Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Assessment Of Burnout And Resilience In Correctional Officers, Vera A. Klinoff

Theses and Dissertations

Correctional Officers are responsible for responding to emergency/crisis situations in correctional settings. Research shows that their work is characterized by numerous psychological stressors that vary by degree and intensity, which can lead to compromised job performance and, ultimately, job burnout. Despite the increased attention directed to the problem of occupational stress in first responders among other professions over the past several years, virtually no investigations have focused on correctional officer resilience. The purpose of this study was to: (a) identify whether select positive personal variables (i.e., hope, optimism, social support) are associated with increased resilience, (b) determine the extent to …

The Relationship Between Ideology And Disgust Sensitivity, Shaina C. Fieldstone

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the current paper is to examine the association between ideology and disgust sensitivity. Studying disgust offers an to assess how judgments have evolved over time due to a “gut” sense of danger. This emotion also plays a role in moral judgment: individuals label moral wrongdoings as disgusting which elicits a specific facial expression. For this reason, disgust has recently been found to be a plausible emotion involved in political decision-making. Studies indicate that liberals and conservatives rely on respective moral foundations that influence their choices. Haidt et al. (2009) argue that liberals’ views on morality are based …

"Youn Ede Lòt”: Help-Seeking Among Haitians, Josie A. Augustin

Theses and Dissertations

Migration is on the rise as Haitians seek economic and educational opportunities for their progeny in the U.S. Though migration to a new country often introduces a new set of immigration and acculturation-related stressors that can lead to mental health problems, Haitians remain underrepresented in clinical mental health settings. Previous studies with ethnic minority populations have enumerated several barriers to seeking mental health services. However, research on barriers to help-seeking is sorely lacking for specific migrant groups, including Haitians. Thus, this study examined barriers to seeking help for mental health problems among Haitians. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball …

Predicting Cardiovascular Fitness In Ethnic Minority Youth: A Comparison Of Demographic, Body Composition, And Physical Activity Variables, Steven Arcidiacono

Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of obesity, low physical activity, and poor physical fitness of youth in the United States are increasingly poor and in need of intervention to prevent later concerns like hypertension. The overall goal of this dissertation was to examine which factors weigh heaviest in predicting cardiovascular fitness in diverse youth, and how we might measure those factors by maximizing clinical utility and psychometric properties. The sample was gathered from a larger study examining physical activity in youth from Miami-Dade county enrolled in out-of-school programs. Participants (N = 58) were aged 6-17 and comprised exclusively of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black children …

Moral Reasoning And Moral Emotions Linking Hoarding And Scrupulosity, Keith Lit

Theses and Dissertations

Hoarding and scrupulous OCD are part of the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, which are characterized by obsessional preoccupation and ritualistic behavior. Prior research has found a statistical relationship between hoarding and scrupulosity after controlling for these common factors, suggesting the existence of other features shared by these two disorders. Clinical accounts and empirical research of hoarding and scrupulosity suggest three such shared factors: a tendency to experience intense guilt and shame, rigid moralistic thinking, and general cognitive rigidity. However, results of the current study show that, although both hoarding and scrupulosity were related to cognitive rigidity and a tendency to …

The Influence Of Trauma, Locus Of Control, And Health-Related Quality Of Life On A Child’S Self-Worth, Anita Alexander

Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature has shown that childhood trauma and adverse experiences are related to a wide range of negative outcomes that can span into adulthood (e.g., low self-worth, poor physical health, and increased likelihood of co-morbid psychological symptoms). However, a gap remains in the existing literature regarding early interventions that may target complicated outcomes (i.e., self-esteem and self-worth) while the survivor is still in childhood. This paper attempts to elucidate the impact that traumatic childhood experiences may have on self-worth, and the importance of implementing targeted intervention before the child reaches adulthood. Therefore, an extensive review was first conducted to gain …

Ptsd Subtypes, Depressive Presentation, Dissociation, And Cognitive Appraisals And Their Impact On Cardiovascular Reactivity Responses To Stress, Dyona Augustin

Theses and Dissertations

Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are related to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), with links to ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac mortality, and other cardiac conditions. Given that these disorders are associated with increased medical costs, disability, and employer burden, research has investigated which factors increase the likelihood that one will develop CVD. While one hypothesis suggests that individuals who exhibit exaggerated responses to stress are at greater risk of developing CVD, individuals with PTSD/depression have been shown to exhibit both exaggerated and blunted stress responses. The purpose of the present study …

Exploring Mediators And Moderators In The Relationship Of Acculturative Stress And Internalizing Symptoms In Hispanic Youth, Victoria A. Schlaudt

Theses and Dissertations

The population of Hispanic children is quickly growing in the United States. Unfortunately, this group has a significant risk of developing internalizing symptoms. The present study examined the complex relationships of cultural and cognitive factors with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Literature suggests that acculturative stress, or the difficulty experienced when adjusting to a new culture, is related to depression and anxiety in Hispanic youth. However, the mechanisms by which acculturative stress relates to anxiety and depression in this population are unknown. Thus, this study attempted to fill these gaps in the current literature by examining potential mediators and/or moderators. …

Effect Of Negotiator Active Listening Skills On Crisis (Hostage) Negotiations, Karen Guszkowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of active listening skills on perpetrator response style in crisis negotiations. The extant literature boasts the utility of negotiations in crisis situations for law enforcement that came about in response to cataclysmic events such as the Attica Prison Riots (1971), Munich Massacre (1972), and the Williamsburg incident (1973). Various crisis negotiation models assert the importance of active listening skills in crisis negotiations; given the recent and voluminous media attention on police, this research aimed to provide further support for a cultural shift in police departments around the country to provide …

College Of Arts, Humanities, And Social Sciences Faculty Accomplishments Academic Year 2016-2017, Nova Southeastern University - College Of Arts, Humanities, And Social Sciences

CAHSS Faculty Accomplishments Summary

No abstract provided.

A Conversation Analysis Of Therapist-Client Interactional Patterns In Single Session Therapy: A Researcher's Interpretation, Nozomu Ozaki

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

In response to the growing awareness of the issue of accessibility to mental health services (World Health Organization, 2013), single session therapy (SST) has been implemented in various settings throughout the world. (Hoyt &Talmon, 2014b; Miller, 2008; Miller & Slive, 2004; Talmon, 2014). Although there has been much advancement in the knowledge and application of SST, an understanding of therapist-client interactional patterns that enfold in SST is extremely scarce. In this study, I investigated how therapists collaboratively improved the talk in SST turn by turn in such a way that promoted therapeutic improvement. I utilized conversation analysis (Sacks et al., …

The Relationship Between Mainstream Radio Music, Vulgar Lyrics, And Race And The Impact On The Criminal Black Male Stereotype., Deangelo K. Brown

School of Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

The criminal Black male stereotype, cemented in early American literature, has been perpetuated in movies, TV shows, and now on mainstream radio. For this study, Billboard song lyrics were analyzed for three main themes—violence, misogyny, and drugs/alcohol. Billboard song rankings are based on digital download sales, radio airplay, and Internet streaming. The researcher found that the songs played on hip hop and rap genre radio stations con-tained lyrics that strongly correlated with the three themes. The researcher also examined whether a relationship existed between artist’s race and lyrics about violence, misogyny, and drugs/alcohol. Black artists comprised 48% of the artists …

Honing In On Hormone-Sensitive Neural Targets For Therapeutic Intervention: Mission Impossible?, Mary Holschbach, Amanda P. Borrow, Robert J. Handa

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

The Lli Chronicle Special 40th Anniversary Edition, Nova Southeastern University

Lifelong Learning Institute Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Are You Really Anonymous Online? Your Friends On Twitter May Give You Away, Jessica T. Su

FDLA Journal

As you browse the internet, online advertisers track nearly every site you visit, amassing a trove of information on your habits and preferences. When you visit a news site, they might see you’re a fan of basketball, opera and mystery novels, and accordingly select ads tailored to your tastes.

Advertisers use this information to create highly personalized experiences, but they typically don’t know exactly who you are. They observe only your digital trail, not your identity itself, and so you might feel that you’ve retained a degree of anonymity.

Age Of Language Acquisition And Prevalence Of Suicidal Behavior In A Deaf Population With Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder, Jared A. Embree, Nicole R. Kinzeler, Susan Fraker, Sandra Castle, Josephine F. Wilson

JADARA

If language is delayed through developmental milestones in childhood, individuals may have less access to the resiliency tools necessary to build social support and positive social identity. Suicide attempts may represent a maladaptive form of communication stemming from delayed ability to express unmet emotional needs. To evaluate the relationship between age of language acquisition and suicidality, analysis was conducted on self-reported data from prelingual deaf adults in substance use disorder treatment. Suicidal ideation was reported by 50.5% of consumers, and lifetime suicide attempts were reported by 42.1%. Individuals with significantly delayed language acquisition presented with the highest rates (61.1%) of …

Cyber Bullying: A Quantitative Study On The Perceptions And Experiences Of Female Emirati University Students, Michael R. Brochu

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Within the last decade, increased media coverage has been given to incidents associated with acts of violence associated with bullying, cyber bullying, and other associated acts of incivility. The increased media coverage has garnered the attention of researchers from a diverse field of disciplines. However, much of the research that has been conducted has remained focused in North America and Europe. This study identified a limitation in the research available that focused on bullying in the Middle East region of the world, specifically the perceptions and experiences of cyber bullying behavior by female university students in the United Arab Emirates. …

A Case Study Of Cross-Cultural Complexities And Interpersonal Conflict Faced By Project Managers In Multicultural Software Development Project Teams, Hilary T. Aza

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The problem of cross-cultural complexities is a hindrance to effective multicultural team leadership across many industries. Cultural differences among project team members cause conflict, misunderstanding, and poor project performance. The absence of competent leaders is a problem because business in the future will rely increasingly on the use of multicultural project teams. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the challenges faced and the cultural competencies needed by project managers leading multicultural software development project teams to successfully manage and resolve cross-cultural interpersonal conflict amongst project team members. The researcher collected data using semi-structured interviews with …

Chief Student Affairs Officers’ Perceptions Of Institutional Crisis Management, Preparedness, And Response, Heather Studenberg

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined chief student affairs officers’ perceptions of institutional crisis management, preparedness, and response. A goal of this study was to uncover findings that can benefit crisis management protocols or best practices regarding crisis management team training, plan communications, and emergency management personnel on campus, as well as, learn if size of enrollment impacts crisis preparedness and response. Research questions assessed if a significant relationship exists between preparedness in responding to crisis with the number of training topics covered with a crisis management team, the number of modes used to communicate the crisis management plan, size of enrollment and …

Moving From Fear Towards Unity Among Intergroup Dialogue Participants In Israel-Palestine: Findings From A Qualitative Meta-Data-Analysis, Jesse W. Treakle

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative meta-data-analysis was designed to identify themes of experience of Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Arab intergroup dialogue participants. A review of the literature indicated a scarcity of research that describes the ‘meaning-making’ processes that these participants undergo while engaged in structured intergroup dialogue, and this study was designed to address that shortage. The analyst conducted a targeted search of academic journal articles and Ph.D. dissertations published after 1999. The result of this search was a set of 17 primary reports, and the findings of this study are based on the verbatim quotations of Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Arab intergroup …

The Influence Of Innate Behavioral Predispositions On Conflict Stakeholder Interactions In Mediation: The Camp David Accords Of 1978, Stephen D. Merson

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This constructivist grounded theory study will explore the possibility that early socio-cultural experience in concert with innate cognitive mechanisms are essential components of a dual process of decision-making. Each element may influence conflict actors toward predictable predispositional behaviors manifest as bias. Specifically, we are concerned that these biases will influence the perceived and actual neutrality of the principle mediator thus compromising a mediation success. The presence of these predispositions in both mediators and conflict stakeholder challenges the validity of the conclusions in other research that does not consider the true impact of cultural dissonance on more than a superficial insinuation …

Darfur Conflict: A Phenomenological Study Of Female Victims’ Perception Of Justice, Careen Hutchinson

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study used hermeneutical phenomenology to understand how female victims of the Darfur conflict perceived justice, as related to their lived experiences. Reports from the various international media and Human Rights Organizations and United Nations agencies have revealed a disproportional number of victims’ claims on the lack of effective legal ramifications for perpetrators and the high impunity rates that rob victims of achieving justice for the atrocities they have experienced. The purpose of this investigation was to discover how and if the challenges that the victims’ experienced shaped their interpretation of justice, and how they made meaning of …

I Am Human, Too! An Analysis Of Conflict Resolution Theories And Their Applicability To The Lgbtq Community, Jaime Anzalotta

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Members of the LGBT community have historically been victims of marginalization and alienation to various degrees. Incidents such as the Stonewall Riots, pride marches, and manifestos, among others, have served as a way for the LGBTQ community to attempt to take a stand against the systems in place that perpetuate inequality. Factors such as identity and gender have directly impacted the level to which individuals are shunned from their families, communities and social nexus. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore how factors such as identity and gender impact a sense of integration in the LGBTQ community. In addition, …

"Hakuna Matata” (No More Worries) - Integrating Indigenous Systems Of Conflict Resolution Into The Formal System Of Government Administration In Cameroon: Case Study Of The Ekpe Society Of Manyu Division, Stephen O. Agbor

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Colonialism had tremendous effects on the lives, geography, and institutions of the colonized peoples. The colonizers rejected indigenous institutions and practices and adopted or imposed Western and Eurocentric policies in the processes of administration and conflict resolution. Not surprisingly, the differences in cultures between the colonialists and the indigenous populations were bound to cause challenges both to the colonizers and the indigenes. Despite the challenges encountered by the respective colonial administrations, most post-colonial governments replicated their policies. The consequences have been poor governance, confusion, and conflicts in the post-colonial era. To address the situation, calls are being made for the …

Church Hurt: A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of Survivors, Raquel Anderson

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The church is often seen as a place where people go to seek love, peace, and acceptance. Increasingly, there are occasions where these needs are not being met. Mansfield (2012) used the term “Ecclesia exitus ...the decision to permanently question one’s faith, trust in the church leadership and/or withdraw from a congregation you had considered to be your ‘church home,” to describe the experience of Church Hurt. This study seeks to describe the experience of those who have undergone church hurt. Abraham Maslow in his seminal 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation and his subsequent book, Motivation and Personality, …

Trends In The Match Of Early Intervention To Student Need: A Grounded Theory Study In Student Support Within One Florida School District, Amanda K. Ellzey

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The educational research literature confirms that students identified with emotional and/or behavioral disabilities are the most at-risk for school failure, grade retention, and dropout of all student groups. Legislation passed by federal and state entities seeks to support these and all students with recommendations for emotional, behavioral, and academic tiers of intensified supports; yet with dwindling funding and resources, these well-intentioned mandates often go unmet. Using archived records of 16 students in one Florida school district that were eventually placed into Self-Contained Emotional/Behavioral Disability classrooms, this dissertation examined existing trends in the match of intervention to student need, patterns in …

An Exploration Of The Lived Experience Of Human Resources Professionals In The Hospitality Industry: A Qualitative Research Study, Nadia R. Lucien

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Employee abuse and discrimination appear rampant in many workplaces, as indicated by the annual Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports from 2014 and 2015. This study was designed to explore employment discrimination practices specifically within the hospitality industry. The researcher used conversational dialogue to capture the experiences of human resources (HR) professionals who may have observed employee discrimination in the hospitality industry. Using semi-structured interviews with the participants in the study, the researcher obtained rich descriptions of their lived world with respect to employee discrimination. The findings of the study, which indicate that there has been no discrimination in the …

Transformations In United States Policy Toward Syria Under Bashar Al Assad A Unique Case Study Of Three Presidential Administrations And A Projection Of Future Policy Directions, Mohammad Alkahtani

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Foreign policy development in the United States is constitutionally granted to the Executive Office. The President has the responsibility for determining when, where, and how soft and/or hard power will be employed in the pursuit of national interests. In the case of U.S. policy regarding Syria, over the course of the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations, some significant policy transformations have occurred. This qualitative research study examines the evolution of such policies over the course of three different presidential administrations, seeking an answer to the question of whether or not it was likely that U.S. Syrian policy would include a …

Body-Worn Camera Perceptions Of Southwest Florida Citizens And Police Officers, Anthony D. Skolarus

School of Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study explored if police officers wearing body-worn cameras contributed to an increased perception of safety among community members. Further emphasis centered on community support of body-worn cameras, officers who deployed the technology, and perceived trust of citizens geared at improving relations between police and the community. The current study set out to provide an evaluation of police body-worn cameras and their perceived safety impact on citizens (n=166). Perceptions of police officers (n=200) supporting the cameras were also examined in the sampling. A One-Same Binomial Test proved ninety-one percent of citizen respondents believed the cameras would enhance …

Stand By Me: The Effects Of A Police Anti-Bullying Presentation On South Korean High School Students' Attitudes About Bullying And Willingness To Intervene, Kenny Loui

School of Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

Upon assuming the presidency of the Republic of Korea in 2013, Park Geun-hye announced her administration’s priority to address the country’s “Four Social Evils”—sexual violence, domestic violence, school bullying, and unsafe food products. As part of this initiative, the ROK national government urged police officers to implement anti-bullying campaigns and curb school violence. This study examined the effects of Stand By Me: Bullying Prevention and Bystander Empowerment, an anti-bullying presentation conducted by a ROK police officer for an audience of South Korean high school students in spring 2016. The study employed a nonequivalent groups design with a designated treatment group …