Psychology Commons^™

Mindful Tea Drinking As A Low-Cost Sensory Intervention For Reducing Stress In College Students, David Gabel

Honors Projects

The proposed study would investigate the effects of a tea-based sensory mindfulness exercise on stress in college aged participants. Participants would listen to a mindful tea exercise and a non-mindful tea exercise after a mild stress-inducing Stroop test. For both conditions, the participants would report their current state of distress on the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) before and after each tea exercise and their heart rate variability (HRV) would be measured during each segment of the experiment.

Descriptive statistics and a paired samples t-test would be used to compare the mindful tea condition with the non-mindful condition following …

Lived Experiences Of Individuals With Adverse Childhood Experiences And Mitigating Factors Of Personal Spiritual Disciplines, Carolyn Potts Simoneaux

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and what mitigating factors can help alleviate the pain and suffering caused by their residual life-long impacts. A literature review was done, and a gap was found on the subjects of personal spiritual disciplines (PSDs) of prayer, Bible reading/study, public/private worship, repentance and forgiveness as mitigating factors for the impacts of ACEs. This study recruited 15 participants who identified as victims of ACEs and used PSDs as mitigating factors to overcome the lifelong impacts. Interviews were done, using an online forum, to question participants on their …

Positive Factors Of Resilience In Marginalized Families, Amanda K. Rigsby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study examined underexplored factors of resilience that help individuals overcome trauma. The study gathered insights from individuals in marginalized communities through semi-structured interviews and collected qualitative data for thematic analysis from 15 participants. The study identified polyvictimized individuals’ perspectives on (a) resilience, (b) regulation, (c) sense of purpose, and (d) mindfulness. Exploring the relationship between these areas could broaden our understanding and, in turn, inform targeted interventions through further studies. This study collected qualitative data through semi-structured interviews with individuals in the Appalachian region. The Resilience Portfolio Model has been used in research to identify mindfulness, regulation, sense …

Examining The Role Of Faith On The Relationships Between Purpose In Life, Unconditional Self-Acceptance, And Life Satisfaction Among Evangelical Christians, Alice H. Yen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following dissertation examined the role of faith in God among evangelical Christians to understand its influence on the relationships between purpose in life, unconditional self-acceptance, and life satisfaction. This quantitative correlational study surveyed a sample of 77 evangelical Christians to explore the construct of life satisfaction by assessing specific psychological factors including purpose in life, unconditional self-acceptance, and faith in God. Participants completed self-report surveys including Purpose in Life Test, Unconditional Self-Acceptance Scale, Satisfaction in Life Scale, and Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire, and answered one open-ended response question regarding where purpose in life comes from. Results …

Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Testing: A Behavioral Item Analysis Of The Party Subtest From The Muns Battery Administered To Argentinian And U.S. Participants, Arwen A. Miranda, Alberto Luis Fernandez

Honors Thesis

In response to prevalent cultural bias in neuropsychological testing, cross-cultural tests (CCTs) were developed for accessibility across cultures through the use of “universal” stimuli. The Multicultural Neuropsychological Scale (MUNS) is a CCT developed to be appropriate across education levels, cost-effective and capable of assessing cognitive functions. The MUNS consists of seven subtests, including the Party subtest, which measures executive functioning by instructing participants to organize a party on a map. During this activity, participants purchase items such as food while remaining mindful of a 100-coin budget and minimizing travel distance. The present study examined whether the Party subtest functions comparably …

Psychology's Role In The Gender Pay Gap, Isabel Kraabel

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This paper explores the "good" and the "bad" history of psychology, specifically related the gender pay gap. The paper also investigates interventions and how we can move forward in the workplace and beyond.

Exploring The Lived Experiences Within The First Two Years After Gray Divorce Among Middle-Aged Adults, April R. Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research was to explore the lived experiences within the first two years after gray divorce among middle-aged adults. Historically, the research has focused on young adults who have experienced divorce, with limited data on middle-aged adults divorcing after being married for at least a couple of decades. Utilizing the suggestion by Polkinghorne, phenomenological researchers conduct interviews with 5 to 25 participants who have gone through the same phenomenon. Thus, this researcher interviewed 14 participants, reaching saturation. These participants were operationally defined as middle-aged adults who have had recently divorced after 20+ years of marriage. This study …

Comparing General Perceptions Of Law Enforcement Suicides To Other Line-Of-Duty Deaths: Pilot Study, Shannon E. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Officer suicide remains an underrecognized occupational hazard despite increasing awareness of mental health risks within law enforcement. This quantitative, cross-sectional pilot study examined public perceptions of officer suicide compared to line-of-duty deaths caused by violence or accidents and assessed whether mental health literacy and suicide stigma influenced these perceptions. Grounded in framing theory, stigma theory, the health belief model, and the interpersonal theory of suicide, the study explored how knowledge and attitudes shape legitimacy judgments. A sample of 169 non–law enforcement adults in the United States completed the Mental Health Literacy Scale, the Stigma of Suicide Scale–Short Form, and the …

Developing Biblically Based Media As A Tool To Influence Societal Values Towards Godliness, Jasmine Deanne Andrews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The media can influence cultural values using narrative storytelling. Common tropes in narrative storytelling may reinforce cultural norms that vilify women and reinforce racial stereotypes. Frequent exposure to these negative tropes in the media condition audiences to accept gender and racial biases rather than society taking responsibility for gender and racially motivated violence and social mistreatment. These gender and racial biases can be further reinforced by church doctrines that support cultural norms that vilify women and reinforce racial stereotypes. This study exposed audiences to biblically-based media using the faith-based film, Then Sings My Soul, to determine the types of images …

Age Of First Smartphone Ownership With Social Media Access And Its Impact On Mental Health Outcomes, Derrick W. Swandol

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the age of smartphone ownership with social media access (ASO) and self-esteem and depression symptoms, as well as to determine if the results could be moderated by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as an individual transitions from adolescence to adulthood. The study was conducted with n=54 (72% female), of whom 83% first owned a smartphone with social media access ≥ 12 years-of-age. This study was unable to obtain the minimum sample size for a statistically significant study and is considered underpowered due to needing a minimum sample size of …

The Sacrificial Vs. The Luzhinian Figure: Comparing Sacrificial Love In Crime And Punishment, Pride And Prejudice, And A Tale Of Two Cities, Natalie Rose Kubala

Masters Theses

Many works of art and literature exploring the theme of love focus on trying to define what love is; in contrast, this thesis dives deeper into defining what love is not, specifically focusing on the relationship between love and sacrifice. This thesis argues that love is not the same as sacrifice because a true sacrifice requires that love is already present prior to the sacrifice being made. This thesis will compare those who perform true sacrifices to those who perform sacrifices for their own personal gain by exploring grandiose narcissistic characters who perform (or attempt to perform) sacrifices without love …

Unleashing Stress: The Effects Of Training, Bond Strength, And Stress On Pet Dog Behaviors And Health, London Maria Wolff

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Humans and dogs have formed a unique ability to communicate with each other through evolutionary and developmental mechanisms. This increased communication serves to form dynamic interspecies bonds by facilitating learning and training over the lifetime of a dog. However, it is not known what factors permit the unique capacity of dogs to form bonds with, and learn from, their human companions. Odor is a notable candidate for interspecies communication about emotional states, with studies showing that both dogs and humans use odor information to detect human emotions (Calvi et al., 2020). Possibly, this may include detection of both acute and …

Scriptural Coping And Emotional Wellbeing: Examining The Mediating Role Of Hope Among Christian Professionals In The Helping Profession, Chinedum Amene

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship between scriptural coping and emotional well-being among Christian medical and mental health professionals, with particular attention to the mediating role of hope. Christian medical and mental health professionals often operate in emotionally demanding environments and are frequently guided by faith-based practices, such as engaging with Scripture, to manage stress and maintain emotional stability. While religious coping has been extensively studied, limited empirical research has examined scriptural coping as a distinct construct within psychological research.

Grounded in Religious Coping Theory, Snyder’s Hope Theory, and principles of cognitive-behavioral theory, this study investigated whether engagement in scriptural …

The Influence Of Humility And Spirituality On The Relationship Between Work-Family Conflict And Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes In Skilled Trade Workers, Charles Dean Twellmann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationships among work-family conflict (WFC), humility, spirituality, and mental help-seeking attitudes (MHSA) among skilled trade workers in the United States. Skilled trade occupations are characterized by demanding schedules, physical labor, safety risks, and cultural norms emphasizing independence and self-reliance, factors that may influence occupational strain and attitudes toward psychological support. Although WFC and help-seeking have been examined in other high-demand professions, limited research has explored how humility and spirituality relate to these constructs within skilled trade populations. Validated self-report measures of WFC, humility, spirituality, and MHSA were administered to 196 skilled trade workers who were …

Servant Leadership And Affective Commitment In A Bottom-Line World: Considering The Implications Of Leadership Orientation, Richard Herczeg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined how servant leadership (SL), bottom-line mentality (BLM), Theory X/Y orientation (XY), and Theory X/Y manager–worker congruence relate to affective commitment (AC) in contemporary workplaces. In response to persistently high turnover and low engagement, even amid widespread wellness initiatives, this study positions AC as a vital, yet often overlooked, contributor to organizational resilience. While grounded in a Christian worldview, this research was applied within secular workplace contexts to examine how leadership styles and orientations, such as SL, BLM, and XY, may reflect relational and psychological conditions that shape a worker’s AC. Participants included individuals who were …

Exploring The Relationship Between Telework Intensity And The Voluntary Or Involuntary Nature Of Physical Work Arrangements Related To Work-Related Rumination, Savannah R. Schwartz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Work-related rumination occurs when an individual thinks about work during non-work hours. Following the emergence of COVID-19, more employers adopt flexible models of physical working arrangements for their employees that extend beyond traditional on-site (working from a designated business office location) models, such as hybrid (working part of the time from home and part of the time at a designated business office location) and fully remote (working from home all of the time) models. The present non-experimental quantitative, cross-sectional survey study explored the relationship between telework intensity (i.e., the amount of time one spends working remotely), as well as the …

Legal Administrators’ Perceived Impact Of Coaching On Job Satisfaction And Commitment: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Francis Hayes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Executive coaching has emerged as a leadership development tool that can influence how professionals interpret their work experiences within organizations. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how legal administrators within the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC) described their lived experiences with executive coaching and how those experiences influenced their perceptions of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 active-duty legal administrators. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns within the collective experiences described by the participants. The analysis revealed several themes that characterized how legal administrators experienced coaching and its …

Development And Validation Of The Organizational Humanization Scale, Kevin Stroop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research on humanization is fragmented, generally focuses on dehumanization, and prior to this study no validated measure of humanization existed. To fill this gap, I developed and validated the Organizational Humanization Scale (OHS), a nine-item measure defining organizational humanization as the perceived affirmation of autonomy, individuality, and dignity. Items for the OHS subscales were adapted from established measures of work autonomy, work-group uniqueness, and workplace dignity. Using a cross-sectional survey of full-time employed adults in the United States (N = 427), I evaluated the OHS’s internal consistency reliability and evidence of structural, convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity. Results supported a …

Mental Health And Well-Being Of Hispanic Pastors In Central Florida: A Phenomenological Study, Darice M. Santos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The topic of pastors' psychological well-being and health has been studied in a variety of approaches. The forthcoming research concentrated on the effects that the responsibilities and pressures of working at Hispanic churches have on Hispanic pastors in Florida. Given the difficulties they face, such as prejudice, discrimination, and a low standard of living, this population required further study. This study explored the pastor's role and involvement level and how it connects to social support and burnout. This qualitative study provided insight on how Hispanic pastors in central Florida handled their mental health and perceived their job as pastors. A …

Positive Behaviors And Traits In Clinical Supervision: A Qualitative Study, Katelyn Jakubovic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explored the individual lived experiences of mental health counselors undergoing clinical supervision, focusing on their perceptions of the supervisory relationship, supervisory process, and outcomes by identifying specific traits and behaviors across various domains. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the sample of 20 participants across professional developmental stages and practice settings. Narrative and thematic analysis of the data revealed a nuanced portrayal of the supervisory relationship. Overall, participants characterized their supervision experiences as being predominantly positive and growth-facilitating. Participants identified key supportive factors, such as communication, resources, and scheduling flexibility. Analyses also uncovered significant areas for improvement, …

The Interactions Of Faith Development, Attachment With Relational Authenticity, And Theory Of Mind In Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Lisa Haley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) interrupts typical spiritual, socioemotional, and cognitive developmental trajectories. Faith Development (FD), attachment with Relational Authenticity (RA), and Theory of Mind (ToM) may serve to provide positive coping strategies for children with ACEs. Few studies explored the interactions of FD, attachment with RA, and ToM in children. Additionally, sparse research involved RA independently or in relation to attachment formation. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how FD, attachment with RA, and ToM interact in children with ACEs. The lived experiences of children with ACEs and the interactions of FD, attachment with …

The Lived Experiences Of Olympic Medalists As They Describe Their Sense Of Self: A Qualitative Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Ana Barend

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Olympic medalists are characterized by their commitment to performance excellence. While research has extensively examined factors that influence athletic outcomes, comparatively less attention has been paid to how elite athletes experience and make meaning of their own identities beyond sport. Despite possessing extraordinary personal resources, many struggle with identity foreclosure during transitions and mental health challenges at rates comparable to the general population. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Olympic medalists as they perceive and describe their sense of self. Guided by van Manen's approach to human science research and informed by Self-Determination Theory, this inquiry examined …

The Role Of Social Media In Shaping Romantic Relationships, Chelsea A. Fiszbajn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study’s purpose was to examine the role social media has in adult romantic relationships. This study focused on the impact social media has on trust, communication, and the quality of the relationship. Social media platforms have become a very integral part of today’s relationships, which in turn has added room in the relationship for more jealousy, temptation, and validation from others. This study used a survey-based methodology to collect data on individuals' personal experiences and perceptions of how social media impacts their current romantic relationships. Using quantitative measures, the research evaluated how often a partner uses social media, …

The Emotional Aspects Of Disbelief: A Study Of Negative Emotions And Their Influence On Atheists When Reasoning About God’S Existence And Christianity, Esteban Canales

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The lack of sufficient evidence has been signaled by atheists as the main reason for their disbelief, identifying arguments such as God’s silence and the problem of evil as intellectual reasons against the existing of God and the plausibility of Christianity. While Christians found in arguments from Natural Theology, Scripture, morality, and the like, reliable sources in order to recognize God’s wonders and purpose for humanity, for atheists it seems that no argument seem sufficient neither rational. But what about if these so-called intellectual reasons are the product of an underlying emotional condition, affecting negatively the way atheists reason the …

Do Financial Institutions’ Senior Leaders’ Shared Vision Moderate Or Mediate The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Sales Professionals’ Work Engagement?, Jacob Glen Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The modern workplace is driven by rapid changes, complexities, and challenges resulting from disruptions in the global marketplace. The disruptions have prompted organizations to prioritize leadership effectiveness to navigate the required business changes better and maintain a competitive advantage. The prioritization of leadership effectiveness has brought emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and employee work engagement to the forefront of research. This study evaluated the relationship between the emotional intelligence of financial institutions’ leaders and their sales professionals’ work engagement as mediated or moderated by the leaders’ communication of a shared vision. The sales professionals and their leaders at select asset managers …

The Role Of Emotional Intelligence And Defense Mechanisms In Processing Childhood Experiences And Their Impact On Adulthood, Lauren M. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early childhood relationships significantly influence developmental and relational functioning across the lifespan. Emotional intelligence has been associated with healthier relational outcomes through increased awareness of self and others. Variability in childhood experiences may contribute to the development of defense mechanisms that shape how individuals process relational memories and regulate emotional distress in adulthood. Limited research has examined how emotional intelligence and defense mechanisms interact to influence adults’ retrospective processing of childhood experiences, including attachment, rumination, and motivation. The present quantitative correlation study examined the relationships among emotional intelligence, defense mechanisms, childhood attachment experience, rumination, and motivation in a sample of …

Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing As A Moderator In Attachment Security Scores Accounting For Trauma, Kimberly Anne Arbelo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in increasing attachment security scores. A theoretical foundation of at attachment theory and somatic therapy are discussed. Attachment theory is expounded upon to better understand the development, maintenance, and break down of emotional and intimate bonds. Traumatic experiences are investigated to better understand its potential influence on insecure and secure symptoms within attachments. The Experiences in Close Relationships, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5-TR, and the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDs) are instruments utilized in the study to measure attachment …

A Phenomenological Study On Korean Christian Immigrants’ Searching For Wholeness, Hyunjin Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Wholeness is a way of living that integrates life’s paradoxes into a cohesive whole, and biblically it is living in harmony with God, others, and oneself. While both scientific and biblical perspectives affirm spirituality and virtues as central to wholeness, existing empirical models often fall short of capturing its full scope within Christian and cultural contexts. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to gain deeper insights into the common essence of Christian wholeness by exploring the lived experiences of wholeness among Korean Christians living in the United States of America. Twelve participants engaged in in-depth interviews and focus groups, and data …

The Lived Experiences Of Generation X With Social Media Use And Body Image Perception: A Phenomenological Study, Consuela Coburn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social media use grows worldwide daily with several available applications having both positive and negative values. Several studies found negative effects on mental health and body dissatisfaction in adolescents and young adults. Existing literature predominantly focuses on young female participants, resulting in a gap in understanding the effects of social media use across other age cohorts. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Generation X adults regarding social media use and the perceived effects on body image. Additionally, this study identified themes that emerged based on the semi-structured interviews of Generation X adults. NVivo 15, a computer assistance …

The Impact Of Gratitude Interventions On Job Satisfaction Among Healthcare Workers In A Hospital Setting, Miranda Rae Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative experimental study sought to examine job satisfaction among healthcare workers in a hospital setting and to determine if the use of daily gratitude journaling increases job satisfaction. Healthcare workers were recruited from healthcare organizations within the United States. The aim of this study was to use reciprocity of Social Exchange Theory (SET) to encourage participants to use daily journaling prompts to focus on positive interactions within their organization and with leadership or colleagues. Data was collected using the Job Satisfaction Survey and the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 and analyzed using a paired samples-t test to compare pre- and post- intervention …