Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Nature Nearby: Use Of Green Spaces Mediating The Relationship Between Access To Green Spaces And Health, Sydney P. Goodson

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Access to green spaces has been consistently linked to improved physical and mental health, yet the mechanisms driving this relationship remain underexplored, particularly in the United States. Using data from the 2018 General Social Survey (N = 1,045), this study examines whether time spent in natural environments mediates the relationship between access to green spaces and self‑rated physical and mental health. Linear regression models with robust standard errors reveal that time spent in natural environments mediates the relationship between access to green spaces and both health outcomes. These findings suggest that proximity to green spaces alone is insufficient to produce …

Family Processes As A Protective Factor Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Adolescent Delinquency, Tessa Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores whether family processes (i.e., parental attachment and parental discipline/monitoring) serve as protective factors between the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adolescent delinquency. Prior research has established an association between ACEs and many negative life outcomes, including delinquent behavior, while strong parental attachment and parental discipline/monitoring are linked to lower rates of delinquency. However, the interplay of these three factors has been understudied. Drawing on data from the 2024 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) (N=22,016), this study examines the relationship between ACEs, family processes, and delinquency using negative binomial regression models. Results indicate that parental …

Language And Emotional Experience: A Worldwide Study, Natalie Lorange, Chelsea Romney

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This qualitative study explored how native language influences emotional experience. Fourteen participants from diverse countries were recruited to capture a range of linguistic perspectives and experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in four key themes: (1) shared experience as central in creating emotional meaning, (2) the power of words in shaping emotional experience, (3) stronger emotional resonance in native or frequently used languages, and (4) the importance of regional differences in emotional experience. Findings suggest that while emotions may be largely universal, linguistic and cultural differences play a significant role in an individual's emotional identity. The study highlights …

Breaking The Ice: The Effects Of Climate On Arctic Accessibility & Strategic Capability, Parker J. Peterson, Frank Devito, Alex Guglielmo

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Arctic sea ice has declined steadily since 1978, reshaping global shipping routes, military postures, and indigenous communities. Reduced ice extent expands access to the Northern Sea Route and Arctic resources while correlating with increased military activity. These changes accelerate economic opportunity but outpace governance, threatening Indigenous wellbeing and regional stability.

What Is Love? Baby Don't Hurt Me, Don't Hurt Me, No More, Sydney H. Crockett

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Is love a choice? A literature review demonstrated that love and behavior are inextricably linked, and one’s choices influence the development of love, suggesting it could be a choice. Interviews demonstrated that the assumption that love is a choice was baked into almost every respondent’s behavior, providing merit to the conclusion.

Croatian Seagrass Meadows: Time Change Detection Of Loss Due To Anchoring Damage, Eliza J. Hammari, Gabe Mills, Ruth Kerry, Steve Schill

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Posidonia oceanica in the Croatian seascape is an important seagrass species for carbon sequestration and habitat stability. One of the largest threats to seagrass is boat anchoring. In this study we used satellite imagery to detect changes in seagrass in anchoring hotspots over a seven-year period.

Tracking The Russian Invasion Of Utah Wheat Fields, Eliza J. Hammari, Ruth Kerry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Russian thistle (tumbleweed) is one of the most economically damaging weeds for agricultural fields. Using remote sensing methods, thistle presence in Utah wheat fields was measured and spatial patterns were analyzed to examine how weed infestation corresponds with soil water content and wheat yield harvests.

Blessing Or Burden?: Parental Religiosity And Lgbtq Adolescent Well-Being, Emma S. Griffitts, Lindsey Maner, Adam Rogers

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study investigated the associations between parent religiosity and their LGBTQ teen's psychological risk and resilience factors. LGBTQ youth showed higher risk factors, but parent religiosity also predicted greater resilience, mediated by child religiosity. These effects were stronger among LGBTQ teens than non-LGBTQ teens, suggesting that their internalized faith may lead to increased coping and well-being in minority contexts.

Beyond Displacement: Ai-Related Job Loss And Time To Re-Employment, Megan E. Williams, Eric Dahlin

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines whether workers who lose jobs to AI experience longer unemployment than those displaced for other reasons. Using OLS regression with demographic and occupational controls, results show that, on average, AI-displaced workers find new employment slightly faster. Although these differences are not statistically significant, they suggest AI-related job loss may not uniquely affect reemployment.

Babies And Borders: Political Determinants Of Population Policies In The European Union, Lauren A. Mchenry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This research examines the political conditions under which pronatalist policy and restrictive immigration policy are implemented. Using the Nationalism Populism Database and World Population Review data, I classify different countries based on levels of populism and nationalism and determine countries’ levels of immigration restriction and pronatalism. I use a Most Similar Systems Design case study to compare the different policy outcomes of Spain and Italy. I find that populism is predictive of immigration restriction, while nationalism is predictive of pronatalist policy.

Critical Minerals In A Critical Time, Parker J. Peterson, Sophia Budge, Brooks Miner

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study evaluates U.S. positioning in rare earth mineral (REM) supply chains by analyzing global mine concentrations and trade alignments. While the U.S. ranks second in production, its critical vulnerability lies in processing, where China controls 60–80% of global capacity. Strategic investment and allied partnerships are essential for long-term supply chain resilience.

Where's Our Water? Invasive Saltcedar's Thirsty Trek Across The Shoreline Of Lake Mead, Mia R. Morgan, Joseph Penrod, Ruth Kerry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

The prolonged megadrought in Southern Nevada has exposed thousands of acres of former lakebed at Lake Mead, creating an expanding frontier for the invasive shrub Tamarix ramosissima, commonly known as saltcedar. This hardy, non-native species rapidly colonizes the receding shoreline, siphoning up to 200 gallons of water per plant daily and outcompeting native vegetation. Utilizing high-resolution satellite imagery from 2020 and 2025, this research found that saltcedar coverage within a 5 km radius of the lake increased by approximately 76.7%.

Analysis of the spatial data indicates that while the total area of infestation has exploded, the average distance of …

Finding Belonging In A Religious Dominant Society: Religion Among African Migrants In Türkiye, Garrett L. Wride, Stacey A. Shaw

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

As global migration increases each year, so does the need to understand the crossroads between inclusion, wellbeing, and religion. The experience of African migrants living in Türkiye presents itself as a unique case to study migrant wellbeing. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study shows that African migrants in Türkiye belonging to the religious minority have lower scores of wellbeing and social support. Findings point to the need for policy makers and mental health practitioners to ensure migrants can access their religious communities.

Budgets Vs. Bullets: Divergent Effects Of Economic And Security Threats On Nationalism, Mary Moody

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Existing literature argues that the presence of threats increase levels of (patriotic) nationalism. However, there are different kinds of threats, whose presence may instead reduce nationalist and isolationist attitudes. We argue that economic threats will raise levels of nationalism, while security threats will decrease nationalism and increase internationalism. We find that, across Europe, those who were more concerned about economics as a result of the Ukraine War were more Eurosceptic and nationalist, whereas those who were more concerned about security had an increased desire for European cooperation. In an original survey experiment in Poland, we find that a treatment priming …

Maps Behind Bars: A Spatial Study Into Wrongful Convictions And Social Equality, Bailee Kinghorn, Emma Milne, Camille Heaton

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Wrongful convictions are representative of errors in the criminal justice system. Often reflecting broad patterns of social inequality, prior research suggests that structural factors may influence the likelihood of conviction and access to legal resources. This project investigates how these social equality indicators correlate with wrongful convictions at the county level across the United States. Using data from the National Institute of Health and the National Registry of Exonerations, we aggregate measures of education, poverty, and non-English-speaking populations normalized by population density and combine them with exoneration records to create a series of comparative maps. Through spatial analysis in ArcGIS, …

The Irrelevance Of Filing Speed: Evidence From A Regulatory Reporting Discontinuity, Bryson Mumford

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Does faster financial reporting increase firm value? I exploit the $700 million public float threshold in SEC Rule 12b-2, which imposes a 60-day Form 10-K filing deadline for large accelerated filers relative to 75 days for accelerated filers. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, I show that crossing the threshold sharply increases the likelihood of Large Accelerated Filer status and reduces filing lags by approximately one week, with no evidence of concurrent changes in mandated audit quality. Despite this exogenous acceleration in information disclosure, I fail to reject the null hypothesis that there are no effects on firm valuation (Tobin’s …

Craft Meets Code: Digital Pathways For Fine Press Collections, Nicole Lewis, Brooke Farnsworth

Faculty Publications

Fine press books embody a unique blend of artistry and craftsmanship, yet their rich material and bibliographic details often remain locked in specialized catalogs or physical archives. This project explores how integrating fine press information into Wikidata—a global, linked open data platform—can preserve and amplify the cultural significance of these works in a digital context. Using the BYU Library’s fine press holdings, we’re modeling presses, printers, and editions within Wikidata’s semantic framework, creating opportunities for discovery, visualization, and computational analysis that respect the material heritage of the book arts.

The presentation will highlight:

•        Utilizing library holdings to compile a …

Effects Of Social Support Interventions On Medical Patient Survival: A Meta-Analysis Of Non-Randomized Clinical Trials, Ksenia Illinykh-Bair, Timothy B. Smith

Faculty Publications

Background: Prior research confirms that social support promotes resilience among medical patients with chronic illness. Beyond emotional benefits, research has increasingly shown the importance of social support on physical health outcomes. Therefore, identifying and evaluating interventions that increase social support among medical patients with chronic conditions is a priority for healthcare. Methods: This meta-analysis summarized data from 39,493 medical patients across 14 non-randomized trials that had been identified by a prior review of the survival benefits of social support interventions. Results: Across four studies reporting hazard ratio data, the results failed to reach statistical significance (HR = 2.10, 95% CI …

Choco Pies, Economic Gains, And The Opening Of North Korea:, Quinci Rasband

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

Since the armistice was signed putting a hold on the Korean War (July 27, 1953) and officially created two separate entities, has there ever been a time when North Korea and South Korea—two diametrically opposed countries— worked together towards a common goal? If there really was such a time when North Korea and South Korea collaborated, one can wonder how this was received in the minds of North Koreans and South Koreans. While it is challenging to understand North Korean citizens’ perceptions of events, delving into accessible sources can shed light onto South Korea’s viewpoint of inter-Korean relations. One such …

Memories Of The Low-Income Elderly Of South Korea, Jacob Gilbert

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

Rain pattered against my umbrella as I walked down the small alleyway near Tapgol Park. An elderly man carrying a black umbrella hobbled past me. Rain dripping from the gutters made puddles at my feet. I carefully avoided several puddles in the pavement making my way to the end of the alleyway. As I drew closer to the end, loud voices echoed down the alley. Around the corner a crowd of elderly people huddled underneath the roof of the front gate to the park. Some stood, while others sat on the ground leaning their backs against the walls of the …

The Hallyu Hexagon:, Katherine Linton

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

From the opening credits, Crash Landing On You1 captured the attention and adoration of millions. The show follows a South Korean chaebol heiress, Yoon Se-ri, who crash lands into the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone. She is discovered by North Korean soldier, Ri Jeong Hyeok, who mercifully decides not to kill her on the spot. Over the course of 16 episodes and 23 hours, as Ri Jeong Hyeok betrays loyalty lines by evading the North Korean Military Police and helping Yoon Se-ri return to the south, the two’s fateful meeting evolves into a cross-border romance.

Korean dramas are …

Silencing The Party, Amplifying The Music:, Brian Lewis

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

The 2024 dissolution of the MFP marked a turning point in Thai electoral politics, catalyzing a cultural contest over political expression through music. The court’s decision to dissolve the MFP was perceived as a direct attack on free political discourse, intensifying state-led censorship efforts against musicians who critiqued the establishment. In response, political music became not only a means of protest, but a crucial space for youth to form their political identities and express dissent. This escalation in censorship and the concurrent surge in musical activism cannot be directly attributed to long-standing political trends; rather, they were significantly increased by …

Full Issue

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

No abstract provided.

Colonial Legacy And National Identity:, Nina Harris

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

The island of Taiwan occupies an unusual political position in the world today. Taiwan is viewed primarily in relation to its complicated relationship with the People’s Republic of China. While Taiwan considers itself distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically elected leaders, China’s government claims the island is an inalienable part of China and has been for centuries. Taiwan’s history, however, is more complicated and diverse than China allows. Unbeknownst to many, Taiwan was a Japanese colony from 1895 to 1945, and it was an era of highly significant change for Taiwan. The Japanese occupation was …

Connecting To The Motherland:, Grace Truett

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

India was the crown jewel of the British Empire and, despite the oppressive colonialism between 1857 and 1947, it produced citizens who cared for the future of their nation. Jamini Roy is one such citizen who envisioned his rich cultural Motherland untouched by Western forces. Although India had been dominated by Britain economically, socially, and even artistically, Roy was an anti-capitalist artist who used materials native to India to perpetuate Bengali artistic traditions and reinvent Christian folklore; his work aims towards unification of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian Indian viewers through nationalism and connection of Indian citizens to their land, as …

Made For War, Abandoned In Peace:, Michelle Parada-Gonzalez

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

Amid a raging blizzard in the mountains of 1907 Hokkaido, Sugimoto Saichi shelters inside the still-warm carcass of a freshly killed deer, huddled beside his companion, Asirpa. As she asks if his wounds still hurt, he brushes it off, insisting that the man he killed earlier had no human heart and felt little pain. When Asirpa reprimands him, Sugimoto concedes—war has changed him. The person he once was had been left behind on the battlefield. Some men, he says, can return to their old lives, but others like him remain stuck in the past. Asirpa, only twelve years old, considers …

Harmony In Transit:, Bridget Eddy

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

Japan’s public transportation system is famous for its speed and efficiency. But it is more than just a way to travel. Trains and buses shape daily life and behavior in Japan. They reflect pertinent historical and cultural values, which provide a significant connection to society. Similar to sewing a new piece of fabric onto an old kimono, modern technology has become a part of the cultural garment–not a replacement for it–all while the existing fabric has continued to give it meaning and structure. The Japanese have woven older cultural threads into the new systems; concurrently and reflexively, the new technology …

The Second Great Reform:, Margaret Jeppesen

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

Beginning in 1978 under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership, China launched the Great Economic Reform, also known as the Opening-up, as the nation transitioned from a centrally planned system to a market-oriented economy. In a single generation, millions were lifted out of poverty establishing China as a global economic superpower. Since then, China has placed great emphasis on maintaining a continuous economic upward trend and achieving technological self-sufficiency.

The development of artificial intelligence plays a prominent role in China’s second great reform to become a technological superpower. In 2017, President Xi Jinping introduced the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan (AIDP) —a …

Adapting Sherlock Holmes:, Victoria Ho

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

Sherlock Holmes is one of the longest standing detectives in the world of crime and detective fiction, evident in the recreation of his character in various media. In Detective Conan, or Case Closed—a Japanese anime series adapted from a Japanese manga—the writer, Gosho Aoyama, creates his version of Sherlock Holmes in the form of Shinichi Kudo, a high school detective. However, parts of Holmes’s character can be problematic for Aoyama to adapt for Japanese society, particularly Holmes’s role as a disrupter of order. Thus, Aoyama provides a liminal space as a solution for Shinichi to preserve social order by turning …

Beyond War: Building Wisdom Civilization To Rescue Humanity, Andrew Targowski

Comparative Civilizations Review

This paper presents a comparative civilizational analysis of humanity’s transition from a War Civilization to the emerging Wisdom Civilization. Drawing on the works of Toynbee, Sorokin, Quigley, Huntington, Spengler, and Koneczny, it interprets the present global disorder — marked by the tension between Western, Chinese, Russian, and Muslim civilizations — as a transformative moment in human history. War and militarism, once adaptive mechanisms of civilizational growth, have become self-destructive in an era of technological interdependence. It is proposed that the next evolutionary stage of civilization must integrate knowledge with conscience to form a Wisdom Civilization founded on empathy, sustainability, and …