Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring The Use Of Diary Entries For Qualitative Researchers: Mitigating Challenges When Investigating Sensitive Topics On Indian Women, Pavitra Mishra, Amit Gupta

The Qualitative Report

This study seeks to understand the challenges encountered by qualitative researchers while investigating sensitive topics. We make a valuable contribution to the existing literature on researcher well-being and the mitigation of potential adverse incidents during data collection in studies on sensitive topics. The researchers maintained a comprehensive diary while conducting a study on the sensitive topic of work-family conflict among Indian working women. The analysis of these diary entries revealed three primary categories of challenges: (a) emotional challenges encompassing emotional sustenance, self-awareness, the element of care, building rapport, reciprocity, breaking the connection, preparing for exit, and researcher exhaustion; (b) methodological …

Online Criticism Of Parents After Child Accidents: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis, Kelsi Toews, Jorden A. Cummings, Michelle Mclean, Laura Knowles

The Qualitative Report

When a child is harmed, parents frequently experience condemnation and blame from others. This blame is amplified online. Our online worlds reflect our offline ones, and this negative atmosphere toward parents can influence both parents themselves and societal expectations for parents. Previous research on parental blame has either directly asked people about their blame attributions or utilized hypothetical vignettes. Our thematic analysis expands on this research by analyzing unsolicited online comments left on news stories about two, real-world incidents of child harm: A child who fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, and a child who was killed …

A Hierarchical Decision Model For Evaluating The Strategy Readiness Of Quantitative Machine Learning/Data Science-Driven Investment Strategies, Mohammadsaleh Saadatmand

Dissertations and Theses

Big data and computational technologies are increasingly important worldwide in asset and investment management. Many investment management firms are adopting these data science methods and technologies to improve performance across all investment processes. Researchers actively use these methods to develop more effective systematic investment strategies and produce more reliable outcomes less vulnerable to human decision-making biases. However, the success of such a strategy depends heavily on the scientific rigor applied throughout the process. "Best practices involve understanding how to make better decisions in the research design process. A good question is whether we can make better decisions in developing quantitative …

Essays In Macroeconomics And Financial Economics, José Martínez Gutiérrez

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three independent articles in the fields of Macreconomics and Financial Economics. Chapter one investigates the determinants of the demand for bonds of different maturities and the relationship with differences in idiosyncratic risk in an heterogeneous agent framework. Chapter two studies the effect of policy instability on the risk-return trade-off of different financial assets. Chapter three studies macroeconomic risk in an incomplete market economy. In the first chapter "Heterogenous Liquidity Demand and the Term Structure of Interest Rates" I study what determines differences in the demand for bonds of different maturities. I focus on the effect of …

Place Distress And Job Growth: Are Recent Job Growth Trends Significantly More Favorable For Distressed Counties?, Timothy J. Bartik, Kathleen Bolter, Kyle Huisman

Reports

This paper examines whether recent job growth trends have become more favorable toward counties with greater baseline economic distress. Job growth trends are “competitive job growth,” which is defined as growth that exceeds what would be expected based on how a county’s industries are growing nationally. Baseline county distress is measured by the county’s “prime-age employment rate,” the employment to population ratio for 25–54-year-olds. The core findings are fourfold. First, for the most distressed counties, job growth trends have become more favorable since 2019, compared to the 2001–2007 and 2007–2019 periods. The timing of this recent improvement is consistent with …

Contraception And Menstrual Management In Transmasculine And Gender-Diverse Individuals, Adrian Chiem, Maria Cristina Marcos, Beth I. Schwartz

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Purpose of Review This review outlines the current evidence on the contraceptive and menstrual management methods that are used for transmasculine or gender-diverse (TGD) individuals, as well as the gaps in the literature for this population.

Recent Findings Contraception and menstrual management continue to be an understudied area in the care of TGD individuals, with much of existing research extrapolated from cisgender populations. Emerging studies have looked at contraceptive and menstrual management choices and outcomes in adolescents and highlight the 52 mg LNG-IUD as an option that is efficacious for both indications, as well as high-dose progestin-only pills for menstrual …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Ways Of The Future, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period April 8 - May 5, 2024.

• Anderson, Alexandria. Letter from the Editor – Science, Technology & Business
• Anderson, Alexandria. Women in STEM Make Advances
• Novoselia, Mariia. Turnover on Fountain Square: Local Businesses Share Concerns & Success Stories
• SOKY Rentals Offers New Apartments
• Walk2Campus: Where Home Meets Community
• Bush, Camden. Can a Baseball Team Reduce Their Goals to a Math Problem?
• Hawkins, Kaylee. Student Business Owners Share Experiences – Gatara Townsend, Andrew Garrett, Brittiny Sadler
• Ivory, Larkin. Bikewalk BG, WKU CHHS Offer Chances for Healthy Lifestyle – Health & Human Services

Navigating Towards Sustainability: Tackling Eu Transportation Carbon Emissions, Michael Andre Barajas

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Mobility plays an essential role in our daily lives, yet the consequences of transportation are often overlooked or misunderstood. Most people take transportation for granted, not considering the opportunity cost of our easy accessibility, namely carbon emissions. These emissions cause significant environmental damage, threatening the ability of future generations to enjoy what we have now unless we reduce and stop them.

The European Union has been a leader in sustainability over the past decade, expressing concerns about carbon emissions and exploring various ways to address the issue. To understand the EU's future plans, it is crucial to grasp the scale …

Test Anxiety Inflation, Brian Podkulski, David P. Valentiner

Honors Capstones

Mental health conditions are higher than ever worldwide, despite best efforts to increase public awareness and deliver informed solutions. To account for this rise, some suggested models argue that measures taken to ameliorate mental health problems are actually contributing to their inflation through iatrogenic effects. The current proposed study seeks to identify the possibility of iatrogenic effects on test anxiety as a product of psychoeducational material. The scope of this study includes the immediate effects of viewing a typical short-form informational video on core and adjacent symptoms of test anxiety. Participants will engage with our study entirely through an online …

Expressive Therapies And Resiliency – Resistance In Mental Health: A Literature Review, Gabrielle Lopez

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This review evaluates the current literature on psychological resistance amongst human service professionals experiencing burnout and the effect of Expressive Arts interventions on resiliency. Concepts include identifying the main symptoms, risk factors, causes, and treatments for burnout in education faculty, medical staff, and clinicians. Qualitative, quantitative, and meta-analysis studies are included to identify the most prevalent intervention frameworks for reducing stress including Arts-Based and Mindfulness-compassion based techniques. The effectiveness of Arts-based tools on strengthening identity, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and meaning-making in combating burnout is presented. Based on analysis of the literature, the author proposes a three-step intervention framework for utilizing …

Identity, Intimacy And Power: From Self Consciousness To Self Trust: A Holistic Approach To Identity In Women To Support Authentic Expression, Aliveness, Freedom And Intimacy With Life During Times Of Change, Jennifer Shields

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This Dance/Movement Therapy Capstone Thesis is a literature review and heuristic exploration of women’s experience of the patriarchal effects on identity and intimacy. After establishing an understanding of power within the roots of patriarchy and its internalized effects on women’s relationship with their inner knowing this thesis aims to understand power in a new, counter cultural way that is tethered to a source within. Through the lens of Tantrik Hatha Yoga and Authentic Movement this thesis offers a counter cultural way to understand identity as layered, malleable and rooted in a relationship to awareness. This shift in relationship to identity …

Peering Through The Window: Engaging Older Adults In Different Art Media To Build Community And Find Identity Through Play And The Challenge Of Trying Something New, Kate Hunter

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Some older adults experience physical and cognitive changes that can lead to social isolation and can impact identity, health, and wellbeing. Research has shown that arts-based group psychosocial interventions have the potential to improve the quality of life for older adults along with fostering connections in community and building confidence and acceptance of self-identity. From this research, I developed a crafts-based intervention that focused on the interests and hobbies of the group members. The group was offered in an independent living facility with women over the age of 62 who were American and Asian-American. Over the course of the sessions, …

A Literature Review Examining Current And Future Directions Of Dyadic Expressive Therapies Work With Persons With Dementia And Their Informal Caregivers, Olivia Griffin

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The onset of dementia and resulting adjustment of the relationship between the person with dementia (PWD) and their family caregiver can result in stress and strain for both individuals. This relational adjustment, and the stressors caused by the symptoms of dementia can also lead to relational strain. Although research on the use of the arts with PWD and the use of the arts with caregivers exists, as well as research on various interventions with the caregiving dyad, research on the use of the arts specifically with the caregiving dyad is minimal. This paper reviewed the current state of the literature …

Culture Matching And Its Impact On The Therapeutic Relationship: A Literature Review, Taylor Marsyla

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

As cultural competency and cultural humility move to the forefront of therapeutic treatment so does a need for understanding the effects of culture on the therapeutic relationship. Often individuals who belong to minority groups are less likely to seek mental health care and more commonly receive subpar treatment. This project attempts to examine the effects of matching patients and therapists based on a shared identity and/or culture as a form of culturally responsive treatment – also known as culture matching. In this literature review, the selected peer reviewed articles considered the perspectives of both therapists and patients. Research was divided …

A Scoping Review Of Drama-Based Interventions With Migrant Populations For Health Outcomes, Cassandra Doria

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This scoping review investigates the breadth and nature of literature that currently exists on the topic of utilizing drama-based interventions with migrant populations for therapeutic goals. This author searched for empirical studies on the topic and charted data to understand the quality, number, and type of studies that have been done, and risk factors for epistemic injustice or misrepresentation of marginalized participants. A brief overview of methods, results, and discussions of articles revealed the most prevalent outcomes, limitations, and forms of data collection. Social connection and belonging, education, communication skills, empathy, identity reconstruction, meaning making, and adaptive adjustment to the …

An Expressive Arts-Based Community Well-Being Initiative For Intensive Care Unit Staff: Fostering Self-Compassion And Peer Support Through Patchwork Murals, Megan Bell

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This community engagement project, conducted at a large hospital complex in Northeast Pennsylvania, focused on Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff well-being. A brief literature review explored the multidimensional challenges experienced by healthcare professionals, particularly amidst the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing an urgent need for integrated support systems. Supported by the Center for Professionalism and Well-Being (CPW), the initiative aimed to co-design and co-create an arts-based well-being initiative that met the direct needs of ICU staff. Through meetings with the Nursing Operations Manager (NOM) and staff interactions, specific concerns and preferences were identified, informing program design. Participants created individual …

Exploring Puppet Making And Identity Formation With Adolescents, Melissa Walsh

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The formation of identity is a critical developmental process during adolescence, characterized by self-exploration and the establishment of a stable sense of self. This capstone thesis presents a novel intervention, the Puppet Protocol, designed to facilitate identity exploration and positive self-expression among adolescent clients through the creation and manipulation of puppets. The intervention's theoretical foundation draws from embodiment theory, which posits that physical actions and sensory experiences influence cognitive and emotional processes (Gibbs, 2005; Glenberg, 2010; Koch et al., 2012). By engaging adolescents in the embodied experience of puppet-making and puppetry, the Puppet Protocol aims to provide a creative and …

Neuroqueering Art Therapy: Bringing Neurodivergent Gender Diversity Into The Creative Arts Therapy Room: A Literature Review, Avital Eisen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Recent research across disciplines has established the significance of the overlap between neurodivergence and gender diversity, a truth long espoused by the community. Acting on this research, some mental health disciplines have begun addressing neurodivergent transgender and gender diverse people as a unified population in their research, but the field of art therapy has not yet followed suit. Theoretical frameworks of intersectionality, queer theory, and disability justice highlight the importance of centering the unique experiences and needs of neurodivergent gender diversity. Using these frameworks, this literature review synthesizes community knowledge with art therapy research on both neurodivergence and gender diversity, …

Coming Out, Letting Go, Getting Naked: A Community Engagement Arts Based Project, Tim Aumiller

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Creating a healthy sexual minority identity remains a challenge in the 21^st century, despite significant advances in social acceptance and civil rights. Sexual minorities are more likely than cis gender heterosexuals to be exposed to traumatic events, and experience shame and mental and physical health symptoms as a result. Despite this, sexual minorities do overcome obstacles to develop resilience. While the coming out process looks different depending on the background of the individual, many gay men find connection and build community through this often difficult process where even rejection may play a part. The author found connection and community …

Tailored Therapeutic Musical Theater Community Engagement Project, Taylor Windle

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to introduce the Tailored Therapeutic Musical Theater model (TTMT) and investigate the observable reduction in social anxiety and increase in mental wellness in children and adolescents through participation in a production. The literature review provides justification for the creation of this model while refining understanding of therapeutic theater, Erikson’s stages of development, and community based, trauma informed care. This thesis culminates in a detailed explanation of the 4-phase model of TTMT during a production of Newsies: The Musical and a discussion on next steps for future research. The findings indicate the use of therapeutic …

Tarole Theory: Alchemizing The Drama Therapy Role Sort With The Tarot, Brooke Ferguson

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In this mixed-methods qualitative and arts-based research project, the researcher conducted a community engagement workshop infusing role theory into a personalized tarot reading for each participant. The participants considered the types of roles they currently play and have played in their lives, gave themselves a tarot reading with the researcher’s guidance, and created individual expressive arts presentations based on their reflections of their readings. Data were extrapolated from the prevalent themes observed in the reflections and the performances, which included protection, self-limitation, openness, trust in self, and connection and collaboration. Lack of a focused population was one limitation of this …

The Feminine Expansion Of Role Theory: A Community Workshop, Alexis Cisneros

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Traditional gender roles and dominant narratives in society impose different pressures on men and women. Women experience the societal pressure to excel in multiple roles simultaneously such as caregiver, breadwinner, partner, and community member all while meeting societal judgements and expectations regarding appearance, achievements, and behavior (Ilic, 2023). This thesis will focus on the development of a drama therapy community workshop for cisgender women to explore the roles they play in Western society. Because we are living in a patriarchal society where the understanding of human experience is mostly through a white, male, heterosexual, middle-class, and able-bodied lens my focus …

Speak My Language: Art Therapy Restorative Justice Hybrid For Disenfranchised High School Students, Catherine Day

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

This literature review examines the use of zero tolerance policies and exclusionary practices in schools throughout the United States. The adolescent population is more vulnerable now than ever, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. An increasing number of students are struggling with behavioral misconduct, mental health issues, and suspension/expulsion from school. The research contained in this review explores how zero tolerance policies have contributed to the current state of our education system, behavioral misconduct in schools, student involvement in the juvenile justice system, alternative methods of discipline such as restorative practices and therapeutic interventions like Art Therapy. The current exclusionary …

History Matters Exploring Intergenerational Trauma And Human Connection - A Community Engagement Project, Latoya Robinson

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

Drama Therapy and trauma centered psychoeducation have been utilized as an intervention for groups in urban schools. The following research expands upon this foundation by exploring intergenerational trauma (IGT). The following research aimed to answer this question, will learning about intergenerational trauma observationally improve adolescents' relationships to others? For eight weeks, I engaged a group of male and female minority adolescents in an urban high school in Connecticut to explore IGT as an element of human existence. Drama Therapy tools such as utilization of the playspace, elements of DvT, the integrative five phase model theater games and poetic …

Toward An Autism-Affirmative Art Therapy Practice: A Literature Review, Mariah Geiger

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Recent research across disciplines has begun to explore the strengths associated with Autism, and the internal experiences of Autistic people. Advocates of the neurodiversity movement promote a nuanced view of Autism which celebrates unique strengths while supporting unique needs and understanding that these strengths and needs are often interconnected. The inclusion of Autistic perspectives in research has shown that compassionate adaptations to the social and sensory environment can often reduce difficulty with emotional regulation. This research has implications for the use of art therapy with Autistic populations. Art therapy has commonly been implemented from a deficit perspective with Autistic clients, …

The Use Of Music Therapy To Mitigate Trauma-Related Music Associations And Restore Personal Relationships With Music, Courtney Pitzer

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

For many people, music is positively associated with nostalgic memories, emotions, and experiences. But for some, it can be a painful reminder of the past. This literature review examines how music serves as a cue for reexperiencing trauma and demonstrates ways in which music therapy may be beneficial in reframing and reassociating those connections. Drawing from existing trauma treatment models such as CBT and exposure therapy, this review highlights the unique potential of music therapy in allowing clients to expose themselves to the activating stimulus while maintaining elements of safety within the music. This thesis prompts further exploration of desensitization …

Sensory Approaches With Serious Mental Illness: Capturing ‘Sanism’ In Mental Health Treatment, Margo Seiden

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis examines the relevance of sensory approaches in adults with serious mental illness. Furthermore, it approaches mental illness from a critical psychology perspective, inquiring who is considered mentally ill and why, the stigma attached to this label, and the oppression of mentally ill individuals as a minoritized group, known as sanism (LeBlanc & Kinsella, 2016). This topic was studied by facilitating therapy groups using sensory-based artmaking and sensory psychoeducation. Three group sessions with three different groups of 5-12 individuals at a partial hospitalization program (PHP) were conducted. Artmaking and thought processes of the group participants and myself as a …

The Therapeutic Potential Of Found Objects In Art Therapy For Adults With Severe Mental Illness, Meara Hemler

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In art therapy, adults with severe mental illness may hesitate to engage in artmaking due to low self-esteem and preconceived notions about art. Existing research suggests that found objects may be an accessible and approachable medium that allows clients to overcome barriers to authentic expression. Research also suggests that art therapy with found objects can facilitate progress in common treatment goals for this population including grounding in the present moment, fostering connections with the outside world, promoting self-reflection, enhancing emotional awareness and regulation, building a positive sense of identity, empowerment, and living a meaningful and purposeful life.

This study explored …

I Just Want To Be A Normal Teenager: A Literature Review Of Impacts Of Adolescent-Onset Chronic Illness On Identity Development And Proposed Benefits Of Drama Therapy, Margaret Young

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescence is a crucial moment in life for establishing our personal identity, internal values, and social autonomy (Christie & Viner, 2005); however, this already-tumultuous time can be further complicated by the addition of a chronic illness diagnosis which can lead to feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and an inconsistent sense of self (Chisholm, 2018; Wicks et al., 2019). This literature review investigates the current research regarding the impacts of chronic illness on identity development as well as the landscape of available expressive therapies interventions. Based on personal experience and available literature, I argue that drama therapy can provide much needed support …

Opening The Trauma Window: Embodied Storytelling With Adolescent Survivors Of Domestic Violence, April Reck

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescents who have experienced trauma may develop a neutral state, which they use to shield themselves from the trauma so they can perform daily life tasks. Though it is acknowledged in the literature that trauma lives in the body, adolescent survivors of trauma may often stay in this neutral state until they seek mental health services. This thesis asks: How can drama therapy’s core processes, such as embodiment, widen the window of tolerance of an adolescent who has experienced trauma to begin to feel emotions beyond the neutral state and become open to new roles? The method that I have …