Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Mindfulness Across Media: Examining The Effects Of Audio, Audio-Visual, And Virtual Reality Mindfulness Interventions On Social Media Mindsets And Psychological Wellbeing, Rashmi Salian

ETDs from 2020-2029

Social media is so deeply ingrained and integrated into daily life that concerns about its impact on psychological wellbeing continue to grow, prompting pressing questions about how to foster healthier and more intentional use of technology. Recent studies suggest that low-agency mindsets toward social media lead users to develop habitual usage patterns and ambiguous information consumption behaviors, both of which negatively impact psychological outcomes. However, limited research is available on mechanisms that could effectively alter these mindsets. This study uses an experimental methodology to investigate whether mindfulness interventions delivered through varying levels of media immersion can improve psychological mindsets toward …

Reading Between The Lines: An Exploration Of Censorship In United States Public School Libraries, Sally Anne Perz

ETDs from 2020-2029

Between 2021 and 2025, PEN America documented over 22,000 book bans across the United States (US). Yet, with only 451 districts banning out of over 13,000, 97% of US school districts are not engaging in banning. The 451 banning districts represent only 3% of US school districts. While most research examines individual stakeholders, such as librarians and teachers, this study focused on district and community data which do not change as fast as microsystem variables. Since banning occurs at the district level, understanding school district demographics and values may help situate the sociopolitical context of school board decisions to ban …

Intersectionality In Juvenile Diversion Post-2018 Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention Act Reauthorization, Bobby Powell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring Organizational Responses To Clinician Turnover: A Baldrige Framework Approach, Sharayza Rachael Blakemore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Needs Assessment For Sexual Violence Education In An Afterschool Program In Liberia, Mabel Howe Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Identifying Existing Barriers To Equitable Transportation In Birmingham, Alabama, Brandy Rose Mckinney

ETDs from 2020-2029

A transportation system is designed to connect people to essential community resources and support their mobility needs. However, transportation facilities and services in lower-income communities often fail to meet local demands, restricting access to jobs, healthcare, recreation, and other critical services. These gaps disproportionately impact lower-income and vulnerable populations, reducing mobility and overall quality of life. This study aims to (a) define transportation inequity and the measures used to assess it; (b) summarize existing inequities across the United States; (c) examine travel choices, needs, and barriers in lower-income communities in Birmingham, Alabama; and (d) propose strategies to address transportation inequity …

Caring Through Cancer: The Role Of Stress And Social Support In The Lives Of Caregivers Diagnosed With Cancer, Antoinette Shantay Williams

ETDs from 2020-2029

Caregivers living with cancer face overlapping burdens that are often overlooked in research, policy, and practice, despite the profound implications for their mental health and the care they provide. The main objective of this dissertation is to examine how cancer status, gender, and social support intersect to influence the number of poor mental health days reported by caregivers in the United States and a U.S. territory. Specifically, this study assesses differences in poor mental health days between caregivers with and without cancer and examines whether gender and social support independently and jointly moderate this potential association. Using 2022-2023 data from …

Unintentional Gun Injury In Children: Firearm Safety Knowledge, Intention, And Behavior And Psychological Moderators That Predict Unsafe Firearm Use, Yixin Wang

ETDs from 2020-2029

In the United States, 4,752 children under age 19 died from firearm injuries in 2021. Among children younger than 14, 13% of firearm-related deaths were unintentional. In ad-dition, approximately 40% of children lived in households with firearms in 2021, and in many states, children may legally hunt without adult supervision after completing hunter education training. Although knowledge-based firearm safety education programs have been developed, existing interventions have shown limited effectiveness in improving chil-dren’s firearm safety behaviors. In response, the present study examined children’s firearm safety performance through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behavior and developmental factors relevant to …

The Medicalization Of Rapists In Psychiatry From 2000-2024, Lily Plowden

ETDs from 2020-2029

The process of human problems coming to be defined as medical conditions and thus under the purview of medical professionals is called medicalization. This study examines how psychiatrists medicalize perpetrators of sexual violence, looking particularly at debates around whether to include a new disorder, Paraphilic Coercive Disorder, in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. Using a content analysis of n=102 articles, it finds that discussions of the pathology of sexual violence perpetration were prevalent among psychiatric journals from 2000-2024. Psychiatrists medicalize rapists through three pathways: advocating for a new medical disorder; attributing the cause of sexual …

Independent Living Skills For The Aging Population Of Adults With Disabilities, Sara K. Fetter Otd, Otr, Jennifer L. Martin Otd, Otr, Cht, Clt, Michele L. Mccarroll Phd, Faacvpr, Acsm-Ccep, Ccrp, Lssbb

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Adults with intellectual disability (ID) are living longer and increasingly outlive family caregivers. Strengthening independent living and vocational skills has therefore become a critical public-health priority. Occupational therapy (OT) can address this need through person-centered, community-based programming. This paper describes the co-design, delivery, and preliminary outcomes of a short occupation-based curriculum intended to enhance autonomy and work readiness in aging adults with ID. In partnership with a Dallas, Texas nonprofit, the authors conducted a needs assessment and created an 8-session course rooted in the Independent Living Model and the Occupational Competence Model. The curriculum addressed four domains (physical health, financial …

Development Of An Adaptive Pelican Crossing Model Using Fuzzy Logic In Mixed Traffic Conditions, Manazil Adam, Andyka Kusuma, R. Jachrizal Sumabrata

Smart City

Traffic management at at-grade pedestrian crossing facilities (pelican crossings) in highly populated areas, such as the Universitas Indonesia Station, faces significant inefficiency challenges. During peak hours, the fixed-time system is frequently disabled and replaced with subjective manual control by security personnel, thereby triggering irregular stop-and-go cycles and a high accumulation of vehicle delays. This study aims to develop a hybrid adaptive control model integrating Computer Vision, Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Fuzzy Logic to optimize intersection performance under mixed traffic conditions. The research methodology begins with the extraction of traffic and pedestrian characteristic data, calculated manually through recorded field observations. This …

Spatial Tax Intelligence: Implementing Integrated Spatial Decision Support Systems For Smart Urban Governance, Wildan R. Irfana, Haldis A. Bahar, Muhammad H. Candra

Smart City

The transition toward smart governance requires local governments to adopt data-driven policy approaches, particularly in managing urban tax capacity. However, tax administration in many developing regions remains predominantly tabular and administrative, limiting the ability to capture the spatial dynamics of economic activities. This reveals a critical knowledge gap, as integrated frameworks combining spatial and tax data to identify geographic disparities in tax performance remain limited. Consequently, areas with high economic activity but low tax compliance, referred to as tax blind spots, often remain undetected. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of integrating spatial and tax data in identifying spatial-tax …

Sustainable Evidence Synthesis Services: Have We Figured It Out?, John J. Meier, Anne E. Rauh, Amy Van Epps

Librarian Publications

No abstract provided.

Young Adults Describe Their Lived Experiences Of Adverse Childhood Experiences Through The Lens Of A Secure Attachment, Martin Weinberger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Breaking Bread And Barriers: Interprofessional Strategies To Improve Mental And Nutritional Health In Family Caregivers, Candy Ratliff

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Family caregivers provide essential unpaid support to individuals with chronic illness, disability, dementia, and age-related decline; however, caregiving responsibilities often place caregivers at increased risk for psychological, physical, nutritional, and social challenges. This literature review examines the mental health and nutritional implications of family caregiving and explores barriers that contribute to declining caregiver wellness. Findings reveal elevated rates of depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, social isolation, food insecurity, sleep disturbances, financial strain, and chronic stress among caregivers. The literature further highlights the interconnected relationship between mental health, nutrition, and overall quality of life. Given the multidimensional nature of caregiver burden, interprofessional …

The 1778 Fort Pitt Treaty: U.S. Relations With The Lenni-Lenape Nation And The Unraveling Of Early Promises, Veronica E. Riddle

Masters Theses

This study examines the Treaty of Fort Pitt (1778), signed in present-day Pittsburgh, as the first formal diplomatic agreement between the United States and the Lenape (Delaware) Nation during the American Revolutionary War. Formed amid the military and political instability of the Revolution, the treaty promised mutual military assistance, recognition of Lenape sovereignty west of the Alleghenies, protection from settler encroachment, and the unprecedented possibility of Native representation within the emerging American confederation. However, following the deaths of key Lenape leaders, escalating frontier violence, and the failure of the Continental Congress to ratify or uphold critical provisions, the treaty rapidly …

Justice-Involved Individual Experiences Accessing Community Reentry Services Postincarceration In Northern California, Pamela Michelle Kesee-Wyre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Advancing Culturally Relevant Mindfulness In Public Health, Marcus Johnson, Candy Ratliff

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained significant traction in public health, education, and clinical settings due to their demonstrated benefits for stress reduction and psychological well-being. However, these interventions often originate from Eurocentric frameworks that insufficiently reflect the cultural, historical, and structural contexts of diverse and historically marginalized communities. This commentary proposes a Culturally Relevant Mindfulness (CRM) framework that centers the lived experiences, healing traditions, and epistemologies of underrepresented populations. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature and critiques of conventional mindfulness models, the article articulates four guiding principles of CRM: cultural identity affirmation, historical consciousness, ancestral integration, and community-centered practice. Rather than merely …

Examining Diversity And Cultural Competency Within A Historically Black College And University (Hbcu) Public Health Curriculum, Alyce L. Hays, Yalanda M. Barner, Latarsha Michael

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Integrating diversity and cultural competency content into public health curricula is vital in preparing future health professionals to optimize health outcomes of all individuals; however, very few studies have examined whether diversity and cultural competencies are taught in public health curricula. Studies have consistently incorporated diversity, equity, and inclusion in education for healthcare professionals such as nursing, community health workers, health educators, etc. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of course content diversity, equity, inclusion, cultural competency, or other related topics. A formative assessment approach utilizing a four-step evaluation process was used to review the inclusion …

From Crip Time To Care Time: How Library Administrators Can Support Professional Development Of Disabled Employees, Leah T. Dudak, Rhys Dreeszen Bowman Dr.

School of Information Studies - Post-doc and Student Scholarship

Building on our 2025 In the Library with the Lead Pipe article "Cripping Conferences", this piece moves from naming the problem to offering solutions to library administrators. Disabled library workers face significant barriers to professional development, including the financial cost of attendance, the physical and mental toll of navigating inaccessible spaces, and the conflict between crip time and the neoliberal clock time that governs academic and library culture. While accommodations are needed, they are not enough; we need to interrogate the systems that exclude disabled employees. Written by two disabled LIS scholars, this piece offers library administrators practical guidance, from …

How Shale Boom-Era Municipal Debt Could Undermine Community Resilience During The Energy Transition, Brandon Charles

Center for Policy Research

Local governments in oil and gas-producing regions took on significant municipal debt during the U.S. shale boom to build schools, water systems, and other infrastructure to accommodate rapid population growth. This brief uses Mergent municipal bond issuance data and interviews with local government officials to describe debt accumulation in shale boom communities (N=2,519 counties; 2004–2015) and its implications for the energy transition. The author finds that shale boom communities accumulated approximately $782 more in municipal debt per capita than comparable communities, a 26% increase totaling $1.9 billion across 58 shale boom counties. If production declines and newer residents leave, the …

Ethically Implementing Ai To Maximize The Designer's Workflow, Victoria Lyons

Masters Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing technology that has impacted nearly every industry. Graphic design is certainly no exception. AI has provided designers with a multitude of exciting opportunities and new methods to improve their work. At the same time, AI has also created some complex ethical challenges for designers to navigate. AI has the potential to greatly increase workflow efficiency, bring in automation to repetitive tasks, and provide new creative potential, but it also introduces concerns about creative and artistic integrity, intellectual property laws, and transparency with the consumer.

The focus of this thesis research will explore how …

From Hashtags To Regime Change: How Ai-Driven Social Media Algorithms Fueled Youth Protests Against Authoritarianism In Bangladesh But Stalled In Pakistan (2020-2025), Rafia Nishan Abbasi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this research, it has been investigated that how and why youth protests were amplified by AI based social media algorithms in Bangladesh; however, their impacts resulted in occasional and isolated resistance in Pakistan during 2022-25, taking in account the differences in state regulations, platform governance, and civil society networks. While utilizing Mixed-methods approach, this study employs comparative discourse analysis, a structured survey (N=466), semi-structured interviews, legal and policy tracing, and platform data. This research has proposed a novel theoretical framework of Algorithm Regime Mediation (ARM). ARM considers platform algorithms as politically intermingled intermediaries which can determine socio-political outcomes by …

From Risk Perception To Readiness: Understanding Us Wildfire Preparedness Drivers, Dominic Kyei, William Donner, Arlett Sophia Lomeli, Dean Kyne

Sociology Faculty Publications

Background: Wildfires in the USA are becoming more frequent and severe as climate change and population growth expand exposure in fire-prone regions. Understanding the human dimensions of wildfire preparedness—particularly how individuals perceive risk, build awareness, and develop evacuation readiness—is critical for effective fire management.

Methods: This study examines cognitive, experiential, behavioral, and sociodemographic predictors of wildfire preparedness using the wildfire-specific subsample (n = 509) from the 2023 FEMA National Household Survey. Generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) was used to analyze three key outcomes: readiness awareness, evacuation readiness, and perceived wildfire risk.

Results: Results show that readiness awareness and preparedness self-efficacy …

Interviewing Civilians For A Local Perspective Of Violent Extremism In West Africa, Benjamin Ellis

Masters Theses

This study examines how civilians in West Africa experience violent extremism, with the goal of informing more effective policy solutions. Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on a focus group conducted with ten participants from various countries in West Africa. Data was transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in participants’ responses. Six major themes emerged: prolonged fear and restricted daily movement; economic and infrastructural disruption; psychological distress and uncertainty about the future; recruitment into extremist groups driven by complex factors; limited outsider understanding of local realities; and support for multidimensional responses rather than purely …

The Black American Women, Mental Health, Self-Stigma, And The Church, Sylvia D. Dorsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of Christian Black American women who underutilize mental health services due to a perceived notion of self-stigma of Christian Black American women seeking mental health services and how the church may play a role. A transformational theory guides this study. In a transformative framework the study focuses on looking at marginalized groups that have power differentials and are viewed as being less important in society and to understand their life experiences. Stigma and self-stigma are the dominating factors that contribute to the underutilization of mental health services …

To What Extent Do Different Types And Dosages Of Cannabinoids Have In Treating Anxiety Disorder, Lourdes Cristina Garcia Carrillo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study investigated the efficacy of various cannabinoid types and dosages in treating anxiety disorders among young adults (19–23), examining cannabis's role in regulating a deregulated endocannabinoid system. Fourteen participants tracked real-time anxiety symptoms, strain type, dosage, and affective states using the Releaf App. Quantitative analyses included repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation, complemented by quantitative content analysis of affect descriptors. Key findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in self-reported anxiety symptoms following cannabis use (p < .001, partial 2 = .97), supporting the hypothesis that cannabis can regulate a deregulated endocannabinoid system. No significant differences in anxiolytic effects were observed among Indica, Hybrid Indica/Sativa, and Hybrid Sativa/Indica strains. The optimal dosage for perceived anxiety relief appeared to be higher than initially hypothesized, with a moderate-to-strong association between dosage and anxiety relief (r = .662, p = .0099). Participants overwhelmingly reported positive affective states, such as "calm," "peaceful," and "relaxed," post-cannabis use, with no negative descriptors observed in the analyzed data. These results suggest that cannabis can serve as a short-term coping strategy for anxiety in young adults, leading to perceived emotional regulation.

Academic Library Staff And The Use Of Social Media: Survey Of Academic Library Staff At Pakpatan And Sahiwal City., Dr.Shahid Mehmood Dr., Muhammad Faisal Mr., Ahmad Nawaz Dr, Bakht Yar Zafar Mr., Whaid Buksh Mr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The research libraries have benefited a lot with the aid of the social networking sites and this can hardly be overestimated. Due to the spread of the information technology in the university libraries, the user’s expectations, the type of services that the library can offer and the role of the library staff have all been changed. The research objective in general was to be familiar with the extent of familiarity and comfort of Pakpatan City library and Sahiwal City library staffs in Pakistan with the social media. The method of descriptive surveying was used to obtain these findings. The sample …

The Role Of Resilient/Protective Factors In Adolescence As A Buffer Among Adults With A History Of Childhood Trauma And Symptoms Of Depression In Adults, Michaela L. Fox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma includes adverse experiences during early development, such as physical, emotional, sexual, or verbal abuse and neglect, and is associated with negative outcomes, including depressive symptoms in adulthood. This study examined whether protective factors during adolescence are related to adult depressive symptoms among individuals with a history of childhood trauma. Two research questions guided the study: (a) Is there a difference in adult depressive symptoms between individuals with minimal versus significant protective factors during adolescence, and (b) Is there a statistically significant relationship between adolescent spirituality and adult depressive symptoms? A quantitative, correlational design was used with self-report surveys …

Toward Defining Vulnerability For The Field Of Communication, Adrian Osman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Vulnerability, a common human experience, is still not well-theorized within the field of communication and lacks a clear, discipline-specific definition. This qualitative study examined how vulnerability shapes interpersonal communication, using general systems theory and social exchange theory as guiding frameworks. Through in-depth interviews with individuals who identify obesity as a lived vulnerability, five central themes emerged: awareness and acceptance of vulnerability, experiencing weight-based dismissal in healthcare, weight-related communication in familial and everyday interactions, avoidance and situational disengagement, and support systems – what works and what does not. Findings show that vulnerability acts as a dynamic communicative force, shaping engagement, withdrawal, …