Social and Behavioral Sciences | Open Access Articles

Wgss Program Shaped Alum’S Passion For Activism: A Blog Post, Rae Peter

Feminist & Queer Praxis

This blog post was written for the WSU Academic Blog, which showcases the exciting and challenging work WSU students do.

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Author Deepened Understanding Of Feminist Theories: A Blog Post, Monica De Leon-Sanchez

Feminist & Queer Praxis

This blog post was written for WSU Academic Blog, which showcases the exciting and challenging work WSU students do.

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Mindfulness Effectiveness On Strengthening Functional Coping Skills In College Students, Tea Mirkovic Olsen

Counselor Education Capstones

Stress in college students can transpire from academic struggles, social dilemmas, responsibility increases, financial struggles, health concerns, and other personal struggles. Unmanaged stress is a well-documented issue among college students that can lead to numerous mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual problems. Discrimination and racism are additional struggles faced by cultural minority college students that are accompanied with negative coping styles. College students use a variety of coping strategies to resolve stress, often applying dysfunctional coping styles that do not resolve the issue long term. Mindfulness is an emotion-focusing coping style with evidence for effective anxiety and stress reduction through mindfulness-based …

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Where Is The Light? Fighting The Darkness Of Substance Abuse And Suicide., Jessica Wacholz

Counselor Education Capstones

Suicide is a universal health crisis. However, it is also a topic that is infrequently discussed. There is significant research regarding risk factors for suicide, gender, or population comparisons on the likelihood of suicidal ideation, attempts, and completions; but there is a lack of comprehensive research regarding the connection between suicidality and substance abuse. In addition, limited research is provided on the topic of initial suicide screening requirements at intake and during a residential stay in Treatment Centers, Hospitals, and Primary Care Clinics. This review of literature intends to answer the following questions: 1) How prevalent is suicidal ideation, attempts, …

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Rethinking Recidivism: Considerations For Counselors Working With Adult Clients In Sex Offender Treatment, Claire Richards

Counselor Education Capstones

Sex offender treatment is often court ordered and part of conditional release for individuals who have been convicted of harmful sexual acts. Counselors working with this population have an important role in terms of supporting and addressing the needs of their clients, but also in terms of public safety. A cursory exploration of this treatment includes an overview of the role that risk/protective factors documented through assessments have on outcomes, the impact of restrictions regarding conditional release, and how the counselors are both impacted by and integral to this field. Counselors who work with this demographic are presented with informed …

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Therapeutic Potential Of Psychedelic Drugs, Specifically Magic Mushrooms, Marijuana, And Mdma With Veterans Who Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Misty Schutterle

Counselor Education Capstones

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a stress-based condition that a person develops after being exposed to an overwhelmingly traumatic event. Military troops frequently experience stress and trauma, making them highly susceptible to psychopathology. This paper evaluates nine clinical trials that used either magic mushrooms, marijuana, or MDMA as an adjunct to traditional psychotherapy to treat veterans who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicidality, and other psychopathologies. Multiple scholarly journals and articles were read and analyzed, which show support for the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs in treating veterans with PTSD. After receiving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the research showed participants experienced a …

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Mental Health Concerns In Graduate Students: Implications And Effective Interventions, Brody Fanshaw

Counselor Education Capstones

Graduate school can be a stressful time for students. In addition to academic tasks, individuals in graduate programs frequently experience stress due to personal and professional obligations. The distressing nature of managing these priorities allows for an increase in mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality. The reviewed literature finds that programs that have positive factors within their department, such as a positive environment and supportive advisement, allow for an opportunity to curb these concerns. The literature also notes the importance of universities preparing their students for these stressors during their time in their graduate program, in addition …

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Commonalities Between Urban Mental Health And Rural Mental Health, Casey Bohlman

Counselor Education Capstones

During research into mental health, a common theme is the needs of urban and rural communities. There are entire journals dedicated to the mental health needs of these groups. Some common problems faced in both areas are access to mental health services as well as value systems that create barriers to accepting mental health services. The struggle to accept the help from very limited and often underfunded mental health services provides a perfect storm for rampant mental health and drug abuse problems. This is a review the current literature regarding the mental health services and barriers in these communities to …

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Racism As Reproductive Injustice Talk Held On Campus: A Winonan Article, Mckenna Scherer

Feminist & Queer Praxis

This is an article extracted from the December 10, 2021 issue of The Winonan, Winona State University's student newspaper.

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Multicultural Considerations For Latinx And Latinx-American Children In Play Therapy, Andrea Carolina Guerrero León

Counselor Education Capstones

This paper is predominately focused on the exploration of the research available on play therapy and its efficacy with Latinx children. Play therapy is a counseling approach used to process behaviors and emotions in children through interactive play. There are several modalities to play, which all stem from Sigmund Freud’s landmark work with “Little Hans”; these modalities are applied to help children process issues in their lives. However, multicultural considerations have not always been traditionally present in the broader counseling community in the United States. Since the Latinx population is the fastest growing minority in the U.S. with rich, diverse …

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How Training And Feedback In On-Campus Jobs Increase Systems Thinking Skills For Generation Z Student Employees, Kim Fisher

Leadership Education Capstones

Generation Z is less prepared than any generation before to enter the professional world after college graduation. This study focuses on how training and feedback can be used in on-campus jobs to develop the systems thinking skills that employers seek in our Generation Z college students.

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Educating 21st Century Technology Career Professionals: Perspectives On Soft Skills, Scott A. Fillman

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study used the theories of Pedagogical Constructivism, Transformative Learning, and Social and Cultural Capital to understand better the soft skills competencies that need to be imparted to adult learners to thrive in a technological world. The study was set at Midwest Tech Company, a suburban software technology company located outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The research design was qualitative, using a phenomenological approach. Data were collected within interviews, focus group activities, and from documents. Analysis of the data collected revealed lived experiences of career technology professionals that described effective communication, willingness to learn, and the value of mentorship within technology …

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Immigrant Learning In Community Colleges: Unpacking Student Experiences In Minnesota, Abdulrazzaq S. Mursal

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study explored lived experiences of Somali immigrant students as they studied at a community college in Minnesota. Although, many Somalis are pursuing educational opportunities in MN community colleges. Little research is available on their community college experiences. The aim of this study was to extend the limited research on Somali immigrant students by providing valuable information regarding their community college experiences. A qualitative study design with a phenomenological approach was employed to examine the lived experiences of six students who participated in semi-structured focus group and individual interviews. Findings of the study show that Somali students face many challenges …

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Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes Problematic, Courtney R. Retzlaff

Counselor Education Capstones

Counselors must help clients differentiate between healthy eating and disordered eating. Thus, this review of the literature examines when healthy eating becomes dangerous, and in some cases, life threatening by comparing a condition known as orthorexia to identified mental health disorders. Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is defined as, “a pathological obsession with proper nutrition that is characterized by a restrictive diet, ritualized patterns of eating, and rigid avoidance of foods believed to be unhealthy or impure” (Koven & Abry, 2015, p.385). Orthorexia is not included in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a disorder. Even so, …

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Barriers To, And Facilitators Of, Patient Self-Management Of Chronic Conditions: An Integrative Literature Review, Shari Frueh

Nursing Masters Papers

The prevalence of adults with chronic medical conditions in the United States is growing. Adequate self-management of chronic conditions enables patients to manage unpleasant symptoms, improve quality of life, avoid life-threatening situations, and slow disease progression. Patients require support from healthcare providers to learn to optimally manage their chronic condition(s). The increasing volume of patients requiring assistance necessitates redesigned approaches to self-management support to meet the demand. The purpose of this inquiry is to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers to, and facilitators of, self-management in adults and to provide recommendations for nursing interventions and healthcare provider approaches that …

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Effective Instructonal Strategies, While Using Experiential Learning, To Encourage Student Engagement In A Rural, Distance Learning Setting, Janelle Frank

Leadership Education Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many school districts to move all traditional face-to-face classes to distance learning settings. As a result, educators were left with the challenge of keeping students engaged from a remote location. This study determined what instructional strategies 4K-8 educators found most effective in fostering student engagement while using experiential learning in a rural, distance learning setting. 4K-8 educators were asked to complete an anonymous, confidential survey to gather information about their emergency transition to distance learning experiences and what instructional strategies they found most beneficial in fostering student engagement while using experiential learning. The study analyzed the …

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Remote Working And Its Impact On Employee Job Satisfaction During Covid-19, Marissa Grant

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this quantitative study is to investigate the impact working remotely has on employee job satisfaction. The researcher will study public university graduate students who worked remotely at least one day per week for at least six months since March 2020.

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Importance Of Coaches' Communication: A Pathway To Understanding The Effect On High School Female Athletes And Body Image, Michelle Kraemer

Leadership Education Capstones

This paper explores the importance of communication on body image issues between coaches and high school female athletes. The purpose of this study is to better understand how coaches’ communication on body image issues effect high school female athletes. This research focused on two high schools in southwest Wisconsin. The research design was a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collected through a survey. The data from the study focused on the high school female athletes’ responses to the “Fat Talk Questionnaire” and their perspective on four multiple choice questions. The four multiple choice questions included a demographic question about …

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Principals’ Perception On Teacher Evaluations During The 2020-2021 School Year, Luke Mosiman

Leadership Education Capstones

The reason for this qualitative study was to understand principal’s perspective of their teacher evaluation tool effectiveness during the 2020-2021 school year. Schools in this study were all from the same upper Midwestern state. The districts these schools were in had learning models range from full in person to full distance learning for most of the 2020-2021 school year. The participants were asked through surveys and an interview how they felt their evaluation tool was able to measure teacher performance in the areas of class atmosphere, classroom management, content delivery, and student engagement. Results indicate the evaluation tool was able …

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What Aspects Of Teaching Generate Burnout In Teachers With Five Or Less Years Of Experience?, Paige Peterson

Leadership Education Capstones

The educational field can prove to be a stressful occupation with various aspects being more stressful than others. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the aspects of teaching that generate burnout in teachers with five years or less of teaching experience. The study used an anonymous online survey to collect data from teachers in the state of Minnesota. Research questions aimed to understand which aspects of teaching are the most stressful, how grade level (elementary, middle school, or high school) impacts burnout, and if professional development could help limit burnout. A total of 289 individuals participated …

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From Studebaker To Warp Speed: The Journey Of Frontline Supervisors From Face To Face To Electronic Learning And Communication, Lori Franke

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of the study is to develop a playbook for front-line supervisors and assistant supervisors to reference when sent information via electronic communications (email) on new initiatives.

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It Security Technology And Staffing Investments For Small And Mid-Sized Healthcare Organizations In Response To Increased Threats, Dylan Dudlext

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the risk awareness and risk responses of small to mid-sized healthcare organizations due to increased cybersecurity threats to the healthcare industry.

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Implementing A Standardized Lost And Found Procedure At Mayo Clinic, Andra Boyum

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this project is to create standardization within the Lost and Found guideline so that stakeholders can utilize their resources with confidence.

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Effects Of Flex Periods On High School Student Failure Rates, Michael Ongie

Leadership Education Capstones

Schools, in their current form, do not allow for personalized amounts of time for students to learn concepts. Students do not have the opportunity to meet with teachers during the school day to get support on specific concepts they do not understand. The purpose of this study is to research the potential link between implementation of a flex period and student achievement, measured by failure rates, in high school semester courses. The study investigates how failure rates changed after the implementation of a flex period. The sample population for this study are all students who attended a specific small rural …

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Virtual Student Engagement Through The Admissions Process, Sonya Hernandez

Leadership Education Capstones

Students pursing higher education are inundated with information meant to recruit them to the college or university. Institutions compete for a prospective student’s attention through multiple mediums and platforms (Hagedorn, 2006). It is to the institutions benefit to continue to update recruitment practices to maintain a competitive advantage. The university admissions office central role is to recruit students and implement recruitment strategies. The COVID-19 global pandemic forced admissions offices to pivot efforts into increasing or relying solely on virtual student engagement to meet safety requirements. The transition highlighted the need to fill gaps in virtual student engagement initiatives and knowledge. …

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The Results Of Child Sexual Abuse And How They Can Be Mitigated, Joy Buchman

Counselor Education Capstones

This review of literature sought to compile a list, albeit not exhaustive, of short and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and several types of play therapy used to effectively mitigate these effects. CSA has a long reaching impact affecting a child’s well-being, a nation’s societal health in addition to having a massive financial impact worldwide. Some children who are sexually abused do not struggle with negative effects and others are impacted for a lifetime. Some effects of CSA are developmental, cognitive, physical and psychological. These effects can impact the way a child views themselves, adults and the world. …

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Supporting Trauma-Affected Students In The Secondary Setting, Shandi Taylor

Special Education Professional Papers

This study used a survey format to understand the trauma-informed strategies and approaches that secondary teachers at one Midwest high school used when working with trauma-affected students. Specifically, the focus was on how teachers build relationships with students, teach coping skills, and implement individual supports when working with trauma-affected students. Teachers provided answers by answering multiple choice questions with the option to select multiple options for each question. The study found that most teachers use a variety of relationship building strategies with students. However, it also found that many of the general education teachers and special education teachers in settings …

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Meaning Making In Grief Counseling, Lindsey Stuhr

Counselor Education Capstones

Loss is experienced in every life. How individuals work through loss is a very personal experience for each individual. To date, many experts in the field of grief counseling are continuing to try and understand the most adequate way to help individuals to work through grief while moving forward in life. This review of the concept of meaning making in grief counseling intends to answer the following questions: 1). How do we define meaning making as it relates to grief2)? What are the key components that experts in the field have learned about grieving and the concept of meaning making? …

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Poverty In Schools: The Impact Of Poverty On School Readiness For Kindergarteners, Emily Inglett

Counselor Education Capstones

Experiencing poverty in childhood has lasting impacts on a child. Poverty can have a negative impact on a child’s development academically, cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. The present literature review aims to explore research that has looked into what it means to live in poverty, what lasting impacts living in poverty have on children, and what that means for a child’s school readiness when entering kindergarten. It will also discuss some interventions that a school counselor could implement in schools to support a child who lives in poverty and their family.

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Facing A New Normal: Uncovering The Psychological Effects Of Loneliness On Student Mental Health, Courtney Thoreson

Counselor Education Capstones

In anticipation of the burden loneliness will have in combination with distressing psychological and emotional burdens carried over from the COVID-19 prevention strategies i.e., social distancing, quarantine measures, and lockdowns, colleges and universities are facing a broad spectrum of challenges as they shift to adapt to a new normal. Besides the physical health impact of COVID-19, this global pandemic has unleashed a psychological toll on society that has yet to be fully realized for its potential long-lasting effects. As campuses navigate the broader impacts of COVID-19, understanding the psychological effects of loneliness will be a primary focus in understanding it’s …

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Wgss Program Shaped Alum’S Passion For Activism: A Blog Post, Rae Peter

Feminist & Queer Praxis

Author Deepened Understanding Of Feminist Theories: A Blog Post, Monica De Leon-Sanchez

Feminist & Queer Praxis

Mindfulness Effectiveness On Strengthening Functional Coping Skills In College Students, Tea Mirkovic Olsen

Counselor Education Capstones

Where Is The Light? Fighting The Darkness Of Substance Abuse And Suicide., Jessica Wacholz

Counselor Education Capstones

Rethinking Recidivism: Considerations For Counselors Working With Adult Clients In Sex Offender Treatment, Claire Richards

Counselor Education Capstones

Therapeutic Potential Of Psychedelic Drugs, Specifically Magic Mushrooms, Marijuana, And Mdma With Veterans Who Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Misty Schutterle

Counselor Education Capstones

Mental Health Concerns In Graduate Students: Implications And Effective Interventions, Brody Fanshaw

Counselor Education Capstones

Commonalities Between Urban Mental Health And Rural Mental Health, Casey Bohlman

Counselor Education Capstones

Racism As Reproductive Injustice Talk Held On Campus: A Winonan Article, Mckenna Scherer

Feminist & Queer Praxis

Multicultural Considerations For Latinx And Latinx-American Children In Play Therapy, Andrea Carolina Guerrero León

Counselor Education Capstones

How Training And Feedback In On-Campus Jobs Increase Systems Thinking Skills For Generation Z Student Employees, Kim Fisher

Leadership Education Capstones

Educating 21st Century Technology Career Professionals: Perspectives On Soft Skills, Scott A. Fillman

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Immigrant Learning In Community Colleges: Unpacking Student Experiences In Minnesota, Abdulrazzaq S. Mursal

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes Problematic, Courtney R. Retzlaff

Counselor Education Capstones

Barriers To, And Facilitators Of, Patient Self-Management Of Chronic Conditions: An Integrative Literature Review, Shari Frueh

Nursing Masters Papers

Effective Instructonal Strategies, While Using Experiential Learning, To Encourage Student Engagement In A Rural, Distance Learning Setting, Janelle Frank

Leadership Education Capstones

Remote Working And Its Impact On Employee Job Satisfaction During Covid-19, Marissa Grant

Leadership Education Capstones

Importance Of Coaches' Communication: A Pathway To Understanding The Effect On High School Female Athletes And Body Image, Michelle Kraemer

Leadership Education Capstones

Principals’ Perception On Teacher Evaluations During The 2020-2021 School Year, Luke Mosiman

Leadership Education Capstones

What Aspects Of Teaching Generate Burnout In Teachers With Five Or Less Years Of Experience?, Paige Peterson

Leadership Education Capstones

From Studebaker To Warp Speed: The Journey Of Frontline Supervisors From Face To Face To Electronic Learning And Communication, Lori Franke

Leadership Education Capstones

It Security Technology And Staffing Investments For Small And Mid-Sized Healthcare Organizations In Response To Increased Threats, Dylan Dudlext

Leadership Education Capstones

Implementing A Standardized Lost And Found Procedure At Mayo Clinic, Andra Boyum

Leadership Education Capstones

Effects Of Flex Periods On High School Student Failure Rates, Michael Ongie

Leadership Education Capstones

Virtual Student Engagement Through The Admissions Process, Sonya Hernandez

Leadership Education Capstones

The Results Of Child Sexual Abuse And How They Can Be Mitigated, Joy Buchman

Counselor Education Capstones

Supporting Trauma-Affected Students In The Secondary Setting, Shandi Taylor

Special Education Professional Papers

Meaning Making In Grief Counseling, Lindsey Stuhr

Counselor Education Capstones

Poverty In Schools: The Impact Of Poverty On School Readiness For Kindergarteners, Emily Inglett

Counselor Education Capstones

Facing A New Normal: Uncovering The Psychological Effects Of Loneliness On Student Mental Health, Courtney Thoreson

Counselor Education Capstones