Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Healthcare Access, Kyla M. Frost

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and healthcare access, and ACEs and healthcare access among people of color. The current study is a secondary data analysis of the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A disproportionate stratified sample (DSS) design and a simple random sample design were used to collect data. The current study examined 48,865 participants who completed ACEs through telephone surveys. The results showed a statistically significant negative relationship between ACEs and healthcare access. The results also showed …

Parenting Support Groups Outcomes, Christina Howell

Graduate Research Papers

According to the American Psychological Association 48% of parents find their stress to be completely overwhelming as compared to 26% of other adults. Sixty percent of parents struggle to focus, and 41% of parents report feeling so stressed that they cannot function (American Psychological Association (APA), 2024). In this study three questions are addressed 1) Are Online parenting support groups successful at supporting caregivers and children? 2) What are the outcomes for caregivers and their children when their caregivers participate in parenting support groups? 3) Are parenting support groups successful at supporting caregivers who have experienced trauma? The findings of …

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities As A Risk For Child Maltreatment, Maddie Hawley

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and child maltreatment. Data from the 2022 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) from the state of Minnesota was analyzed. The sample was made up of 38,083 reports of child maltreatment, where the average age of the child was 7.66 years. 51.2% of the children in the sample were female, and White children comprised the largest portion of the sample at 39.6%. Results of this study showed that children with IDDs are at an elevated risk of child maltreatment compared to typically …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Chronic Health Conditions In Black Individuals, Emily K. Etringer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and chronic health conditions among Black individuals of different genders. The study employs quantitative research methods and utilizes secondary data analysis on the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, range, and inferential statistics, such as correlation analyses, independent groups t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. This research revealed a statistically significant finding that Black individuals with an ACE score of 4+ have more chronic …

Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Impact Of Social Support, Cultural Background, And Early Interventions, Alysha Haaland

Graduate Research Papers

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a critical public health issue that leaves enduring psychological, emotional, and social impacts on survivors. This paper examines the interrelated roles of social support, cultural background, and early interventions in promoting long-term resilience and recovery, with a particular focus on male and culturally diverse survivors. Grounded in Trauma and Resiliency Theory, this literature review highlights key protective factors—including emotional, informational, and instrumental support—while exploring how cultural norms, religious beliefs, and systemic stigma shape survivors’ coping strategies and access to care. The paper also evaluates the effectiveness of early interventions such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, …

Police Interactions On Adverse Mental Health Outcomes Within Black Communities, Anessa Smith

Graduate Research Papers

This study examines the relationship between police interactions and psychological distress among Black adults, contributing to existing research on systemic racism and mental health disparities. Utilizing secondary data analysis, the 2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this study focuses on the analysis of a nationally representative, address-based sample of non-institutionalized Black adults residing in California, with a sample size of 1,009. The study examines associations between the number of police stops over a three-year period and psychological distress by gender. Findings indicate that a higher frequency of police stops is significantly associated with increased psychological distress. However, no statistically significant …

Sexual And Bystander Sexual Harassment Experiences Among Part-Time Female Employees: Testing An Interactive Model, Erin Powers

Graduate Research Papers

The current research investigated the impact of sexual and bystander harassment on work-related attitudes, work behaviors, and psychological health. Participants included 314 females who worked part-time at their organization. All participants individually completed a computer administered Workplace Experiences Survey assessing various aspects of their work environment including personal and bystander harassment experiences, work-related attitudes (supervisor, coworker, and work satisfaction), work behaviors (work and job withdrawal), and psychological well-being. It was predicted that both direct sexual harassment and bystander harassment experiences would be associated with more negative work attitudes, greater withdrawal behaviors, and poorer psychological health, with bystander harassment moderating the …

The Influence Of Honor Culture Ideology On Juror Decision Making, Aubrey K. Paschal

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Culture of honor is a system of cultural beliefs in which one’s honor is seen to be of the utmost importance (Nisbett & Cohen, 1996). Due to the importance of personal honor, defending one's honor could be seen as an adequate defense for crimes committed in the name of personal honor. This study examined the influence that honor culture ideology has on juror decision making. A total of 190 participants read a brief trial summary of either a crime in which the participants’ honor was threatened, or a crime that did not involve a threat to the defendant’s honor. The …

An Analysis Of The Russo-Ukrainian War, Daniel Braslavsky

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is a deep analysis of Russia’s aggression against and full-scale invasion of Ukraine, commonly referred to as the Russo-Ukrainian War. This is the largest conflict in Europe since WWII with devastating implications for Europe and the world. First it examines the root causes and political ideologies at play to understand why Vladimir Putin decided to launch his invasion in the first place. Then it puts together a chronological history of the war broken up into the post-Euromaidan period including the Russian annexation of Crimea and war in the Donbas (2014-22), and Russia’s full-scale invasion (2022-present). Next it reviews …

Adolescent Male Perspectives’ On Civic Engagement: A Pilot Study On Youth Conceptualization Of Citizenship And Social Participation In Southern Trinidad, Cherisse M S Bovell

Dissertations and Theses

This pilot study examines the understanding of civic engagement among socio- economically disadvantaged adolescent males in the Anglophone Caribbean, a critically under- researched population. This inquiry is necessitated by acute observations of the structural inequalities embedded in Trinidad and Tobago’s merit-based education system and the resultant disparity in learning outcomes. This thesis project is part of a larger study, and focuses on chapters1-3. There is limited understanding of marginalised male youth political perspectives in the Caribbean region. Therefore, only assumptions can be made on the potential impacts of inadequate civic instruction on these individuals and their communities. To identify best …

The Impact And Influence Of Sexual Interpersonal Violence And Beliefs On Barriers In Help-Seeking For College Students, Caitlin N. Bedard

Dissertations and Theses

Sexual interpersonal violence (SIPV) has significant negative impacts on college students yet there is frequent underuse of formal support resources. Consequently, understanding help-seeking for this population is vital. Current research has examined SIPV experiences, rape myth beliefs, and help-seeking barriers in isolation. However, understanding how these factors interact is crucial to understanding how to improve resources for survivors. The present study investigated the relationship among these three constructs in 89 college students who experienced unwanted sexual events after age 18. SIPV experiences, rape myth endorsement, and help-seeking barriers were all positively associated. Regression analysis revealed that four types of SIPV …

An Exploration Of Object Representations And Defense Mechanisms In Caregiver-Child Dyads On The Thematic Apperception Test, Hannah L. Bloom

Dissertations and Theses

Caregiver-child interactions, beginning in infancy, are essential for socio-emotional development. Through these exchanges, caregivers impart fantasies, fears, and beliefs—both consciously and unconsciously—that shape the child’s internal models of self and others (object representations) and strategies for managing intense emotions (defense mechanisms). Historically, projective tests, such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), have been used to explore these constructs. In the TAT, participants craft narratives based on images that portray characters in different emotional states and interpersonal situations. Through their responses, participants project elements of their own internal world into the stories they create. Despite the TAT’s success in differentiating diagnostic …

Claude Ai And Literature Reviews: An Experiment In Utility And Ethical Use, Max Sparkman, Alan Witt

Milne Library

Generative large-language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Claude have sparked debate throughout higher education about their potential and threats to the current pedagogical models for research. This paper scans the literature on the benefits and drawbacks of using LLMs in teaching and research, and compares and contrasts two literature reviews on the subject, one written by a human author and one produced by Claude. The comparison explores areas where the generative AI excels, such as quickly summarizing points of agreement across sources, as well as its limitations, like struggling with synthesis, providing incomplete citations, and hallucinating false information. While …

Effects Of Imagined Gun Ownership Psychopathology On Fears And Estimates Of Crime, Joseph Brown

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Firearm incidents, a leading cause of death among youth aged 12-17 (CDC, 2023), present a complex issue requiring urgent attention. While prior psychological research has examined the weapons effect and related phenomena, further investigation is needed to understand the breadth of issues related to concerns with firearms usage, and specifically implications for mental health discourse (Berkowitz & Lepage, 1967; Metzl et al., 2021). In a sample (n = 55) of college students, this study investigates the effects of imagined gun ownership and exposure to a firearm and psychopathology on fear of crime and victimization. Participants were recruited in person and …

Pilot Study: Development Of A Food Delay-Discounting Measure For Individuals With Neurodevelopmental Conditions, Aaron Daniel Schwieterman

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Individuals with intellectual (NDD) and neurodevelopmental (NDD) conditions experience disproportionately higher rates of obesity (Hsieh et al., 2014; Ptomey et al., 2020). Yet their diet decision-making process has been left out of the current literature. Delay discounting, which reflects the decrease in the subjective value of a reward as the delay to its receipt increases, has been linked to obesity and unhealthy food intake in typically developing adults. However, most existing tasks rely on hypothetical rewards and verbal reasoning, which limit their use with individuals who have cognitive or communication differences. The present pilot study developed and evaluated a novel …

Grandparent Relationship Quality, Social Support, And College Student Mental Well-Being, Camille E. Lehrmann

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

With living to older ages becoming more common in the United States, Americans may have an increased opportunity to form a relationship with their grandparents. Relationships with others, and the social support they provide are important for mental well-being, and are an important area to consider when understanding individuals’ mental health. Relationships with parents and peers have received a large amount of research attention, and have been found to influence the mental health of college students. Despite the increased opportunity to form meaningful relationships with grandparents, there has been much less research directed at this potential source of social support. …

Integrating Satellite-Based Precipitation Analysis: A Case Study In Norfolk, Virginia, Imiya M. Chathuranika, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In many developing cities, the scarcity of adequate observed precipitation stations, due to constraints such as limited space, urban growth, and maintenance challenges, compromises data reliability. This study explores the use of satellite-based precipitation products (SbPPs) as a solution to supplement missing data over the long term, thereby enabling more accurate environmental analysis and decision-making. Specifically, the effectiveness of SbPPs in Norfolk, Virginia, is assessed by comparing them with observed precipitation data from Norfolk International Airport (NIA) using common bias adjustment methods. The study applies three different methods to correct biases caused by sensor limitations and calibration discrepancies and then …

A Review Of Infrared Thermography Applications For Civil Infrastructure, Prabal Shrestha, Onur Avci, Sahabeddin Rifai, Feras Abla, Michael Seek, Karl Barth, Udaya Halabe

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Civil infrastructure is continuously subject to aging and deterioration due to multiple factors, which lead to a decline in performance and impact structural health. Accumulated damage on structures increases operational costs and poses significant risks to public safety. Effective maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation strategies are needed to ensure civil infrastructure’s overall safety and reliability. Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods are utilized to assess latent damage and provide decision-makers with real-time information for mitigating hazards. Within the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the research and development of innovative NDE techniques to improve data processing and promote efficient and …

Age-Associated Alterations In Immune And Inflammatory Responses In Captive Olive Baboons (Papio Anubis), Michele M. Mulholland, Bharti P. Nehete, Ashley Delise, Angela M. Achorn, Lisa M. Pytka, Pramod N. Nehete

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Advanced age is a primary risk factor for many chronic diseases and conditions; however, age-related immune dysregulation is not well understood. Animal models, particularly those that resemble human age-related physiological changes, are needed to better understand immunosenescence and to improve health outcomes. Here, we explore the utility of the olive baboon (Papio anubis) in studying age-related changes to the immune system and understanding mechanisms of immunosenescence.

Methods: We examined immune cell, inflammatory responses, cytokines, and cortisol levels using hematology and flow cytometry, mitogen stimulation, multiplex cytokine assay, and cortisol immunoassay.

Results and Discussion: Our results reveal significant age effects …

The Role Of Social Inequality In The “Feminization” Of Borderline Personality Disorder, Jane Goldie Ekhtman

Dissertations and Theses

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe and prevalent mental illness that is three times more likely to be diagnosed in women than men. BPD research has attempted to explain this gender disparity, with clinician gender bias emerging as a possible factor. Yet, no research to date has examined the role of social status in the overdiagnosis of women with BPD. There is merit in examining BPD through a class lens as low SES is a risk factor for BPD, poverty and income inequality disproportionately affect women, and low status is associated with stereotypical traits of femininity. Additionally, mental health …

Peacekeeping In Sierra Leone And Mali, Ishaka Kondeh

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions in promoting democracy, protecting human rights, and implementing Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs in post-conflict Sierra Leone and Mali. By analyzing the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), this research explores the impact of these missions on Mali still in conflict and long-term peacebuilding. The study focuses on three critical areas: supporting democratic governance, ensuring human rights protections, and successfully reintegrating former combatants into society. Through a comparative approach, this research analyzes why some peacekeeping missions succeed and then …

Examining Drug Policy In Portugal And Greece, Collin Fernandes

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the divergent drug policies implemented in Portugal and Greece, analyzing why Portugal's comprehensive decriminalization model has been more successful than Greece's partial approach. Since 2001, Portugal has pioneered a drug policy that decriminalizes all drugs for personal use while investing in harm reduction services, rehabilitation, and social reintegration. In contrast, Greece maintained criminalization while implementing more limited harm reduction measures, particularly through OKANA (the Organization Against Drugs). The research highlights how economic factors, particularly the 2008 financial crisis and austerity measures, negatively affected both countries' programs but hit Greece's initiatives with greater severity. Portugal's programs have remained …

Soviet-American Relations During The Cold War: What Policies And Circumstances Conspired To Unravel The Soviet Empire?, John W. Krey

Dissertations and Theses

The two victorious superpowers of World War II – America and the Soviet Union – conceived and implemented unilateral foreign policies amid an atmosphere of intense hostility and suspicion of each other’s international intentions. Regardless of Moscow’s acquiescence in joining the United Nations and resolving a host of disputes (for example, the Security Council veto) regarding the establishment and operation of the same organization, it threatened to disequilibrate power relations between the US and the Soviet Union in the immediate aftermath of the second world war, which convinced Washington to develop the containment policy, a defensive realist posture for repelling …

Beyond The Threshold Of Protection: Examining Non-Refoulement's Erosion In Contemporary Refugee Law Through The Eu-Turkey Agreement, Aya Osman

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the contemporary relevance and practical implementation of the principle of non-refoulement as established in the 1951 Refugee Convention. While this fundamental principle of international refugee law prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they face persecution, torture, or human rights violations, its widespread violation by state parties raises critical questions about its continued effectiveness and the broader validity of the Convention's framework in today's global context. Through a methodological approach combining legal analysis and case studies of state practices, this paper investigates whether the 1951 framework remains valid and in effect when addressing refugee and immigration …

The Rise Of China: Economic Expansion, Military Modification And The Belt And Road Initiative, Felix Padilla

Dissertations and Theses

In order to analyze China’s rise in power, we have to examine how China has achieved this growth. We need to observe their domestic reforms, international initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and strategic military advancements. This thesis focuses on China’s economic integration, market reforms and military modernization. The thesis uncovers the effects of this rise on global governance and power balances, especially in trade, security, and geopolitics. I analyze China's vision of a multipolar world and how it contrasts with the current global order and how this fuels rivalry with the U.S. and other powers. China's rise …

Examining The Complex Interplay Of Stress, Social Support, And Drinking Motives On Alcohol Use Behaviors: A Moderated Mediation Model Among College Students, Sabrina Perrin

Dissertations and Theses

College student alcohol use remains a public health concern, yet the psychological and social mechanisms that contribute to high-risk drinking patterns are not fully understood. Guided by the motivational model of alcohol use and stress-buffering theory, this study tested a moderated mediation model to examine how perceived stress, coping motives for drinking, and perceived social support interact to influence alcohol use behaviors. A sample of over 1,100 diverse urban college students completed measures of stress, social support, drinking motives, and four alcohol-related outcomes: binge drinking, frequency of alcoholic drinks consumed, negative drinking consequences, and use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) …

Testing An Educational Intervention To Improve Recognition And Understanding Of Emotional Manipulation In Romantic Relationships, Tiss Zaitz

Dissertations and Theses

Romantic relationships significantly impact happiness and well-being, yet rarely is it taught how to build them or recognize unhealthy relationship dynamics. This gap has profound implications, as Emotional Manipulation (EM) can have severe and lasting consequences. This study examined whether an educational intervention could improve participants' ability to recognize and understand EM in interpersonal relationships. Participants (N = 327) completed a pretest assessing recognition and comprehension of EM and were then given an answer sheet with detailed explanations to enhance understanding. A subset (n = 46) completed a posttest to measure changes in recognition and knowledge. Results showed significant improvement …

Unveiling Invisible Wounds: Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions, Racial Gaslighting, And Mental Health Among Racially And Ethnically Minoritized Adults, Supriya Pandit

Dissertations and Theses

Racial microaggressions are momentary, subtle, and often unintentional comments or behaviors that nonetheless communicate negative race-based messages towards racially and ethnically minoritized individuals. Given the accumulated and differential impact of racial microaggressions on individuals' mental health over time, it is crucial to investigate its associations with specific mental health symptoms and intrapsychic alleviating factors. To further clarify which coping strategies for racial microaggressions can be more empowering versus harmful, it is also crucial to investigate the processes and mental health consequences that unfold when individuals choose to challenge racial microaggressions, such as racial gaslighting. Racial gaslighting is an insidious interpersonal …

Self-Preservation: Autobiography As A Form Of Archivization As Seen Through The Life And Poetic Works Of John Clare, Meghan J. Slaff

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This paper will look at how the processing efforts of an archivist mirror that of an autobiographer through the shared motivation of adding to the cultural memory or textual canon of a society. For archival purposes, the typical steps of ingesting, preparing, and presenting a collection are creation, capture, arrangement/description, and pluralization. To create an autobiography, writers take the memories that have been created and experienced due to events in their lives and capture those memories via recording in the literary form known as autobiography. These autobiographers then arrange and describe their memories in a way that shows vast similarities …

Household Archaeology Of An Eighteenth Century Settlement In Vermont, Usa, Stephen D. Butz

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The rediscovery of ruins in the mountains of Vermont may shine light on the theory and practice of household archaeology and its potential to reveal the social and economic status of the people who once resided there. To this date, there are the remains of twelve structures identified as potential dwellings located on Egg Mountain in Sandgate, Vermont, which local folklore claim were the homes for the refugees who fled from Massachusetts during Shays’ Rebellion in 1787. Shay’s Rebellion was an uprising that took place in Massachusetts led by Captain Daniel Shays in response to the unfair treatment of veterans …