Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Books Of Interest Spring 2026

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

End Matter

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Extending Norbert Elias: Adjacency And The Dynamics Of Civilizations, Arthur Michelino

Comparative Civilizations Review

Civilizations have rarely been approached as systems of interdependence and strain. Most modern theories have oscillated between cyclical visions of rise and fall and static conceptions of blocs defined by cultural essence. Both perspectives have offered sweeping interpretations, but both also detached civilizations from the environments of pressure and interaction in which they have always existed. To reframe civilizations as relational processes requires both recognition of their internal dynamics and attention to the external conditions that compel their transformation.

Prevalence Of Digital Assessments Among School Psychologists, Jeffrey Bash

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Although digital assessment tools are becoming readily available, many school psychologists still rely on traditional paper-and-pencil methods. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this study identified factors related to school psychologists’ Behavioral Intention (BI) to adopt digital assessments and their use behavior (UB). A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used, along with a national sample of 121 practicing school psychologists from 27 states. Multiple regression, ANOVA, and moderation analyses tested three hypotheses. Results partially supported Hypothesis 1: Performance Expectancy was a significant predictor of both BI and UB, whereas Effort Expectancy was not significant in …

Supporting Student Success: Student Perceptions Of The Community College First-Year Experience, Jennifer Mullen

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study builds on existing research examining the impact of First-Year Experience (FYE) courses, with a specific focus on community college students, and expands the measures of success for these courses. Most scholarship on the impact of FYE courses on student success focuses on students at four-year institutions and emphasizes academic achievement and retention as key measures of success. In this study, data were collected from community college students enrolled in an FYE-101 course during the Fall of 2025. Pre- and post-course surveys (see Appendices B and C) were administered at the beginning and end of one 15-week and two …

An Exploration Of Vicarious Trauma In The Integrated Trauma Team, Victoria L. Hadix

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the impacts of self-care, coping skills, and resilience on the perceptions of vicarious trauma by members of the trauma team in a small community hospital in the Northeastern United States, through the use of qualitative methodology and a semi-structured interview. The goal of this study was to gain an understanding of the mental health factors impacting health care professionals functioning in the fast-paced, demanding environment of the emergency room. Furthermore, the study explored health care professionals’ perceptions of the integrated trauma team and the relationships between individual and team-based characteristics. This study helped increase understanding …

“They Don't Care If I'M Here Or Not”: The Impact Of Exclusionary Discipline On Black Boys In Elementary Schools, Arielle Gulley

DSW Capstone Projects

Disproportionate and exclusionary school discipline practices continue to affect African American boys as early as elementary school, with significant implications for their mental health, academic engagement, and long-term educational trajectories. This capstone project examines how racially biased discipline contributes to disparities in belonging, emotional well-being, and student-teacher relationships, and advances the need to reframe discipline as a site of mental health intervention rather than punishment.

The systematic literature review synthesizes peer-reviewed research to examine the relationship between exclusionary discipline and mental health outcomes among African American boys in elementary settings, with particular attention to patterns emerging in early educational environments. …

Unseen To Unstoppable: Critically Redefining Care For Rural Women With Alcohol Use Disorders, Nicole Gerace

DSW Capstone Projects

Research reveals that rural women with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are up to 90% less likely to seek treatment than men or urban women. This Doctor of Social Work capstone project brings together a systematic literature review (SLR), a conceptual paper, and a practice application paper to examine the clinical social work practice problem of rural women with AUDs underutilizing treatment. Collectively, these products investigate factors contributing to these disparities, identify gaps in care, and propose more equitable and responsive approaches to treatment for these women. This project began with an SLR (2020–2025) that investigated clinical treatment interventions that demonstrated …

Chin Up: Contextual Factors That Determine Positive Or Negative Reception Of Encouragement, Paige Tobias

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study investigated how relational closeness, trust, coping, spirituality, and religiosity impact a person’s subjective experience of encouragement. It also explored whether worldview alignment or the type of relationship determines whether a person experiences words of encouragement as positive or negative. Participants (n = 153) filled out questionnaires regarding these constructs as well as recalled times when they were encouraged and experienced that encouragement either positively or negatively. Results showed that positive and negative coping styles and relationship closeness were predictors of a positive experience with encouragement. Coping alignment with the recipient of the encouragement was a predictor for both …

Expanding Clinical Understanding Of Suicidality In Queer Adolescents, Garrett Cash

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Suicidality is seen at an exceptionally high rate for both sexual minority and gender minority youth (Zaza et al., 2016; Thoma et al., 2019). The American Psychological Association (APA) has set out guidelines for mental health providers working with queer youth (APA 2015 and APA 2021) but does not require clinicians to adhere to them, labeling them as “aspirational.” To bridge the gap in clinician education on how to best support this group, an organizing framework based on etiological and preventative research is necessary. This would allow providers to more accurately and efficiently assess and respond to risk. The Salience-Occurrence …

Religiosity And Political Affiliation As Moderators For Climate Change Belief, Jenna L. Hiljus

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Climate change remains a polarized issue in the United States despite broad scientific consensus. The present study examined how specific variables within political ideology (social and economic conservatism) and religiosity (belief, praxis, and morality) relate to climate change belief among undergraduate students at a private Christian university. Participants (N = 130) completed measures of climate change perceptions, multidimensional religiosity, and social and economic conservatism. Correlational analyses showed medium-sized, negative relationships between climate change belief and both social and economic conservatism, with no significant difference between the two domains. This finding suggests that political conservatism may operate as a unified construct …

Exploring The Relationship Between Discrete Cognitive Skills And Adaptive Skills In A Transdiagnostic Sample Of Children And Adolescents, Jacy L. Black

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The relationship between intelligence and adaptive functioning has been well researched for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. However, the relationship between these constructs has yet to be fully explored in other clinical pediatric populations that exhibit significant deficits in adaptive functioning. This archival study investigated the relationship between cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior in a transdiagnostic sample of children and adolescents. Although past studies have examined these relationships utilizing estimations of generalized intellectual ability, the present research examined associations between adaptive skills and discrete cognitive skills, often referred to as cognitive domains. By identifying the association …

Utility Of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–Third Edition (Mmpi-3) Eating Concerns Scale In A Bariatric Sample, Darryl Ray

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The utility of the Eating Concerns (EAT) scale on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–3 (MMPI-3) was examined in a preoperative bariatric sample through comparisons with established measures and an assessment of internal consistency. Participants (N = 161) enrolled in a bariatric surgery program completed a comprehensive preoperative psychological evaluation that included the MMPI-3, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), and the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire–Short Form (WEL-SF). The EAT scale differentiated the disordered eating groups and showed moderate associations with the TFEQ-C, TFEQ-D, and WEL-SF. Within this sample, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the EAT scale was lower than the alpha …

Hugs And Horses: A Pilot Study Of Hold Me Tight Plusⓡ - An Emotionally Focused Workshop With Equine Interactions, Courtney Crouse

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Emotionally Focused Therapy has also been proven to help individuals to feel an improved sense of trust and dyadic adjustment in their relationships (Morgis et al., 2019; Kennedy, 2019). Hold Me TightⓇ (HMT) is an evidence-based workshop designed by Dr. Sue Johnson. Research on HMT has shown that couples significantly improved their relationship satisfaction and the security of their bond (Conradi et al., 2017). Equine-assisted interventions that are paired with therapeutic interventions have been shown to be effective in improving couples’ sense of relationship quality (Willmund et al., 2021). A combination of equine-assisted emotionally focused couples therapy has yet to …

Basc-3 Adolescent Version For American Indian / Alaska Native (Ai/An) Adolescents With Learning Difficulties: Identifying Comorbidities, Benjamin L. Shannon

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Deficiencies in cultural sensitivity among popular psychological assessment instruments can have significant consequences for diverse test takers, leading to inaccurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention. The present study aimed to explore possible differences in mean raw scale scores between an AI/AN adolescent sample and BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A normative sample data, as well as to establish preliminary evidence to suggest an increased prevalence of social/emotional dysfunction for AI/AN adolescents diagnosed with multiple specific learning disabilities (SLDs). Archival BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A data, collected from students and teachers at a residential school for American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents from …

Adverse Therapy Experiences In Patients At An Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital As A Predictor Of Inpatient Risk And Distress, Jaycee Hallford

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Psychotherapy is widely assumed to be beneficial, yet research consistently shows that a meaningful proportion of patients experience deterioration or harm. Adverse therapy experiences (ATEs) may intensify distress, undermine trust in clinicians, and elevate risk for self-harm, particularly among psychiatric inpatients who are already in crisis; ATEs may thus contribute to deterioration while undergoing psychotherapy. This study examined whether ATEs predicted psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and perceived risk of harm to self or others among adult psychiatric inpatients. Data were obtained from 56 voluntary and involuntary inpatients using a newly developed measure of ATEs, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social …

Relationships Between Intimate Partner Attachment Style, Pet Attachment Style, And Type Of Pet, Hamilton Lovett

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Prior research has shown attachment figures can take many forms beyond human-to-human connection. As pets continue to serve an increasingly important familial role, they have also become strong attachment figures for children and adults alike. The present study explored pet attachment relationships in more depth, examining a sample of pet owners with traditional pets, dogs and cats, and those with an exotic pet, snakes. Participants completed a survey measuring their intimate partner attachment style and their attachment style to their pet. Findings indicated those with anxious intimate partner attachment styles also hold anxious attachment to their pets. However, participants with …

The Perfect Ten: How Perceived Sport Performance Outcomes And Other Factors Impact An Athlete’S Body Image, Mia Asuncion

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The present study investigated factors that influence body image in collegiate athletes before and after competition. Existing research has focused on factors such as sex differences and aesthetic versus non-aesthetic sports, but there is limited research on factors such as an athlete’s view of their performance, the weight pressures an athlete faces from external supports, and the interplay of these variables. Participants (n = 53) filled out a questionnaire 24 hours prior to, and following, a competition. They rated body image disturbance, subjective performance satisfaction, and weight pressures from external systems. Results showed a relationship between body image disturbance and …

Shame, Shame, I Don’T Know Your Name: The Association Of Shame In Asian Culture With Self-Compassion And Self-Criticism In Asian Americans, Lauren M. Nguyen

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

With depression and suicidality on the rise among Asian Americans and gaps in research for members of Asian culture, it is imperative to examine the factors that may influence mental health outcomes, to help inform clinical considerations. Shame plays a significant role in Asian culture and is an essential component in understanding the mental health of Asian Americans. Self-criticism and self-compassion have also been shown to influence mental health outcomes in Asian populations. This study examined how shame in Asian culture is linked to self-criticism and self-compassion in Asian Americans, and how acculturation can impact these relationships. A total of …

Disparities In Emergency Medical Services: Examining Care Gaps For The High-Frequency User Population, Sarah Krysl Cleveringa

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Although many studies have illustrated healthcare disparities related to patient demographic factors in emergency medical response, few studies have examined how differences in care may be related to a patient’s identity as a high-frequency utilizer of emergency medical services (EMS). The Superuser population (higher than average utilizers of EMS) has been examined for characteristics and costs to society, but it is unknown if they receive a different type or quality of care compared to the low-frequency utilizer population. The goal of this study is to examine the EMS care that Superusers receive and possible factors that may contribute to the …

Therapist Approaches To Disclosure And Associated Clinical Understandings Of Therapist Pregnancy In Psychodynamic Therapy, Alanna Doherty

Dissertations and Theses

Background: Therapist pregnancy is both an intensely evocative force and an unavoidable disturbance in the therapeutic relationship, that leaves the therapist with novel clinical issues and decisions to attend to while also undergoing significant personal change and potential psychic strain. It is also a strikingly understudied clinical phenomenon. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the process of disclosure of therapist pregnancy from the perspective of the therapist, to better understand how and why particular disclosure choices are made, and to examine disclosure as a site where personal needs and clinical decision-making intersect. Specifically, it builds upon the thematic categories identified …

“You’Re Denying God”: Thoughts On Institutional Homophobia From Lgbtq-Affirming Staff And Faculty At Christian Colleges, Kaytlin Epperly

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Over 4 million adults identify as LGBTQ Christians in the United States (Conron et al., 2020). Yet, despite increasing support in secular and religious circles alike, the LGBTQ community continues to face prejudice and discrimination in evangelical Christian spaces (Jones, 2026; Public Religion Research Institute, 2023). Unfortunately, much of this is experienced on Christian college campuses. During a crucial period of identity development, many emerging adults on these campuses struggle between their queer identities and Christian faith, leading to psychological distress, shame, and marginalization. However, previous research illustrates the integral role that social support plays in LGBTQ students’ wellbeing (Cook …

Relationships Between Substance Use, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychological Functioning, And Use Of Positive Coping, Jade Binford

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Clinicians have attempted to understand substance abuse for years, and theories attempting to explain substance abuse have evolved. Theories have ranged from viewing the issue as a moral failure to interpreting it through a disease-oriented viewpoint. The self-medication hypothesis has been used to understand substance abuse and describes the issue as deriving from individuals seeking relief from psychological distress (e.g., emotional dysregulation, behavioral impairment, painful memories). Substance abuse has been linked to the experience of depression, anxiety, exposure to adverse experiences in childhood and adulthood, and trauma-related clinical diagnoses. The role of positive coping has been considered a function that …

America 250, Arizona State University

History

Photographs, Bibliography, Collection Description and Word Search for a display of government documents from Fletcher Library at Arizona State University.

Counseling Professionals' Perspectives On Ai Integration In Education And Supervision: A Concept Mapping Study, Hank Crofford, Elif Bor, Gülşah Kemer

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised important questions about how new technologies will shape professional norms and practices in counseling. The purpose of this study was to understand how counseling professionals expect AI to be integrated into counselor education and supervision (CES). Using a mixed‐methods concept mapping design, 31 participants generated and sorted statements about the potential roles, benefits, and concerns associated with AI in the profession. Participants represented diverse counseling roles, including counselor educators, licensed professional counselors, supervisors, master's‐ and doctoral‐level trainees, and other counseling‐related professionals. Standard concept mapping procedures were conducted using R, resulting in …

Legislative Debate-Attributed Suicidality Among Lgbtq+ Adults: The Buffering Effect Of Community Belongingness, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Laneshia R. Conner, Nicole Campbell, Louis G. Baser, Dekeitra Griffin, Sydney P. Howard, Missy Spears, Justin X. Moore

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, the sociopolitical landscape in the United States has shifted due to an increase in state-level legislation regarding LGBTQ+ rights, a trend that has been particularly pronounced in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While the mental health impacts of enacted laws are increasingly documented, a critical gap remains in understanding the psychological toll of the legislative debates themselves—the prolonged periods of public discourse surrounding the restriction of rights. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2025 Queer Kentucky Survey (N = 817), this exploratory study examined the association between LGBTQ+ community belongingness and acute suicidality attributed specifically to anti-LGBTQ+ legislative …

Asynchronous Lgbtq+ Affirming Counseling Training With Early Career Counselors: A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation, Amber L. Pope, Kelli Hartzell, Matt B. Siroty, Jeff Moe, Noelle St. Germain-Sehr, Bianca R. Augustine, Amanda St. Germain-Sehr, Tai Lexumé

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

A growing body of research shows that training in LGBTQ+ affirming counseling (LGBTQ+ AC) positively impacts counselors’ perceived knowledge and skills in providing mental health services to LGBTQ+ communities. Existing program evaluations of LGBTQ+ AC, however, have primarily used synchronous delivery formats and cultural competency models for the training design. This study is part of an action research agenda to develop an introductory training in LGBTQ+ AC, using asynchronous online delivery and cultural humility as the conceptual framework for the training design. We used a fixed convergent parallel mixed methods quasi-experimental design to examine the impact of our LGBTQ+ AC …

Broaching The Intersectionality Of Race And Disability In School Counseling, Aaron Albright, Emily Goodman-Scott, Jenna Alvarez, Rawn Boulden

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Students of color with disabilities experience compounded inequities. This conceptual article details these compounded inequities. The authors provide a review of the literature related to inequities in education, culturally affirming antiracist school counseling, intersectionality, and broaching. Next, the authors provide a rationale for implementing Day-Vines and colleagues’ multidimensional model of broaching behaviors (MMBB) in school counseling with students of color with disabilities. Then, the authors use the MMBB heuristic to conceptualize practical guidelines for school counselors to engage in direct broaching with their students. These guidelines are tabulated with a description of the four broaching dimensions and their aim within …

"Oh, You've Come To Visit The Yard?": Phenotypic Capital, Intragroup Marginalization, And The Gated Sanctuary In Black Lgbtq+ Communities, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Nicole Campbell, Laneshia R. Conner, Julian K. Glover, Janet K. Otachi, Dekeitra Griffin

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Identity-based communities that share common characteristics, beliefs, and experiences (e.g., Black LGBTQ+ communities) have historically been conceptualized as protective bubbles that buffer Black LGBTQ+ individuals against the deleterious effects of systemic racism and cisheterosexism. However, this monolithic narrative often masks the internal power dynamics that divide belonging. This study explores the exclusionary dynamics embedded within these safe spaces, examining how internal hierarchies of skin tone, socioeconomic status, and gender performance function as proximal stressors. Guided by a critical constructivist paradigm, this study utilized Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyze open-ended survey responses from 74 Black LGBTQ+ adults. Data were drawn from …

Editorial For Issue 20(2), Jeff Moe, Peighton Corley, Aaron Albright

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Hello to the readers of the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. Like many counselors, counselors-in-training, scholars, and other individuals you may be coming to the journal looking for insights into your counseling work. Along with publishing original research that creates space for exploring LGBTQ+ lifeways from an open and affirmative perspective, the manuscripts published in the journal have always been grounded in application.