Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Pain Interference And Hazardous Drinking Among U.S. Veterans: The Role Of Combat Deployment, Joon Kyung Nam, Kyle Mackenzie White, Victoria E. Carlin, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (i.e., patterns of alcohol consumption that elevate risk for negative health outcomes) are both common and often co-occur among U.S. veterans. Research examining associations between pain interference (i.e., extent to which pain disrupts daily functioning) and alcohol use among non-military samples has yielded mixed findings, with some linking greater pain interference to lower levels of alcohol consumption, and others linking it with increased odds of alcohol dependence. However, there has been a paucity of research examining these relations among veterans, and the role of combat exposure remains unexplored. The goal of these analyses was to …

Talking Shame With Boys & Girls: How Gender Shapes Parent–Child Conversations About Self-Conscious Emotions, Ashton Allen, Peter J. Reschke, Jocelyn Wikle

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines how child gender predicts parents’ use of emotion labels during a storybook task. Prior research suggests that parents may socialize emotions differently based on child gender, potentially shaping children’s emotional development. However, limited work has specifically examined gender differences in parent emotion labeling, particularly within the context of self-conscious emotions. The study utilized a sample of parent–child dyads (N = 95) from the 2023 wave of Project M.E.D.I.A., a longitudinal dataset analyzing parent emotion labeling during a shared storybook task. OLS regression models were employed to examine the association between child gender and parents’ use of emotion …

Mental Wellness Of The Saintly, Spiritual, And Secular: Who Has The Edge?, Addison Clevenger, Justin Dyer, Sam Hardy

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines the relationship between religious/spiritual identity and depression and anxiety levels at comparative baseline levels, and then longitudinally. Gathered from The Family Foundations of Youth Development Project, this study samples parent-child dyads from highly religious parts of the Western United States to determine how the mental health of these individuals is affected by the conjunction of spirituality and religiosity, the lack of either, or one divorced from the other. Results revealed that at baseline levels, participants across all groups who identified as “Spiritual but not Religious” had the highest levels of anxiety and depression, and children who identified …

Fertilizer For Independent Terrorism: Social Media's Facilitation Of Radicalization, Mary Moody, Rachel Stark

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Does social media play a role in the radicalization of independent terrorists? We theorize that, while neither necessary nor sufficient, social media facilitates the radicalization of independent terrorists due to its low barrier of entry, allowing individuals around the world to have access to and create echo chambers around radical ideologies, reinforcing their political identities. To test this theory, we conducted a mixed-methods analysis, running statistical tests on the PIRUS database and executing a most-different qualitative comparative design. We find that social media is more involved in independent rather than traditional terrorist radicalization, establishing the causal pathway in case studies.

Unlocking Educational Potential: The Free Lgas Rubric For Transforming Library Guides Into Pedagogical Powerhouses--A Replicable Model For Universities, Sarah H. Moukhliss

Library Faculty Presentations & Publications

Sarah Moukhliss, a librarian with a background in K-12 library curriculum, instructional design, and pedagogy noted that there was a gap in standards when designing student-centric library guides at her university. Although there are vetted standards for online course design, there are a less structured roadmap for designing library guides with pedagogical value. Moukhliss remixed the SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric (OSCQR) to become the Library Guide Assessment Standards for Quality Checked Review (LGAS). The LGAS was announced in the American Libraries Newsletter, ALA Direct, through the ALA website, and referenced in the ACRL Instruction Section, Fall 2024. You …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 19 - April 10, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 19 - April 10, 2025. 16 pages.

Race And Military Service: Economic Mobility For Underrepresented Racial Minority (Urm) Veteran Entrepreneurs, Mauricio Mercado, Arielle Badger Newman

Voices of Service Symposium

The United States military has long been perceived as a path to upward economic mobility, offering comprehensive training and a robust support network for veterans. Yet for historically underrepresented minority populations, the full scope of this potential remains uncertain due to ongoing discrimination and disparities in access to opportunities. This research interrogates how intersecting identities of military service and race shape entrepreneurial outcomes and pathways to economic mobility.

Perceptions About Pain And Alcohol In Relation To Hazardous Drinking Among Veterans With Chronic Pain, Ava Cohen, Victoria E. Carlin, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction. Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (e.g., patterns of alcohol consumption associated with increased risk for negative consequences) are highly prevalent among U.S. military veterans. Perceptions regarding pain-alcohol interplay (i.e., pain as a motivator of drinking, use of alcohol to cope with pain, and pain as a barrier to alcohol cessation/reduction) may contribute to the onset and maintenance of hazardous drinking among individuals with chronic pain. Methods. Participants included 430 veterans who reported current chronic pain and past month alcohol consumption (24% female; 73% White; Mage = 57) and completed an online survey using Qualtrics Panels. Measures included the Perceptions …

Introduction To Military Culture And Mental Health Practice, Ken Marfilius, Sam Coyl

Voices of Service Symposium

The Introduction to Military Culture and Mental Health Practice course equips students across disciplines primarily social work with foundational skills for working with service members, veterans, and their families. Developed in 2016 by a former U.S. Air Force officer, the course addresses trauma, ethical dilemmas, dual loyalty, and command structures within military systems. Coursework includes case studies, ethical analysis, and interviews with military-connected individuals, fostering clinical and cultural competence. With 153 students trained to date, the course supports careers in the VA, nonprofits, and the Armed Forces, while advancing the university's commitment to military-affiliated students.

Legal Services For Homeless Veterans: New Va Grants Aim To Provide Critical Services To Veterans In Crisis, Elizabeth Kubala, Seth M. Owens, Andrew M. Patterson

Voices of Service Symposium

Ending and preventing homelessness among Veterans is a priority for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 2022, the VA created the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans (LSV-H) grant program, providing funds for legal services organizations to deliver essential legal aid to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. As one of only three law schools that are current LSV-H grant recipients, the Syracuse University Veterans Legal Clinic provides legal aid to homeless veterans in the areas of housing, income support (VA disability), access to healthcare, and requests to upgrade military discharge or dismissal of a former member …

Expectancies For Alcohol Analgesia And Alcohol Use Among Veterans With Chronic Pain: The Moderating Role Of Discrimination In Medical Settings, Victoria E. Carlin, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joon Kyung Nam, Grant H. Ripley, Alexa G. Deyo, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction. Chronic pain and alcohol use are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur among U.S. military veterans. Expectancies for alcohol analgesia (i.e., degree to which an individual believes that consuming alcohol can help reduce or manage their pain) may contribute to alcohol consumption, dependence, and related harms. Discrimination in medical settings (i.e., degree to which one experiences inequitable treatment while receiving healthcare due to a stigmatized identity) has been linked to a variety of deleterious health outcomes and may amplify associations between expectancies for alcohol analgesia and drinking behavior. Methods. Participants included 430 U.S. military veterans with chronic pain who endorsed …

Increasing Access To Valuable Services For Veterans Treatment Court Participants, Elizabeth Kubala, Bill Rielly

Voices of Service Symposium

The Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) at the Syracuse University College of Law is partnered with the New York Health Foundation (NYHF) to develop and implement an approach for expanding the services available to Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) participants across New York. VTCs offer an alternative to criminal court for many low-level offenses. The participants complete an intensive 18-month program of counseling, support groups, and recovery before graduating. A significant number of participants earned VA benefits through their service but are not receiving those benefits. Advocating for these veterans benefits reinforces that their service was valuable, …

Developing An Undergraduate Course On Veteran And Military Behavioral Health, Sarah J. Litt, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Understanding the behavioral health needs of military service members and veterans is important for students who may pursue careers across the helping professions. This poster presentation details the development of a new undergraduate course that provides foundational knowledge in military and veteran behavioral health. The course examines a broad spectrum of psychological and behavioral health issues, including substance use and addiction, trauma and PTSD, military sexual trauma, suicide, pain and physical impairment, depression, anxiety, and the challenges associated with transitioning to civilian life. It also explores family and relationship dynamics, military culture, and barriers to mental health care. Key considerations …

Patent Coloring Books: 1 Year In Review, Ashley S. Mcguire

Libraries Professional Work

Alabama Library Association Conference (ALLACON) 2025 Guntersville, AL, April 9-12, 2025

Asking The Right Questions: How Parent Question Type Shapes Children's Emotion Label Use Across Early Childhood, Ashton Allen, Peter J. Reschke

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Parent questions facilitate children's emotion label learning during parent–child conversations (Ruba et al., 2022), yet limited research has examined how different question types influence this process. Parent–child dyads (N = 296, 136 girls) were observed discussing a picture book depicting self-conscious emotions (shame, guilt, embarrassment, awe, pride) annually for five years starting at age 2. Parent-child conversations were transcribed and the frequencies of parent yes/no questions, parent open-ended questions, child emotion labels, and total word count were coded from transcriptions (mean interrater reliability ICC = .90). Five separate regression models (one per wave) predicting children’s emotion labels revealed significant effects …

Under Threat, Overwhelmed: How National Security Crises Impact Support For Right-Wing Populism, Mary Moody

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

How do national security crises affect support for extremist parties? Using Poland’s far-right Law and Justice (PiS) party as a case study, we argue that security threats requiring multilateral responses—such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—erode populist support. Analyzing Polish survey data and election results, we highlight the limits of populist appeal and demonstrate how reliance on multilateral security responses limits populist appeal.

Argentine Diaspora In The United States: Experiences Of Recent Emigrants And Their Ties With The Homeland, Anabela Cibele Villach Vaquer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the Argentine diaspora settled in the United States. It analyzes both the experiences of Argentines who have migrated to the United States in the last decade and the transnational ties they develop with the home country as well as the diaspora engagement policies put in place by the Argentine State. The research addresses three key questions: What are the main characteristics of Argentine emigrants who have moved to the United States over the past decade? How do recent Argentine migrants in the United States construct and maintain their transnational ties with their country of origin? Is the …

“Essential” Migrants: Evidence From The 2020 H-2b Visa Lottery, Parag Mahajan

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

I study how access to foreign-born workers impacts firms and local economics in times of acute crisis. The 2020 H-2B visa lottery randomly gave some U.S. firms the chance to hire low-wage, migrant workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using administrative data across three government agencies, I find that access to H-2B workers led to decreased business closures, increased revenues, increased payroll, and increased employment in 2020. I also find suggestive evidence that these effects spilled over to non-participant firms within the same county.

Casar Student Discussion Series #7: Censored Classrooms - Should Parents And Community Members Have A Say In Restricting Certain Books In Schools, Based On Factors Such As Religion, Age Appropriateness, And More?, The Prince Alwaleed Center For American Studies And Research Casar

Performances, Events, and Presentations

Every semester, CASAR AUC holds miscellaneous student debates discussing the hot controversial topics in the US, Egypt and from around the world in hopes of raising awareness about these topics & broadening the perspectives of our students as they learn to engage in fruitful discussions as they share different opinion on the topic being deliberated.

On April 10th 2025, at this CASAR Student Discussion event #7 in light of the current book bans in the US happening from Trump's administration, we debated this question: 'Censored classrooms: Should parents and community members have a say in restricting certain books in schools …

Anti-Transgender Legislation And State Legislature Demographics, Sophie Christensen

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Anti-transgender legislation has been introduced in state legislatures at exponentially increasing rates over the past five years. 85 bills were introduced in 2020, climbing rapidly to 692 in 2024. As of April 3, 2025, 830 bills have already been introduced in 2025.*

Studies show that this legislation is harmful to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender youth, even if bills are only introduced. This project seeks to understand the demographic factors of legislatures introducing and passing this legislation to assist advocates in electing legislators who will fight this legislation.

Beyond The Finish Line: How Mindset & Setbacks Shape Future Success In High School Sprinters, Hannah Lybbert

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Across many domains, mindset has been shown to affect performance; however, quantifying that belief can be challenging to do empirically.

Track and Field 100m results provide a perfect environment to attempt to quantify the magnitude of the effect of mindset on performance – timing equipment and wind sensors never lie!

Discovering The True Meaning Of Federalist No. 27, Mckenzie Pedersen-Campbell

Student Research Symposium

Background

Three of the Founding Fathers wrote the Federalist Papers in order to gain support for and explain the new system of government.

• The Federalist Papers provide valuable insight into the original meaning of the Constitution.

• Supreme Court Justices often look to the Federalist Papers when making decisions but do not always come to the same understanding.

• In Printz v. United States (1997), both the Supreme Court’s majority and dissenting opinions used Federalist No. 27 to support their arguments.

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Who Supports Democracy In The Post-Arab Spring Maghreb?, Jacob Sagers

Student Research Symposium

Background

During the Arab Spring in 2011, youth became the backbone of protests and a force for democratic change. Particularly in Tunisia – the heart of the Spring– youth had a dominant role in starting protests and toppling regimes. Extant literature's mixed findings on wealth’s positive association with democratization processes suggest democracy’s support depends on public opinion and age. Building off fieldwork and interviews with students in Tunisia, my study focuses on economic development and its impact on public opinion.

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Social Media And Sports Betting, Mikey Bishop

Student Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Through The Lens: Analyzing Apple's 'Shot On Iphone' Social Media Marketing Campaign, Awsumb Hardy

Student Research Symposium

While promoting the iPhone 6s, Apple launched the #ShotOniPhone campaign. It encouraged iPhone users to share photos under the tag #ShotOniPhone.

• Was the campaign a success? Why?
• Did the campaign increase iPhone sales?
• What can we learn from #ShotOniPhone?

The Meme-Ification Of Barbie: How Social Media Turned A Movie Into A Cultural Phenomenon, Jayke Martin

Student Research Symposium

The 2023 Barbie movie became a cultural phenomenon, driven by an innovative marketing campaign that leveraged memes and user- generated content, particularly on TikTok. Users embraced the movie's catchy songs and dance routines, sparking widespread excitement. Strategic brand collaborations with Crocs, Cold Stone Creamery, and NYX, combined with the fashion industry's embrace of pink, amplified the film's impact. Notably, the extensive use of fluorescent pink paint led to a global shortage. The teaser trailer, which parodied 2001: A Space Odyssey and premiered before Avatar: The Way of Water, generated early buzz by challenging audience expectations. The “Barbenheimer” phenomenon emerged when …

The Apple Effect: Unveiling The Power Of Social Media Marketing In Apple's Advertising Mastery, Annie Ploehn

Student Research Symposium

This research dives into the top marketing strategies shown by Apple on their Instagram page. Five main themes have been identified: Creativity, people, nature, emotion, and technique. Through each of these themes we see how Apple fosters a sense of belonging and uses this marketing strategy to encourage continued company growth.

Educational Policy And The Ballot Box: The 2024 Ghanaian Election Through Students' Eyes, Ebenezer Botsio, Irene Kyereh, Stephen Kwame Ameko

Student Research Symposium

The Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, introduced in Ghana in 2017, marked a major shift in educational access by removing financial barriers at the secondary level. While several studies have examined its implementation and socio-economic impacts, limited attention has been given to its political consequences, particularly among young voters. This study examines the impact of the FSHS policy on the voting decisions of university students in the 2024 general elections. Grounded in historical and contemporary policy contexts, the study traces Ghana's educational reforms from the Nkrumah era through the FCUBE initiative to the FSHS policy, situating them within a …

Racism On Social Media, Britton Larsen

Student Research Symposium

For centuries, racism has been an issue in society; however, the emergence of social media has drastically altered the landscape of the vulgarity and encounter of racist content. Social media has become a crucial communication, advocacy, and information battleground. While these platforms have provided a voice through which underprivileged populations become equal in terms of advocating for equality and justice, the same platforms have nurtured the breeding ground for hate messages and discriminatory ideologies. This research will look to explore the relationship between social media and racism, doing so to look at how these social media platforms amplify racist content …

Environmental Racism: The Role Of Racism In The Unequal Distribution Of Environmental Hazards And Resources In Urban Areas, Acadia Petersen

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

There is a large difference in the number of environmental hazards and environmental resources that people live with depending on their race. This is very damaging as certain minorities are being provided with fewer resources and more polluted areas, leading to worse health outcomes.

There is “A strong association between non-white and poor communities and the location of hazardous waste sites…Studies on air quality have documented that minorities and the poor face higher levels of air pollution than other groups” (Pinderhughes 1996).