Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Improving Brain Health: Exercise As A Tool For Enhancing Executive Function And Reducing Stress In Older African Americans, Destiny Ellise Ramos

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Older African American (AA) adults face disproportionately higher risk of stress and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) compared to other racial and ethnic groups, yet they remain underrepresented in intervention-based research. Previous research has suggested aerobic exercise may reduce stress and benefit executive functioning, which is among the first cognitive domains to be affected in ADRD; however, no studies to date have directly tested the impact of aerobic vs. non-aerobic exercise in older AAs at high risk for developing ADRD. The current study evaluated the effects of a group-based cardio dance fitness (CDF) exercise intervention versus a strength, flexibility, …

Minority Stress And Working Memory, Ahmed Salem

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Minority Stress Theory posits that sexual minority status leads to unique stressors related to stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that create worse mental health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals (Meyer, 2003). The present study investigated working memory in LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ samples after a minority stress induction, as stress has been linked to cognitive difficulties in the context of memory retrieval in both short- and long-term memory (Klier & Burrata, 2020). The present study incorporated a recently validated film-based minority stress induction created by Seager van Dyk et al. (2023). 184 participants (66 LGBTQ+) viewed this …

The Role Of Endogenous Estrogen In Effects Of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation On Cognitive Performance, Samantha Walsh

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) directly modulates brain activity, allowing the study of brain-behavior relationships in cognitive processes. However, cognitive effects of tDCS vary widely, partly due to individual differences in baseline brain activity. Estrogen levels, which fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, are known to affect cortical excitability and impact neural response to tDCS, but no research to date has examined the potential moderating role of endogenous estrogen in tDCS effects on cognition. In this study, N = 16 healthy female adults completed four sessions of a working memory (WM) task while receiving tDCS (two active sessions, two sham) …

Planted, Not Buried: The Narratives Of Faculty Commitment Among African American Women Counselor Educators, Lashawn M. Adams

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

African American Women Descendants of the U.S. Enslaved (AAWDUSE) remain underrepresented within counselor education, despite their long-standing contributions to labor, caregiving, and leadership. This dissertation examined how AAWDUSE counselor educators describe their experiences within CACREP-accredited programs and how those experiences inform their commitment to faculty roles. Grounded in Black Feminist Thought and Social Cognitive Career Theory, this qualitative critical narrative inquiry engaged eleven AAWDUSE faculty members across varied academic settings. Using the metaphor of a tree, six central themes emerged that reflect the complex nature of their commitment: what it looks like, how it was shaped, and how it is …

Making The Invisible Visible: The Experiences Of Black Women In Student Affairs At Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Gennae D. Hinson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Black women have experienced instances of workplace discrimination in student affairs at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). This interpretive phenomenological study, guided by Black feminist thought, aimed to explore the lived experiences of Black women in student affairs within HSIs. This investigation found that some HSI systemic structures fostered racialized and gendered campus climates, contributing to Black women’s oppression through ageism, racism, tokenism, and sexism. Despite these challenges, Black women developed coping strategies to persist in their roles at HSIs. These strategies included minimizing their emotions, supportive spaces, and advocating for themselves. Sociopolitical forces also impacted Black women’s career advancement due to …

The Reentry Experience Of Returning Citizens From Prison, Christina M. Kadelski

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In 2022, over 1.2 million individuals were housed in federal or state prisons in the U.S., in addition to over 514,000 individuals housed in local jails at mid-year (Bureau of Justice, 2024). As released individuals return to their communities, they face the daunting task of re-integration into the community. The purpose of this study was to identify how returning citizens experience reentry to their communities upon release from prison, their perceptions about their reentry experience, and to learn about their unique responses to the reentry process. This study aimed to explore the experience of these individuals to better understand counseling …

Ex-Gaussian Analysis Of Inhibition In Chronic Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Michelle Mui

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs following injury to head, resulting in disruption of normal brain functioning. During the chronic stages (greater than one year postinjury), those with TBI may experience ongoing symptoms. Executive dysfunction, including inhibition, is often seen. Neuropsychological measures of inhibition applied in basic research utilize response time across several trials, where participants complete trials with and without inhibitory control. Refined measurement approaches include trial-by-trial performance to capture response time inconsistencies or variability within the subject, known as intraindividual variability. Typical methods of measuring intraindividual variability violate statistical assumptions given that response time distributions are positively skewed. One …

The Pathway Experiences Of Latin/A/O/X Counselor Education Leaders: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Jasmine E. Santiago-Ataande

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study explored the lived experiences of Latin/a/o/x counselor education (CE) leaders, with particular attention to their identities and pathways to leadership. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research sought to understand how these leaders made meaning of their personal, cultural, and professional journeys while navigating systemic barriers and opportunities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a diverse group of Latin/a/o/x leaders serving in counselor education programs and professional organizations at the state, regional, and national levels. Analysis revealed key themes, including cultural identity as a foundation of resilience, the complexities of navigating racialized academic spaces, the transformative role of mentorship, …

The Teaam: The Development Of A Trauma Assessment Measure For Late Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Jessica Wimmer

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Exposure to potentially traumatic events is common among adolescents and emerging adults. While outcomes to trauma exposure may vary, development of maladaptive symptoms and disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is of great concern to clinicians, researchers, and advocates for youth. However, recent research has identified that existing trauma measures and the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition Text Revision criterion for event exposure for PTSD, Criterion A, fail to address specific types of events and experiences that may elicit post-traumatic stress responses. Subsequently, this dissertation aimed to review the existing literature regarding trauma and how it is measured in adolescents …

Women Disrupting The "Roundness" In "No Name Woman" And Sula: How Maxine Hong Kingston's And Toni Morrison's Titular Characters Combat Restrictive Communal Norms Surrounding Sex, Michelle Victoria D'Alessio

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This thesis examines how Maxine Hong Kingston’s “No Name Woman,” the opening chapter of her memoir, The Woman Warrior, and Toni Morrison’s novel, Sula, portray communal perceptions of women who contradict traditional gender norms surrounding sex. The titular characters in each of these stories express their sexualities in ways deemed unfit by their people and are accordingly demonized and outcast from their communities. These characters are afforded some subtle admiration for their personal power by the artists who are portraying them, but this reverence is inevitably rescinded and replaced by the disdain of the tight-knit communities surrounding them. This tension …

Are We Safe?: An Explanatory Dissertation Of African American Females' Psychological Safety At Work, Loren Ashley Shelley

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation aimed to explore the relationship between demographic diversity and psychological safety within workplace teams, with an additional focus on African American females. Despite extensive research on psychological safety, there is limited understanding of how demographic diversity influences perception of psychological safety within teams and an even more limited understanding of African American females’ perception of psychological safety within teams. The study sought to address this gap by investigating if team similarities and dissimilarities with regards to demographic differences, marginalized identities (moderation), with an emphasis on African American female identity, and microaggressions (mediation) affected individuals’ perceptions of psychological safety …

In Sickness And In Work: How Organizational Identification, Health Climate, And Workaholism Relate To Employee Strains Over Time, Isabel R. Skovera

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Organizational identification (OID) reflects an employee’s sense of belonging to their organization (Ashforth & Mael, 1989). While previous research on OID primarily highlights its positive organizational outcomes, its effects on employee well-being remain understudied. Existing studies often take a cross-sectional approach, focusing mainly on mental health and positive outcomes while overlooking organizational context and individual differences. This study addresses these gaps by examining the longitudinal relationship between OID and well-being variables (burnout, physical symptoms, job satisfaction, life satisfaction) among newly hired employees. Using a four-wave survey design with initially 585 participants (remaining N = 127) recruited through Prolific, this research …

Predicting Cognitive Bias Susceptibility In Simulated Business Management Decisions: Exploring The Impact Of Group Size, Process Accountability, And Member Experiences, Jacob Breaux

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation explored systematic susceptibility to four cognitive biases among individuals, dyads, triads, and tetrads in a series of tasks designed to simulate real-world business management scenarios. This included measuring representativeness bias, sunk costs, anchoring effects, and framing effects, each of which with historical and empirical prevalence in various managerial contexts. Using experimental data from undergraduate students, participants were prompted to act as surrogate members of a top management team simulation. Participants first completed each of the decision scenarios on their own and were subsequently brought together to collaborate and converge on a single decision preference on the same set …

How The Ramapough Turtle Clan Tribe Sustained Their Culture Through Ford's Environmental Exploitation, Tori Sutera

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The Ramapough Turtle Clan Tribe is an Indigenous community composed of individuals residing mainly in Ringwood, New Jersey and a few surrounding boroughs. This land holds irreplaceable significance among the community, who, after facing colonial diaspora, have ultimately resided in Ringwood. However, due to the vast effects of the Ringwood Superfund site, this community has dealt with the loss of their people and their culture. Beginning in 1967, Ford Motor Company – partial owners of the site at that time – initiated the dumping of heavily toxic materials into Cannon and Peters Mines. This dumping continued until 1971, and the …

Perceptions Of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Haley Bowman

Psychology

This research project tests how educational materials influence individuals’ perceptions of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). Previous literature indicates that educational materials shape perceptions of credibility. The hypothesis predicts that education will enhance positive perceptions.

This study recruited participants from Sona Systems and Prolific, with 924 individuals completing the study. The questionnaire gathered demographic information, assessed drug use history, and measured participants’ beliefs about the causes of depression. Participants then evaluated treatment credibility by responding to open-ended questions, the Treatment Adherence/Acceptability Scale (TAAS), the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), and the KAP credibility questionnaire.

The results indicate that education does not consistently improve perceptions …

Emotional Intelligence And College-Aged Couples’ Relationship Satisfaction, Leeza Milman

Psychology

This study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and romantic relationship satisfaction (RAS) among college-aged individuals. Drawing on established models of EI and prior research linking EI to interpersonal functioning, the study tested three hypotheses: (1) higher EI would be positively associated with greater relationship satisfaction, (2) individuals in female same-sex relationships would report higher satisfaction than those in heterosexual relationships, and (3) EI would mediate the relationship between relationship length and satisfaction. A sample of 72 undergraduate students in romantic relationships completed validated measures of emotional understanding, emotion management, regulation difficulties, and relationship satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, no …

The Impact Of Puzzles On Short-Term Attention, Mauricio Rodriguez

Psychology

Successfully solving Sudoku puzzles requires constant diverting of attention to certain puzzle elements. Previous research has shown that puzzles, including Sudoku, aid in cognitive functioning and the aging process (Lin et al., 2023). Social media use has become increasingly popular for younger generations. With this trend has come various mental health complications, including shorter attention spans (Sha & Dong, 2021). This study tested undergraduate college students and the impact puzzle solving (Sudoku, and mazes) had on attentional capabilities. Our study contributes to the literature by investigating if enhanced attention results from completing Sudoku puzzles for a short amount of time. …

Trapped In The Screen: How Digital Dependency Shapes Our Bodies And Minds, Jessica A. Supreme

Psychology

With each successive generation, time spent on cell phones continues to increase, raising concerns about the long-term effects of digital dependency on both physical and cognitive health. Prior research has linked excessive cellphone use to a range of issues including poor posture, eye strain, disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, reduced attention span, and addiction-like behaviors. These concerns are compounded by sedentary lifestyles, which reduce physical activity and contribute to risks such as cardiovascular disease and obesity. This study surveyed individuals aged 18–30 through an online questionnaire assessing daily cellphone usage, physical activity, and sleep habits. Results revealed that both men and …

Mental Health Advocates, Lawmakers Discuss Involuntary Commitment Expansion, Joshua T. Stone

Communication

New York has made it easier to involuntarily hospitalize people with severe mental illness as part of the state budget signed at the Capitol in early May by Gov. Kathy Hochul. State law previously allowed people with severe mental illness to be involuntarily hospitalized if two physicians determined they pose a threat to themselves or others. The updated law sets a standard to include people who are deemed unwilling or unable to support their basic needs, including food, shelter and medical care, due to their mental illness. However, opponents of the updated law say it could be misused to involuntarily …

Juror Decision-Making In Context, Kassandra Jovellanos

Criminal Justice

The United States criminal justice system was designed to be one of fairness, where everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. However, that does not seem to be case, and one instance of this is how a defendant’s gender identity influences juror decision. Much literature exists on juror reaction to the cisgender binary, yet there is a gap in research on how juries react to transgender defendants and how pretrial media exposure interacts with this effect. This study aims to answer this question, as well as look into the interaction of pretrial publicity on juror decision when still …

Assessing The Accessibility Of Wound Care Education For Unhoused Individuals Of South Jersey, Marilyn A. Chen, Selma S. Benkhoukha, Allysone Martinez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Unhoused individuals face disproportionately high rates of wound-related complications due to environmental exposure, limited access to hygiene facilities, and delayed care. This study assessed the accessibility of wound care for the unhoused population in South Jersey, where approximately 2,607 individuals experience homelessness on any given night. Our research identified significant barriers to wound care access, including transportation limitations, lack of identification documents, absence of a physical mailing address, and language barriers. Data analysis revealed concerning trends: a 24% increase in New Jersey's homeless population in 2024, with Black/African American individuals representing 49% of the homeless population despite comprising only 12% …

Patient Perspectives On The Role Of Healthcare Providers In Addressing Food Insecurity In A Nj Primary Care Setting, Anna Flts, Lisa Huang, Aarsa Moosavi, Jha Stuti, Philip B Collins

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Food insecurity is a critical social determinant of health, yet is rarely discussed with patients in primary care settings. The objective of this project is to explore patient perspectives on the physician role in addressing food insecurity as well as to identify factors associated with food insecurity among patients in family medicine clinics.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to patients (n=250) across two academic family medicine clinics in South New Jersey between May 2023 and December 2024. Demographics, self-reported health status, and comfort with discussing food insecurity were collected. Additionally, food insecurity status was determined based on the …

Exploring Anticoagulant Prescription Disparities: A Focus On Hispanic Patient Care, Michael Acevedo, Vanessa Veltre

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Anticoagulants play a critical role in preventing thromboembolic events, yet disparities persist in their prescription among minority populations. This presentation explores inequities in anticoagulant prescribing patterns, with a specific focus on Hispanic patient care. Using retrospective electronic health record data, we analyzed the prescription rates of warfarin versus direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) among adults with clinical indications for anticoagulation. Our findings reveal that Hispanic patients are significantly less likely to receive DOACs compared to non-Hispanic White patients, even after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and insurance status. Contributing factors include language barriers, lack of insurance, and potential implicit bias in provider …

Teaching Students To Provide Effective Feedback With The Situation-Behavior-Impact (Sbi) Framework, Steve Garwood

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Formal training in delivering effective feedback is often absent in educational curricula, despite its critical role in professional development, particularly within medical education. This study implemented a one-hour virtual workshop designed to enhance medical students' feedback proficiency. Participants engaged in activities to identify attributes of effective feedback and applied the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) framework. Post-workshop data demonstrated significant improvement in participants': 1) knowledge of effective feedback qualities, 2) ability to provide actionable feedback, and 3) comprehension of the SBI framework. These findings suggest that targeted interventions can effectively equip students with essential feedback skills.

How Does Exposure To Early-Life Stressors Shape Eating Behaviors In Adulthood?, Surabhi Panda

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The objective of this literature review is to explore the relationship between early-life stress and the development of disordered or dysregulated eating in adulthood. A search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO databases. Results from each study were compared and synthesized. Twelve studies were analyzed including case reports, systematic reviews, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies. Research indicates that childhood emotional abuse, often more prevalent than other forms of maltreatment, is a significant risk factor for eating pathology, with studies investigating psychological mediators such as anger, anxiety, and dissociation in this relationship. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and early life …

Indirect Cost Cap: Perspectives On Efficiency, Waste, And Equity, Neel B. Patel, Lakshman Segar

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: On February 10, 2025, the NIH enacted a 15% cap on indirect costs, reallocating $4 billion from institutional overhead to direct research within a $35 billion funding framework. The policy follows longstanding concerns about unchecked growth and inefficiencies in indirect cost reimbursements, which rose from 15% in the 1950s to over 70% at some institutions by the 1990s. Notable examples include a $200 million overcharge at Stanford and millions in questionable expenditures identified in federal audits.

Objective: To evaluate the financial, operational, and equity-related impacts of the NIH’s indirect cost cap on U.S. research institutions.

Methods: …

Understanding Obesity Risk In Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities: Key Diagnoses And Factors, Elizabeth Kolaski, Wendy Aita, Jennifer Lecomte, Andrea Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have obesity rates nearly twice those of the general population, leading to higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and reduced quality of life.¹ Genetic syndromes such as Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome (DS) feature distinct mechanisms driving weight gain.² The burden of obesity in IDD exacerbates health disparities and strains caregivers and healthcare systems.³ Yet, comparative obesity prevalence and its drivers across specific IDD diagnoses remain poorly characterized.⁴

Hypothesis:

Obesity prevalence and underlying risk factors differ among IDD diagnoses …

Pre-Operative Clinical Characteristics Vary By Race In Patients With Obesity Undergoing Bariatric Surgery, Minjal Patel, Jasmine Park, Melissa Gott, David Kelter, Luke Perry, Ajay Menon, Paul Osterdahl, Casey Connors, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Nicole Stouffer, Gus J. Slotman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background Data and Purpose: With the increasing prevalence of obesity, it impacts the practice of surgeons across various specialties. Non-bariatric surgeons are confronted with morbid obesity need clinical insight in managing medically fragile patients. The objective of this study is to identify pre-operative clinical variation by race among surgical patients with obesity.

Methods: Pre-operative data from 156,502 bariatric surgery patients were analyzed in four groups: Caucasian (C; n=125,492), African American (AA; n=18,226), Hispanic (H; n=12,405), and Asian (A; n=379). Data: Demographics, weight, BMI, and 33 obesity co-morbidities. Statistics: Chi-square and ANOVA.

Results: Pre-operative C/AA/H/A weight (KG) (130+-27/135+-28/127+-27/122+-26), BMI (46+-8/48+-9/47+-8/45+-7), % …

The Repercussions Of Race-Based Egfr On The Morbidity & Mortality Of Black Children With Renal Disease, Angelina Siino

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This study investigates the implications of race-based adjustments in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculations on the health outcomes of Black children with renal disease. Historically, a race coefficient has been added to eGFR calculations for patients identified as Black, resulting in an artificial inflation of kidney function by approximately 16%. This inflation can delay the classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD), postpone eligibility for essential interventions like preemptive kidney transplantation, and prolong reliance on maintenance dialysis. Through a comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed U.S. medical journal articles published between 2000 and 2023, this work explores how these clinical delays …

Cardiovascular Risk Factors In The Autism Spectrum Disorder Population, Christian C. Iannuzzelli, Andrea L. Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The population of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have multiple risks and barriers that may make access to proper health care more difficult. After extensive research, some of these barriers may have been identified that pose greater risks to generating proper care for those with ASD. Some of these barriers include medical complexity, more sedentary lifestyles, poor food choices, as well as health comorbities. Some of these health comorbidities include hypertension, metabolic dysfunction, sleep apnea, and inflammation. This study aims to understand what barriers and risks for CVD are present in those with ASD.