Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The New Bully: Online Racism, Online Sexual Harassment, And Their Association With Aggression And Stress, Cody Allen Cloud

Doctoral Dissertations

There has been a great deal of study related to the impacts of traditional bullying and cyberbullying on mental health and similarities found between these variables have led researchers to question whether cyberbullying is a form of traditional bullying or its own distinct variable. By further analyzing the forms of cyberbullying, online racism and online sexual harassment, the present study aims to add to this discussion. Furthermore, there has been little research on these variables since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering changes in work and school lifestyles during the pandemic, analyzing the associations of online racism and online …

How Short-Term Rentals Impact Summit County, Colorado, Spatially And Economically: A Gis Analysis, Hanna Gilhooley

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Summit County, Colorado, is experiencing a housing crisis influenced by the rise of short-term rentals (STRs). This project investigates how STRs spatially and economically impact the county. STRs are regarded as a reason for the housing crisis as they take away long-term housing from locals and increase housing market prices. Locals are forced to look for housing in neighboring counties such as Clear Creek, Eagle, Grand, Lake, and Park. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to analyze the spatial and economic impact of STRs in Summit County. Total population, median household income and STR locations are analyzed in ArcGIS …

A Longitudinal Study Assessing The Influence Of Salivary Cortisol, Alpha Amylase, And Interleukin-1Β Levels On Sleep And Physical Activity Among Emerging Adults, Bernardo Loiacono

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Emerging adulthood can be marked by psychological disorders and distress. Stress exposure activates several bodily responses involving the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA) and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Research into these systems involves the examination of several biomarkers including cortisol and alpha amylase. Basal values of these biomarkers have been linked to well-being and health outcomes. Also, stress biomarkers have been shown to influence physical activity (PA) which is salient because it is linked to chronic illness and disease (e.g., obesity, cancer, depression, diabetes). The present study aimed to explore the bidirectional relationships between basal stress biomarkers and daily PA in …

Finding The Silver Lining: The Role Of Supportive Social Environments, Keturah Platt

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Experiencing a significant loss can be one of the most challenging life experiences. The adverse effects of bereavement can disrupt a person’s overall health and well-being. While it is essential to fully acknowledge the negative outcomes of bereavement, it is equally important to recognize the potential for posttraumatic growth (PTG) following such experiences. PTG has been consistently observed in adults who have experienced various traumas, yet there is still much to learn about PTG among adolescents. Given that death is one of the most stressful life events for youth, bereaved adolescents are a crucial population for examining PTG. Those living …

A Comparative Gis Analysis Of United And Southwest Airlines Route Networks, Robert Brown

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

This GIS project explores the relationship between airline route networks and flight delays for two U.S. Airlines. Using data obtained from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), route networks were created for United and Southwest Airlines showing all flights that each carrier reported in 2023. The airlines of interest were selected due to their opposing route network types; commonly referred to as a hub-and-spoke (HS) and a point-to-point (PTP) route network, respectively. Link charts were created to calculate centrality metrics quantifying these networks, and flight delay data were manipulated and summarized to develop an ArcGIS Dashboard with which any ArcGIS …

Wolverine Habitat Suitability Analysis In Lake County, Colorado, Using Gis, Jake Hostnik

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

This project explores the reintroduction of the wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) to Colorado’s mountainous regions, where the species has been extirpated due to habitat destruction and human activities. The study uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify optimal habitats for wolverine reintroduction, considering factors like snowpack duration, prey availability, and human disturbance. By creating a GIS-based habitat suitability model, this research will guide conservationists in selecting reintroduction sites. The project addresses the species' role in maintaining alpine ecosystem balance and contributes to the broader understanding of biodiversity restoration in the face of climate change. Results will inform future conservation planning …

Key Largo Mangrove Population Monitoring: A Remote Sensing Analysis And Classification Methodology Review, David Lackajs

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Mangrove forests are some of the world's most bio-diverse habitats, providing essential services to the surrounding coasts. Removal of these habitats has a devastating impact on the ecosystems within them. The Florida Keys are some of the last areas in the United States with extensive mangrove populations. One specific area, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, has been under state protection since 1959. For that reason, mangrove forest habitats there are less fragmented. This study uses remotely sensed imagery to quantify and analyze mangrove populations in this area using two methods: sub-pixel analysis and supervised classification. The …

Just Say Gay: An Exploration Of Authenticity And Connection; Queer Identified Therapists’ Lived Experiences Of Identity-Based Self-Disclosure, Courtney Dunne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current sociopolitical climate in the United States continues to reinforce the complexities and nuances that mental health providers face when facilitating therapy. Over the past few years, anti-DEI legislation has aimed to control the narrative in educational and therapeutic settings regarding what therapists and educators are permitted to teach and share about themselves (Flannery, 2024). At the same time, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric continues to dominate the media and further marginalizes individuals whom are in the queer community. In turn, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face an increased risk for homelessness, substance use disorders, and suicide, which particularly has impacted LGBTQ+ youth …

The Experience Of Pet Ownership During Transitional Housing Process, Kathryn Holden

Student Capstone Papers

Twenty-five percent of people experiencing homelessness have pets, but few transitional housing programs allow pets (Rhoades et al., 2015); therefore, there is a gap in the literature about the experience of pet ownership during the transitional housing process. This study aimed to explore pet owners' experiences at a transitional housing site in San Diego County. The student interviewed two current dog owners and four recent dog owners. All participants prioritized their pets because of the strong bond they shared with their pet. They described their relationship between themselves and their dog to be stronger than their relationships with family members …

When Social Media Recruiting Goes Wrong: A Cautionary Tale Of Sample Engagement, Ezra N. S. Lockhart, Joel B. Goodin

The Qualitative Report

Doctoral candidates’ experiences with recruiting participants vary in many ways. While some execute plans with ease, others implement their strategic plan for recruitment only to find that it does not work well or does not work at all. While successful recruitment is rarely reflected upon, the candidate who experiences unexpected difficulty with recruitment has several potential negative effects including increased time to degree completion, increased program and recruitment costs, and increased potential for dropout. In this case study, we present a cautionary tale of sample engagement from the gaming community where a doctoral candidate experienced doxxing, social media banning, and …

Paycheck-To-Paycheck: How Public Service Loan Forgiveness Inhibits Generational Wealth Attainment For Black Women, Ashley Patrice-Rose Sherman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black women who attend college in the United States are more likely to borrow to cover the cost of attendance and carry the largest amount of student loan debt than any other racial and gender group. Federal student loan borrowers are encouraged to work in public service to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), an income-driven repayment program established by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) of 2007. PSLF offers total debt relief after ten years of uninterrupted full monthly payments based on an income-driven repayment plan. The significance of this qualitative study will …

Impact Of Dialogic Reading Intervention On Language And Literacy Development Of Young Dual Language Learners, Ekta Ghosh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a pressing need for research on early language intervention for dual language learners (DLLs) at risk of developmental delays, especially young children who are non-Spanish speakers. Despite the projection that 62% of the nation's children will be children of color by 2050, there is a significant research gap in this area (Lin et al., 2023). This study aims to fill this gap and recommend effective early language interventions for DLLs. The present study uses a single-case design to determine the impact of Dialogic Reading on vocabulary and alphabetical knowledge of preschoolers aged 36 to 60 months in English …

Grieving Workers, Leadership Support, And Organizational Commitment, Zachary N. Ngo

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Grief is a universal experience, yet the industrial-organizational psychology literature is sparse with research on bereavement at work. When individuals do undergo the loss of a loved one, research has shown that support is instrumental in recovery outside of workplace contexts. The present study examined the relationship between an individual’s level of grief and their commitment to their organization while also investigating how the level of supervisor support moderates the aforementioned relationship. I hypothesized that there would be a significant, negative relationship between level of grief and organizational commitment. Further, I also hypothesized that perceived supervisor support would moderate the …

Don't Let It Get To You: The Role Of Internalization Racism In The Organization, Carolyn T. Pham

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Internalized racism is seldom studied in a workplace context. Extant literature demonstrates its deleterious effects on individuals, but little is known about the mechanisms that affect it in adulthood or how it operates in an organizational context. Using a multi-wave survey design, this study examined the racial composition of one’s coworkers and organizational inclusion climate as potential antecedents of internalized racism and psychological well-being and identity management behaviors as outcomes. Results suggest that organizational inclusion climate significantly affects racial/ethnic minority employees’ levels of internalized racism and subsequent well-being. Additionally, internalized racism predicted engagement in identity concealment behaviors. This suggests the …

Chicago’S Migrant Serving Ecosystem: Perspectives From Providers On The Frontline, Safa S. Asad

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Global destabilization has resulted in nearly 110 million people forcibly displaced from their homes. Sanctuary cities like Chicago have become “migrant hubs,” seeing thousands of migrants enter the city to access shelter and resources. City officials have called for more support, as the number of migrants has outweighed the number of migrant service providers.

Migrant service organizations play an integral role in the resettlement journey of migrants. These organizations provide direct and indirect services to support their clients. However, as the migrant crisis continues to worsen, it threatens the social safety net established by governments and immigrant serving nonprofit agencies …

Stress & Self-Regulation In Law Enforcement, Cecilia R. Mercado

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-reported stress and self-regulation skills in a sample of 57 law enforcement officers from the Chicago Police Department (patrol officers, detectives, sergeants, lieutenants, specialized units). Participants completed an anonymous survey that included the 31-item The Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ) and only the stress items of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Item (DASS-21). We hypothesized that law enforcement officers high stress job results in poor self-regulation skills. Results suggest there is a significant negative correlation between stress and self-regulation. There was no difference for officers with and without dependents.

The Joint Impact Of Parent Health Efficacy And Child Temperament On Child Health Outcomes, Emma F. Kruis

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Children and adolescents in the United States have high rates of obesity due to several factors including low rates of physical exercise. Parents greatly impact children's short and long-term health behaviors through multiple mechanisms. The role of parental factors such as health self-efficacy in interaction with child temperament is underexplored. This present study had two primary aims: 1) to examine the main effects of parent health efficacy on child physical activity and body mass index (BMI) percentile; 2) to explore the impact of parent health efficacy as a function of child temperament and the main effects of temperament on children's …

Address The Mess: The Role Of Fear Of Covid-19, Indecision, And Reactance In Decluttering Projects, Devki Patel

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

At the start of the pandemic in the United States, government-imposed behavioral restrictions were enacted to reduce transmission of COVID-19. Mandated time at home motivated many to engage in organizing or decluttering projects. For some, restrictions may have increased the experience of psychological reactance, a negative motivational state evoked by a perceived threat to freedom. The proposed research studied decluttering behavior in a community-based sample, yielding insights on what influences disposal decisions in individuals who have clutter but do not consider themselves as having a hoarding problem. Three previously unexplored variables, fear of COVID-19, reactance, and family composition are considered …

Effects Of Receiving Peer-Status Feedback On Chinese Adolescents, Mingqi Li

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has demonstrated the negative impacts of social status insecurity on adolescents’ behavior and mental health. Hence, there is an urgency in exploring mechanisms that may alleviate adolescents’ concerns about their peer status. The present study is the first to 1) use an experimental design to examine the effect of providing feedback on adolescents’ peer status in an attempt to reduce or induce their social status insecurity and 2) investigate how these changes would influence adolescents’ immediate outcomes such as present mood, behavior intentions, and social status goals. Participants were 465 high school students (253 boys; M_age = …

Dental Modification Among The Classic Maya Of Chac Balam And San Juan, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Katherine Kelly

Honors Theses

Perceptions of beauty and health are embedded within everyday actions, even a simple smile. How do dental modification practices among the Classic Maya from Ambergris Caye, Belize relate to these perceptions and a person’s identity and status? This thesis analyzes the practice of notching, filing, and placing inlays in maxillary incisors and canines through a qualitative analysis of Classic period AD 250-1000 Maya teeth from the sites of San Juan and Chac Balam. A lack of patterns related to sex, socioeconomic status, and the type of modification in the dentition of five individuals, including two males, two females and one …

Health Literacy Among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Disparities In Information Seeking, Educational Needs, And The Role Of Healthcare Professionals, Fitri Mailani, Rahmi Muthia, Emil Huriani, Rika Sarfika

The Qualitative Report

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex disease that poses various challenges to patients. Health Literacy (HL) is considered essential for the effective management of CKD. This phenomenological study explored health literacy in 12 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis in Padang, Indonesia. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed and interpreted using the hermeneutical phenomenological approach of Diekelmann. We found six themes: sources of information and knowledge, differences in patient attitudes and behaviors as health information seekers, learning needs for successful treatment and care, effective learning and education methods, experiences with alternative treatments, and positive …

Virtual Cellphilming With Gbtq Pups: Towards Participant-Driven Research As Activism, Kinda Wassef, Olivia Bonardi, Olivier Ferlatte, Megan Aston, Phillip Joy

The Qualitative Report

In the present paper, we draw upon our research, entitled Puppy Philms, to guide researchers who are interested in queering cellphilming methodologies. In this context, “queering” refers to the process of challenging and disrupting heteronormative roles and perspectives within research practices. We argue that taking a queer poststructural approach to virtual cellphilming helped us shift this project away from typical academic relations of power, towards participant-driven research as activism. In emphasizing flexibility, reflexivity, a desire for partnership and community building, we found queer communication to be a mechanism through which we could shift power and drive levels of engagement. In …

Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (Fap) For Sport Psychology: Enhancing Performance Enhancement, Blake Pindyck

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The field of applied sport and performance psychology has seen remarkable growth and innovation over its relatively short history. Current sport psychology models have shown promising outcomes, but largely focus on addressing performance from an intrapersonal perspective. Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is part of a third wave of behavioral therapies that has been found to be effective in ideographically addressing client issues through an interpersonal lens utilizing the client-therapist relationship. FAP has been deployed as both a standalone intervention and as an enhancement to several existing theoretical orientations, including those most commonly used by sport psychology professionals. This paper proposes …

Therapist Self-Disclosure With Children And Adolescents: A Guide, Katia Goga

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Therapist self-disclosure is a multifaceted aspect of psychotherapy that holds significant implications for therapeutic rapport, alliance, and client outcomes. The use of self-disclosure by therapists in working with children and adolescents has received little attention in the literature. This paper examines the theoretical underpinnings and therapeutic rationale behind therapist self-disclosure, highlighting its potential benefits and risks in the context of child and adolescent therapy. It delves into developmental considerations, exploring different factors that may influence the appropriateness and effectiveness of self-disclosure interventions. Building upon this foundation, the paper offers a practical guide to assist clinicians in judiciously incorporating self-disclosure into …

Fostering Awe To Enhance Public Well-Being: Proposed Interventions For A Nature And Science Museum Setting, Zach Calo

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Several scholars consider awe to be a universally experienced emotion that is associated with a variety of well-being outcomes. In the last two decades, research has revealed the many complicated, and often beneficial, effects of this self-transcendent emotion. In this paper, a review of the current theoretical and empirical understanding of awe is first discussed. This review is meant to provide context for the next section and primary aim of this paper, which is to propose a pilot study for implementing and evaluating awe-inducing interventions in a museum setting. The primary research question of this proposed pilot study is to …

Sport And Performance Psychology Service Provision Needs And Preferences Of Division-I Student-Athletes, Coaches, And Program Stakeholders At A Private University, Ellie Brown

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

In response to increased reports of mental health concerns among NCAA Division I collegiate student-athletes (Wong, 2017), investigators examined the Sport and Performance Psychology (SPP) service provision needs and preferences of Division I student-athletes, coaches, and program stakeholders within a Division I athletic program. A survey-based needs analysis was employed to provide a comprehensive analysis of: (a) the needs of student-athletes receiving SPP services; (b) help-seeking attitudes of student-athletes receiving SPP services; (c) key stakeholder (i.e., athletic administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches) attitudes toward SPP services; (d) key stakeholder perceptions of the SPP needs of their …

Experiences Of Dungeons & Dragons Players, Tim Daniel

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This was a qualitative study of the experiences of Dungeons & Dragons players at the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) club at a private university in the Western United States. Previous research has shown that the benefits of playing Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) include developing social skills, developing empathy, and finding respite from reality. The goal of this research was to identify how role-players perceive they are affected by TTRPGs and what is appealing about TTRPGs. The participants in this study identified that, as a result of playing TTRPGs, they learned to develop better social skills and empathy. Their top reasons …

The Intersection Of Consensual Non-Monogamy, Black Identity, And Power Dynamics: A Review And Proposal For Therapeutic Models, Casey Nelson

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and polyamory are types of relationship structures that differ in many ways from monogamy. CNM is becoming more prevalent (Moors, 2023; Scoats & Campbell, 2022). In the United States and Canada, 1 in 5 people have engaged in some form of CNM (Moors, 2023). As more individuals engage in CNM relationships and potentially seek out couples therapy, therapists will be tasked with assisting individuals navigating relationship distress occurring within these unique relationship structures. There is limited research, or empirically validated, treatment models for working with couples with intersecting identities. To date, there has yet to be an …

Considerations For Interviewing And Intervening With Suicidal Gender Expansive Individuals, Abigail Herrold

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

It has been well documented that transgender individuals are at a higher risk for death by suicide compared to their cisgender peers. However, limited consideration has been given to studying suicidality in individuals who identify outside of the gender binary (non-binary, gender queer, gender fluid, etc.). Additionally, while there is considerable evidence for risk factors for suicide and protective factors against suicide, there is a lack of guidance on how to implement this information. The aim of this paper is to expand upon the literature of research that is inclusive of all gender identities and propose guidelines working with gender …

Utilizing Machine Learning To Forecast Sector-Level Equity Returns From Sector-Level Financial Ratios, Greg Kuppenheimer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academics and equity analysts often utilize fundamental financial ratios to evaluate an industry's financial and operational performance. However, sophisticated econometric methods could be improved for estimating these ratios' importance in predicting sector-level stock return performance. To address this gap, gradient-boosted decision tree methods were applied to the WRDS sector-level financial ratio database to identify if financial ratios effectively forecast sector-level stock returns in future periods. The findings show that these ratios are predictive and economically material, both stand alone and in combination with other macroeconomic factors. Using these predictions, long and long-short sector-level portfolios were created, and most of these …