day
• 2024 Graduates

Words Without Faces: Anonymous Social Media On Campus, Evelyn Kelly

Language, Literature & Writing Student Scholarship

"A new anonymous social media app, Fizz, has announced intentions to launch on Messiah University’s campus. Anonymous social media apps allow users to post within a set community without their comments being traced back to them. One such popular app around campus is Yik Yak..."

First-Generation College Students And Sense Of Belonging At School: The Moderating Effect Of Remote Learning, Christina Su Ju

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the effect of first-generation college student status on students’ sense of belonging, and whether remote learning moderates this effect. Specifically, this study examines whether first-generation college students’ sense of belonging at university differs from their continuing-generation college student counterpart, and whether taking remote courses impacts that relationship. It was hypothesized that first-generation college students would report lower sense of belonging than continuing-generation college students, and that remote learning would moderate the relationship such that the negative effect of first-generation student status on sense of belonging is strengthened when the student takes more remote courses. Survey data from …

Exploring The Needs Of College Students Experiencing Housing Instability, Sandy D. Dawoud

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study explored the needs and experiences of college students who have aged out of the foster care system and facing housing instability at a large public institution. The study explores the participants' pre-college experiences and college journey to identify challenges they faced, sources of support, and unmet needs impacting their education. Analysis of 14 individual interviews highlighted key themes related to motivations, obstacles, and desired assistance across areas like finances, mental health, academics, and support systems. This work has implications for implementing tailored institutional support, community partnerships, transition programs, and advocacy efforts to promote resilience and success for …

Evaluating A Combined Affirmative Consent And Bystander Intervention Training For New Students, Gabrielle Gottschall

Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the impact of a live, virtual training on the combined topics of affirmative consent and bystander intervention among 1,395 students new to the university in 2022. Student responses on pre-survey and post-training surveys were analyzed to determine if attending the intervention promoted students’ ability to understand, practice and recognize prosocial consent and bystander related attitudes and behaviors. New students registered to attend one 60-minute virtual training facilitated by the Department of Student Health and Wellness. Pre-survey data was collected in the form of a virtual survey prior to the intervention and again 30 days after students …

Shades Of Justice: Exploring Colorism In The Hispanic Community And Its Legal Battle For Equity, Christel A. Infante

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis focuses on the racial disparity within the Hispanic and Latinx communities as injustices exist within the community and the workplace. Racial disparities in the United States have been a persistent and deeply rooted issue that has plagued the nation for centuries. Despite significant progress in civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation, disparities in areas such as education, employment, and criminal justice persist. Understanding the factors contributing to these disparities is essential for addressing systemic inequalities and fostering a more just society. The analysis of this thesis primarily focuses on the cases and ramifications of Hispanic persons within the workplace, …

Autism-Related Support Services On Mental Health And University Connectedness, Adeline E. P. Rogers

Scripps Senior Theses

College is notoriously challenging, with many student concerns associated with adapting to the new expectations for lifestyle, workload, and socializing that come with transitioning to college and/or university (Gelbar et al., 2015). For college students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the impact of these changes can be far more challenging, as their needs can be different from their neurotypical peers. This study implemented an online survey to gather data on autistic students’ feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, university connectedness, experiences with university autism support programs, and basic demographics. Unfortunately, the results found from this study were contaminated by a large …

Good Enough To Eat: How College Students Are (Re)Forming Their Relationships To Food, Sophia Lewis

Scripps Senior Theses

In this thesis, I seek to critically examine how college students at American liberal arts institutions relate to food in their everyday lives and how those relationships to food are formed in a cultural landscape where what and how one eats can carry significant moral implications. Through a series of ethnographic interviews, I found that college students are negotiating a variety of interconnected social influences that have shaped their relationships to food, the most prominent being the ways that their parents taught them to relate to food in childhood and adolescence, cultural conceptions of health, and their own embodied reactions …

Childhood Trauma, Stress, Gender, And Depression's Impact On Suicidal Behavior, Emily H. Mezni

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in young adults. Continuous prevention and intervention efforts throughout the world have been made to reduce suicide risk in this population. Two of the biggest known risk factors for suicide is childhood trauma, a traumatic event or events that occur during youth, and depression. Researching the impact childhood trauma and depression make in conjunction with other factors will help to increase knowledge of suicidal behavior. In this study, recent stress and gender will be factored with childhood trauma and depression severity to predict suicidal ideation and attempt. Recent stress is useful …

Type Vs. Turnout: Correlations Between Types Of Higher Education Institutions And Student Voter Turnout, Janea Mccoy

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Voter turnout in the youth demographic has been the subject of increased attention and research in the past several years, with many questions left unanswered. The 18-25 age demographic can play a crucial and impactful role in elections. However, many young adults do not vote. Higher education has often been viewed as a catalyst for civic engagement amongst this age demographic, with correlations between enrollment in higher education and increased rates of voter turnout being evident. Given there is much variation between different kinds of institutions, however, this raises the question: what types of institutions and their respective characteristics correlate …

Factors That Lead To The Decline Of Mental Health Among Collegiate Athletes And Tools Administrators Can Use To Better Support Them, Abreanna Lake

Counseling Psychology | Master's Theses

This paper is an exploration of the athletic community that uncovers how stigma, pressure to perform well, and external factors all contribute to the stagnant relationship between athletes and mental health. With stigma being a major influence in inhibiting athletes from feeling comfortable; it has led to college athletes navigating their emotional distress by themselves in order to maintain their image of being indestructible and indomitable. This vulnerable population having to struggle in silence has led to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, disordered eating, and suicidality in some college athletes. Luckily, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and a few college …

Understanding The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Borderline Features And Deliberate Self-Harm Behaviors Among College Students: The Mediating Roles Of Emotion Regulation And Interpersonal Functioning, Sydney Mari Levine

Theses and Dissertations

Research has established ACEs as significant predictors of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in both clinical and community populations. Further, adults meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) are nearly 14 times more likely to report childhood adversity. No previous studies have examined the critical roles of emotion regulation and interpersonal functioning as mediating mechanisms in these relations. Thus, the current study explored the mechanism by which ACEs affect borderline personality features (BPF) or deliberate self-harm through emotion regulation and interpersonal functioning in a sample of emerging adult college students. Participants (N = 2,255, M age = 19.25) included college students from …

The Association Between Symptoms Of Adhd And Alcohol Use And Related Consequences In College Students: Social And Environmental Protective And Risk Factors As Moderators Of This Relation, Cameron Shepard Massey

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use, while common in college student populations, can bring about significant mental health and educational problems that have negative consequences (Harris et al., 2017; White & Hingson, 2013). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can also result in significant impairment in academic settings (Kuriyan et al., 2012; Blase et al., 2009, Barbaresi et al., 2007), and those with ADHD often show increased rates of alcohol consumption and related problems, which can greatly increase the risk for students to struggle in college (Barbaresi et al., 2013; Baker et al., 2012). Examining the impact that specific risk and protective factors play in this relation …

Similarities And Differences In Correlates And Trends In Prescription Stimulant And Prescription Opioid Misuse Among College Students, Julie Murray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

When used as medically intended, prescription opioid and stimulant medications can have therapeutic benefits. Misuse of these medications, however, presents significant health risks, including increased risk of death and injury. Young adults, ages 18 to 25, have the highest rates of misuse of prescription opioids and stimulants nationally and within this age group, college students may be particularly at risk. This two-study dissertation explored factors related to prescription opioid and prescription stimulant misuse in college students in order to assess similarities and differences in correlates and trends.

Study #1 assessed for similarities and differences in correlates of prescription opioid misuse …

Witnessing Academic Dishonesty And Student’S Satisfaction With Learning, Motivation For Studying And Evaluation Of Faculty, Dawoon Lee

Student Theses

Academic dishonesty has been a long-term problem in secondary and higher education. Previous studies reported that an average of two-thirds of students reported that they have engaged in academic dishonesty in high school or college. This study explored witnessing academic dishonesty and its influence on students' experiences in the learning environment. The hypothesis is that witnessing academic dishonesty will negatively impact the student’s satisfaction with learning, motivation for studying, and evaluation of faculty. In conducting the study, participants (N = 250) completed an online survey assessing their satisfaction with learning, motivation for studying, and evaluation of faculty. Participants also reported …

Implications Of Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs (Ipses) On Quality Of Life For Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Sarah K. Eggleston

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Students with intellectual disability (ID) who are aging out from qualifying for special education services through the public school system often encounter difficulty in the transition to early adulthood. While students with disabilities in Virginia have access to employment and transition services to aid them in seeking job placement, some students with ID still carry aspirations of going to college like many of their peers without disabilities. College is an experience that allows emerging adults to gain independence, social skills, pivotal identity development, and opportunities to explore academic and professional interests, while increasing their qualifications for more competitive employment. In …

Southern Sustainability: An Examination Of Waste Management Mechanisms Within The University Of Mississippi Community, Haley Clift

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and study local mechanisms surrounding waste management at The University of Mississippi. The research study gathers quantitative and qualitative research to make conclusions about sustainability and recycling practices on The University of Mississippi's campus. The thesis discusses whether those practices are effective for those in The University of Mississippi's community based on the data collected and research conducted. The researcher also offers proposals for the University of Mississippi community based on the research conducted.

The gap that exists in the waste management processes at The University of Mississippi was addressed by blending …

Assessing Gender Differences In Usd Students In The Consumption Of Pornography, Abbey Selleck

Honors Thesis

While pornography consumption has been studied many times in the past decade, little has been done on assessing the gender differences behind it. This study sought out to find those differences. A total of 306 University of South Dakota students participated in an online pornography survey. There was 231 females and 75 males. When asked about intentionally consuming pornography, there was 241 responses, 180 females and 61 males. Of those responses, 57 males (93%) and 142 females (79%) said they intentionally consume pornography. As hypothesized, a higher percentage of men said they consumed porn regularly (34%) than did women (4%). …

Hispanic Human Capital And Financial Aid Application In The West Census Region, Benjamin Lundy-Paine

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As of 2021, very few Hispanic residents in the United States held a college degree in comparison to non-Hispanic residents. Research has shown that, particularly for Hispanic students, financial aid increases college persistence. Hispanic Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submission rates rank among the lowest, preventing many Hispanic students from receiving financial assistance. This issue is most prevalent West Census Region (WCR), where there is the highest concentration of Hispanic residents. To understand what barriers may be preventing Hispanic submission in the WCR this Capstone used logistic regression models to analyze student-level data from the National Center for …

When Fish Climb Trees: Discovering Resources For Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Mary Black

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The focus issue addressed in this Capstone Project is determining what resources are available to college students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is an important issue for colleges because the right resources can make all the difference regarding the academic success of students with ADHD. An evidence based argument is offered on the necessity of appropriate resources for college students with ADHD. The primary stakeholder perspectives chosen were those of college students with ADHD, and staff members of the Counseling and Disability centers on campus because of their relevant experience and insight regarding ADHD. Three action options …

Where Will I Sleep Tonight? A Qualitative Case Study Of Homeless And Displaced College Students, Andria Lynn Coleman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to identify the needs of undergraduate students who are homeless or displaced, as well as examine the policies, procedures, and systems of Mountain University, a public four-year university, that may support or hinder students’ retention and progression. This study will be driven by the following research question: How do students who are homeless or displaced, but earned a scholarship, grant, or both navigate the policies, procedures, and systems of Mountain University during their first two years? Using Resiliency Theory and Hope Theory as the theoretical frameworks, this qualitative multiple case study seeks to identify …

The Influence Of Break-Ups On Subsequent Romantic Relationship Conflict Strategies Among College Students, Mattelyn Garza

All Theses

This study examined past romantic relationship partner break-up strategies (OPBS) and their influence on subsequent romantic relationship conflict strategies (SRCS) through the lens of social cognitive theory (SCT). According to SCT, observed behaviors are modeled by individuals through the mechanisms of attention, retention, motivational process and production. Past research supports the idea that romantic relationship partners and break-ups are likely to be considered important and memorable to an individual, however research has not yet investigated if romantic relationship break-ups could incite observational learning. Break-up strategies and conflict strategies have been conceptualized and evaluated very similarly by past research. Therefore, it …

Heterogenous Retirement Decisions During The Post Covid-19 Era By Individuals' Level Of Education, Natalie Sophia Varga

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Partisan Politics On Support For Public Institutions Of Higher Education, Jason G. Ramage

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over several decades, a greater share of the expense of earning a college degree has shifted to students and their families as appropriations to public institutions of higher education have declined as a percentage of the overall cost to educate a student. Tuition has greatly outpaced inflation during this period, while inflation-adjusted household income has remained relatively flat. Despite all the benefits that accrue to both the college graduate and society as a whole, for the less affluent, a college education is becoming increasingly difficult to attain. Many decide the financial barriers are simply too great and elect not to …