Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Narratives Of Grief And Loss From The Children Who Lost A Parent On 9/11, Ryan Sliwak

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Limited research exists on the grief experiences of children who lost a parent on 9/11, particularly how these children evolve in their grief process, including their comprehension of the loss and their evolving attachment to the deceased parent (Kaplow et al., 2018; Alvis et al., 2022). Existing frameworks often assume post-traumatic reactions without fully considering the nuances of grief experiences for these children (Chemtob, 2007; Hoven, 2005).

Two research questions guided this study: (a) How does the pre-loss relationship with the parent influence the ongoing internal relationship with the deceased parent? (b) How does maintaining an internal relationship with the …

A Thematic Analysis Of The Experiences Of Black Female Coaches’ Evolution In Women’S College Basketball, Jessica E. Jones

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

According to the NCAA Demographics database, among the Division I, Division II, and Division III teams' women's basketball rosters for the 2020-2021 season, Black women only held 12% of head coaching positions, while White women held 45% of head coaching positions. The statistics should raise concern as Black and other female athletes of color make up 50% of NCAA's basketball rosters across all three divisions but they do not transition into coaching or leadership positions.

The current study explored the lived experiences of Black female coaches in NCAA women's basketball, including their career advancement, experiences as coaches, and their perception …

Relational Empowerment Among Public Safety Outreach Workers And Violence Interventionists In U.S. Cities: A Qualitative Inquiry, Christopher M. Thompson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The nation-wide uprisings for racial justice in the Summer of 2020 brought into mainstream awareness the calls to shift resources away from police departments and channel funds to mental health, education, and other social services. However, in the wake of recent post-pandemic surges in community violence, police budgets increased, while public opinion for grassroots, radical initiatives like “defund the police” that many activists, organizers, and abolitionists pushed into public consciousness has faltered. Studies have shown that the implementation of community-led public safety programs significantly reduce incidents of street violence in U.S. cities. Thus, research that informs community-driven violence intervention and …

Scared To Lose You: Attachment Narratives Of Mothers Post-Neonatal Hospitalization, Nicole T. Maleh

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In the United States, approximately 400,000 infants annually are born prematurely, while a further 1% of full-term babies experience illnesses requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. The NICU experience can be profoundly stressful, and for some families, the trauma lingers for years post-discharge, and are at risk for parental perception of child vulnerability (PPCV), wherein parents view physically healthy children as illness-prone despite lack of evident symptoms. This study explored the impact of early attachment narratives of NICU mothers meeting PPCV criteria on their post-NICU parent-child relationship narratives.

Although significant research exists on NICU outcomes, Vulnerable Child Syndrome, and …

The Influences Of Acculturative Stress And Gender Roles On Sexual Subjectivity In European, Asian, And Latinx Immigrant Women In The U.S., Silvia Re

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In the process of acculturation, cisgender immigrant women are at greater risk of experiencing acculturative stress, often entailing a reconsideration of their self-concepts and identities as members of new sociocultural contexts. Gender roles and sexual subjectivity are two identity features they can revise given their ties to culture and socialization. Results from previous studies suggest that cisgender immigrant women’s sociocultural contexts, related values, and attitudes may contribute to their levels of stress, sense of self-efficacy, self-esteem, and sexual subjectivity. This study aimed to fill gaps in the existing literature and raised awareness of the relationship between acculturative stress, gender role …

Survivors Of Sexual Violence And The Impact Of Rape Myth Internalization, Ambivalent Sexism, And Concealment On Formal Help-Seeking Behaviors: An Application Of Minority Stress Theory, Katherine R. Finkelstein

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The present study was based on the premise that facets of the minority stress theory may be used as a framework to examine the unique and pervasive social stressors cisgender female survivors encounter when seeking formal support (e.g., help-seeking) after unwanted sexual experiences (USE). The application of minority stress theory with this population suggests that cisgender female survivors face unique and hostile proximal stressors (e.g., rape myth acceptance, ambivalent sexism) that, if internalized, can impact their ability to disclose (e.g., concealment of the USE), and have deleterious effects on their mental health and help-seeking behaviors with formal support systems. The …

More Than An Athlete: The Impact Of Athletic Identity On African American Male Ncaa Di Collegiate Student-Athlete Help-Seeking Attitudes, Pattric Davis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

A marginalized racial identity, a male gender identity, and an athletic identity have all been significantly linked to mental health seeking and attitudes. African American male collegiate student-athletes continue to use mental health resources at insufficient rates when compared to their White counterparts, even though they experience mental health impairment at comparative rates. The purpose of this study was to critically examine factors that contribute to the underutilization of mental health resources by African American collegiate NCAA DI student-athletes. At the intersection of race, gender, and athletic identity this study dives into the lived experiences of African American collegiate NCAA …

The African American Dream Deferred: Exploring The Relationship Between The “American Dream” And The Black American Millennial Reality, Simonleigh P. Miller

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this qualitative study is to highlight and bring understanding to the lived experiences of Black American millennials. This study was conducted from the constructivist and critical research paradigms and utilized Reflexive Thematic Analysis methods to analyze qualitative data. The study places specific focus on Black or African American millennials’ associated thoughts and feelings regarding their current reality and positionality within the American context, and its relation to the idealized reality of the American Dream. The influence of the American Dream on the African American millennial reality was explored to gain a better understanding of how, or if …

Ci Guardiamo Il Culo: A Phenomenology Of Relevance In Ancient Italian Cultural Heritage, Sophia Hudzik

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Relevance to the public has become critical for Italian cultural heritage institutions, as domestic visitation to archaeological parks and museums remains low while expectations to engage communities rise. This paper presents a phenomenological analysis of the experience of ancient cultural heritage through the lens of individuals located nearby the Villa of the Antonines Archaeological excavation, in Genzano di Roma, Italy. The findings conclude with a set of recommendations for ancient cultural heritage institutions to become more relevant to the existing needs and lived experiences of the community.

Exploring The Relationship Between Nurse Supervisor’S Servant Leadership Behavior And Nursing Employee’S Self-Assessment Of Engagement And Burnout In Nigeria, Michael Otuwurunne

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Burnout is a problem among workers in Nigeria, especially among nurses (Ozumba, & Alabere, 2019). This study examined whether there was a significant relationship between the employee perception of the servant leadership behaviors of the nurse supervisor and the employee’s self-rating of burnout: exhaustion and disengagement, and servant leadership behaviors of the nurse supervisor, and engagement: vigor, dedication, and absorption. Exhaustion refers to an intensive physical, affective, and cognitive strain while disengagement refers to the distancing of oneself from one’s work, and experiencing negative attitudes toward the work object, work content, or one’s work in general (Demerouti et al., 2001). …

Professional Athletes Tell All: Communication Techniques To Assist In A Successful Podcast, Wilnir Louis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

An increasing number of athletes are utilizing various mediums to communicate to fans. A rising medium that athletes are adopting is podcasting. While there are studies that discuss the benefits of podcasting, there is limited research that provides individuals, specifically athletes, with the proper knowledge on how to effectively communicate on a podcast platform. This project investigates what athletes can do to make their podcasts engaging for viewers and listeners. A case study was conducted that included textual and content analysis of the top episodes of two successful athlete-driven podcasts. Findings from the research guided the creation of a visual …

The 2016 Presidential Election Of Donald Trump And Its Impact On The College-Going Experience For Then-Undergraduate Lgbtq+ Students, Nicholas Russo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

On November 8, 2016, businessman and mogul Donald J. Trump won the U.S. presidential election, sending shockwaves across the country given that polls indicated that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton would win the election. On U.S. college campuses, students reacted to the election win, and for LGBTQ+ undergraduate students, their marginalized identity was negatively impacted by Trump’s win because of his rhetoric towards this population. Colleges and universities responded to the 2016 election results by sending out communications to affirm their mission and values for all their constituents, but this response was perceived as not supporting by LGBTQ+ undergraduate …

Value Dimensions Influence Perceptions Towards Immigrants, Prachi Pathak

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Researchers have turned to human values as predictors for people’s attitudes toward immigrants. Value- based studies may be effective in producing attitudinal and behavioral changes toward immigrants, as people can be receptive to universal values. The current study compared differences between human values (e.g., benevolence, universalism, power, and achievement) on people’s perceptions toward immigrants. A total sample of 250 participants was collected for the current study. Each participant was randomly assigned to one group (control group, universalism value prime, benevolence value prime, power value prime, or achievement value prime). All participants were given a demographics questionnaire, followed by a …

The Effects Of Behavioral Skills Training On Skill Acquisition In Autistic Children: A Systematic Review, Kimberly E. Lucchesi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Using behavioral skills training (BST) to promote skill acquisition to autistic children is seen throughout the literature. There are many research articles that use BST to promote skill acquisition such as safety skills, social skills, and sports skills to children with autism. The aim of the current project was to investigate if BST has a body of research sufficient enough to be considered an evidence based practice (EBP) when it comes to promoting skill acquisition to autistic children. This paper is a systematic search of EBSCO databases as well as Dissertations and Theses Global to determine if BST promotes skill …

Exploring The Effects Of Witnessing Family Violence In Childhood Among South Asians In America, Chiroshri Bhattacharjee

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Incidents of domestic violence and its transgenerational impact within the South Asian community, although prevalent, are often dismissed as peripheral concerns due to various sociocultural and internalized psychological factors . This study explored the long-term effects of witnessing three types of interparental violence (psychological aggression, physical aggression, and injury) on participants’ self-esteem, attachment style, and conflict resolution abilities as adults. Cultural values conflict unique to the South Asian American community was used as a moderator to assess the relationship between participants’ self-esteem and degree of violence witnessed. Eighty-seven self-identified South Asian American women (age range = 20–40 years, M = …

The Effects Of Acceptance And Commitment Training With Behavioral Skills Training On Educators' Skill Acquisition: A Systematic Review, Shalayah Gaines

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACTr) uses at least one of six self-management skills to alter the function of covert behaviors and teach staff to change or persist in behaviors in the moment to pursue long-term positive reinforcement. While ACTr addresses the private events that impact work performance, it does not provide educators with the skills to implement the procedures with integrity. Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is an evidence-based strategy that teaches educators to implement skills with integrity. However, BST does not address private events that impact work performance. The benefits of ACTr address the limitations of BST and vice versa. …

The Impact Of Racial And Ethnic Socialization On Young Black Women's Roles In Interpersonal And Romantic Relationships: A Quantitative Study, Jessica L. Elliott

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Children often receive their first understanding of the nuances of society and how to navigate their experiences from parents and family members. Parents and family members of children of color have the additional task of teaching their children how to navigate through society as a person of color. The present study used grounded theory (Charmaz, 2014) and operated from a constructivist–interpretivist and critical–ideological paradigm (Ponterotto, 2005) to specifically explore the racial and ethnic socialization messages young Black women received in childhood and adolescence regarding the expectations of their roles in these relationships and how these messages impacted them throughout their …

Examining The Intersection Of Public Relations And Vaccine Communication: An Analysis Of Audience-Centered Strategies For Evolving Health Information, Julia A. Mills

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In an uncertain environment, public relations (PR) practitioners provide signposts to fulfill different audience information needs. However, little research exists on the role of the PR practitioner in communicating evolving health information, especially during urgent health events like a pandemic. Through a comparative case study of PR tactics by three American public health organizations, this project aimed to understand what strategies health care professionals can use to improve communication about the COVID-19 vaccine to priority populations. The findings then informed an original artifact with six best practices for audience-centered vaccine communication.

Exploring Parent-Child Interactions During Natural Spatial Play, Nicole Oppenheimer

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Spatial skills develop continuously throughout life. One way for young children to improve spatial skills is by working together with a more knowledgeable person such as a parent. When parents use spatial language during play, they bring attention to the spatial information on and around the target object, which subsequently promotes spatial skills in children (Cartmill et al., 2010; Pruden et al., 2011; Pruden & Levine, 2017). In the past, most research on the development of spatial skills was conducted in highly structured laboratory settings. While laboratory studies are useful because they allow researchers to control circumstances that can introduce …

Perceptions Of Conservative And Liberal Protest Groups’ Use Of Violent And Nonviolent Behavior, Tahra C. Anglade

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Research regarding public perceptions of the legitimacy and reasonableness of protest groups, as well as support for these groups and identification with their causes have been studied extensively. However, much is still to be investigated on perceptions of protest groups by way of public attitudes toward protest violence, likelihood of engagement in activism, and political alignment with conservative or liberal ideologies. This study aimed to assess perceptions and attitudes toward conservative and liberal protest groups’ use of violent and nonviolent behavior. Participants read a description of one of four protest groups, with each group varying by political affiliation (conservative or …

Digital Communication Channel Selection For Organizational Leadership: Best Practices For Interacting With Dispersed Stakeholders, Sarah M. Diefenbach

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As organizations embrace hybrid and remote work models, there is a growing need for organizational leaders to use digital communication channels to maintain active communication with dispersed stakeholders. The purpose of this study was to analyze what digital communication channels have been implemented by organizational leadership and why they were selected. LinkedIn, Twitter, and corporate posts from six CEOs within the New York Metropolitan area were analyzed over a four-year period. Results revealed that personal social media channels were the most frequent forms of communication. Additionally, multimedia and multichannel strategies enhanced the communication messages and led to a best practices …

Protective Factors And Changes In Parent And Sibling Dynamics During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Hannah Maciejewski

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life for everyone in different and unique ways. We recruited parents and children from the same families to investigate the changes families experienced since the start of the pandemic. Of interest were variables related to family dynamics as well as protective factors that may have influenced their pandemic experience. Twenty-three parents completed altered versions of the Perceived Coronavirus Threat Questionnaire short (CTQ-short), Perceived Coronavirus Impacts Questionnaire short (CIQ-short), and Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) as measures of perceptions of direct and indirect covid-related stress. Parents also completed a modified Parental Stress Scale (PSS) as a measure …

Stress And Retrieval-Enhanced Suggestibility, Amanda Capriglione

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Research has demonstrated that when witnesses are immediately questioned following an event, they can become even more susceptible to later presented misinformation and false memory production. This test-enhanced memory impairment is known as retrieval-enhanced suggestibility (RES; Chan, Thomas, & Bulevich, 2009). Research has also demonstrated that the experience of stress produces a reduced misinformation effect and better ability to discriminate accurate from inaccurate information (Nitschke et al., 2019). The primary goal of the current study was to explore the effects of stress and repeated testing on misinformation susceptibility in the RES paradigm. Participants engaged in an eyewitness memory paradigm in …

Moderators To The Effects Of Childhood Traumatic Stress On Childhood Physical Health, Shaneze Gayle Smith

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

According to the United States National Statistics on Child Abuse, in 2017 Child Protective Service agencies in the United States received an estimated 4.1 million referrals involving approximately 7.5 million children. A substantial body of research has revealed that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have detrimental long-term effects on physical health and a large number of health conditions. However, little research exists regarding the effects of childhood maltreatment on childhood physical health. Identifying protective factors such as self-esteem can moderate the effects of ACEs, help children thrive, and potentially lower the risk of a variety of conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer, …

Memory, Mindfulness, And Perfectionism: Is There A Relationship Between Memory And Perfectionism, And Can Mindfulness Reduce False Alarms?, Stefani Morgan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Memory has been found to improve with experience of mindfulness training. However, it has also been found to be impaired after mindfulness training. These mixed results are interesting and warrant further investigation into the relationship between memory and mindfulness. Additionally, perfectionism has been seen to play a role in task performance, making its role in memory task performance of interest to the current study. Perfectionism has been framed in a two-dimensional view, dividing it into two types. Perfectionistic concerns occurs when an individual is preoccupied with worry and concern over their performance, and perfectionistic striving occurs when an individual sets …

Acculturation Of Hispanics/Latinos And Its Impact On Public Relations Through The Framework Of Secondary Research, Angela Trejos - Villacres

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Hispanics and Latinos are the largest growing minority in the United States. Despite this, they are less likely to be targeted for public relations (PR) campaigns. Through secondary research of previous literature on the subject, it was established that PR does not implement strategies to address this population successfully. This project aimed to investigate the importance of acculturation, cultural representation, language, and media selection for effective PR practices. Then, a modified PR model was presented for professionals to adopt while targeting this ethnic group.

School-Based Health Clinics And Student Outcomes In New York City Public Schools, Jacqueline Rosado

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Schools have made efforts to improve outcomes for poor, Black, and Latino students, but disparities persist. Education policies in the United States are not addressing the structural inequities in schools and any external influences that contribute to the low achievement of Black, and Latino students living in poverty. The research in this study highlights inadequate or lack of healthcare services as a contributing factor. This results in a host of problems children bring with them to schools such as attention disorders and chronic absenteeism. In order for schools to mitigate these educational and health challenges, they must have the resources …

A Qualitative Study On Black East Asian Women And Their Experiences Of Hypersexualization, Kalya Castillo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

While the adult multiracial population in the United States accounts for approximately 6.9 % of Americans, current growth trends suggest that numbers will triple within the next 40 years. Evidence suggests that Asian multiracial and Black multiracial groups are emergent racial categories, yet little research exists on dual minority populations. Premise for this qualitative study stems from my prior research on Black Asian American identity development that revealed an emergent theme of hypersexualization experienced by Black Asian American women. This study explored how Black Asian American women experience hypersexuality and the resulting impact on their identity development. Utilizing a constructivist–interpretivist …

Social Anxiety Screening And Associated Factors Among University Students, Kathleen Prendergast

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Social anxiety is a type of anxiety triggered by social situations whereby the individual feels scrutinized by others, and which may contribute to avoidance of certain situations. This avoidance can interfere with personal, academic, and career endeavors. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help manage social anxiety. However, social anxiety is often underrecognized and
under treated. A survey with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) was disseminated to identify and address this need among students in a large Northeastern university in the United States. The study is valuable as a pilot study. There was a small response rate for participation in the …

“Being Believed, Being Seen, Not Being Questioned”: Bisexual Women’S Experiences Of Validity While Passing As Heterosexual, Megan E. Ingraham

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

The current study explored bisexual cisgender women’s experiences regarding passing as heterosexual, which Dyar et al. (2014) defined as the perception that one’s bisexual identity can be concealable and that bisexual individuals can choose to appear heterosexual with different-gender partners to avoid heterosexism. Utilizing intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989/1993) and Brown’s (2002) bisexual identity development model as the theoretical framework, the present study related passing as heterosexual to bisexual individuals’ identity validity while exploring factors that facilitate or hinder this process. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 12 bisexual cisgender adult women through semi-structured interviews in the constructivist-interpretivist paradigm (Ponterotto, …