Psychology Commons^™

The Impact Of Adhd On Social Media Use: Navigating The Internet While Struggling With Environmental And Psychological Factors, Marcelle E. James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of 18 to 35-year-old adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their perceptions of the psychological and environmental challenges they face while navigating the internet, specifically social media. The theoretical foundation of the study was Barkley’s Executive Functional Theory. The four research questions examined the experiences of the participants and their unique challenges in life from a psychological and environmental perspective. Purposive sampling was utilized, and semi-structed interviews were conducted. The qualitative phenomenology perspective allowed participants to express their opinions without restrictions. The data was collected and analyzed using …

The After Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Mental Health Of International V/S Domestic Students - A Qualitative Study, Keerat Sidhu Bhatti

Doctoral Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of both international and domestic graduate students, exacerbating social isolation, financial strain, and psychological distress. This qualitative study examines the long-term effects of the pandemic on these student populations, exploring shared and divergent experiences, coping strategies, and evolving priorities. While both groups faced heightened anxiety and academic disruptions, international students encountered additional stressors, including cultural displacement, visa uncertainties, and limited support networks. Domestic students, in contrast, struggled with routine disruptions but had greater access to familial and social support. Across both groups, the pandemic prompted a reassessment of personal and professional priorities, …

The Relations Between Online Communication, Social Capital, And Well-Being In Chinese Preadolescents, Xiaotong Li

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

In the digital era, preadolescents (aged 9–12 years) increasingly use social media platforms for communication and social interactions. However, research on whether online communication contributes positively or negatively to preadolescents’ well-being is inconclusive. Moreover, the underlying mechanism linking preadolescents’ online communication and well-being remains unclear. Hence, the research objectives are twofold. First, based on the concepts of social enhancement perspectives and self-determination theory, this study investigates the bidirectional relations and potential mechanisms between preadolescents’ online communication factors (including frequency, online self-disclosure, online perceived responsiveness) with four targets (family members, real-life friends, online friends, and online strangers) and well-being (including subjective …

Does Spirituality Mediate Or Moderate The Adverse Effects Of Occupational Stressors On Mental Health In Law Enforcement Officers?, Erika D. Keplinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement officers are often exposed to occupational stressors that can negatively affect their mental health and job performance. Spirituality has been thoroughly researched as a restorative method to improve physical and psychological health concerns. There has also been an increase in studies on workplace spirituality. The existing research on workplace spirituality suggests that incorporating spirituality into the workplace increases employee well-being and decreases stress and burnout. Unfortunately, research on police culture often neglects spirituality. There is little research to show how spirituality could mediate or moderate the adverse effects of mental health on law enforcement officers. This quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, …

Fire Officer Leadership: Understanding The Lived Experience Of New Firefighters, Tyler Ames

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study looked into how newer firefighters experienced working under fire officer leaders who utilized laissez-faire leadership tendencies. The goal of the study was to better understand what this kind of leadership looks like in the fire service and how it affects newer members in their day-to-day lives as well as emergency scenarios. Twelve firefighters from different departments across Utah were interviewed, and all participants had less than three years of experience. The interviews focused on the participants’ experiences, challenges, and feelings when working under this particular leadership style. Each transcript was reviewed and coded using an inductive …

Onboarding And Sense Of Belonging: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Natalia Volkonsky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Extensive research has examined the link between onboarding and employees’ sense of belonging, yet no known studies have explored whether the type of onboarding—delivered in-person, remotely, or through virtual platforms—affects this relationship. This quantitative, correlational study investigated how onboarding quality relates to employees’ sense of belonging, whether purpose in life mediates this relationship, and whether onboarding type moderates it. A sample of full-time employees (N = 112), onboarded within the past 12 months, completed validated measures assessing onboarding quality, purpose in life, and sense of belonging. Results showed a significant positive correlation between onboarding quality and sense of belonging. Purpose …

Investigating The Practice Of A Somatic, Mindful Christian Prayer And Breathing Practice On Public Speaking Anxiety, Robyn L. Middleton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of a mindful Christian prayer practice (The Jesus Prayer) combined with slow diaphragmatic breathing on communication anxiety. Participants (N = 80) included university students and members of the general public aged 18-60 who experience public speaking anxiety. Measurements included self-reported speech anxiety and heart rate variability (assessed via the WellHero app). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that the mindful prayer practice had no significant effect on participants' self-reported speech anxiety or RMSSD heart rate variability. A statistical trend of lower Baevsky’s Stress Index (another variable WellHero provided) was observed in the intervention group. This …

Parental Internet Mediation: A Phenomenological Study, Jossie Marino-Vega

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental Internet mediation, which is the strategies parents use to control and supervise online content for children, has been transformed into a critical role due to the mixed outcomes of digital use. Baumrind's parental styles and Bandura's Social frameworks guide this study for its connection with parental mediation and children's learning. This qualitative research aimed to explore and describe how parents mediate and use the Internet concerning kids' development. Eleven mothers were interviewed with at least one student enrolled in kindergarten through 5th grade at an elementary school in Killeen, Texas. The data was analyzed using Moustakas's (1994) modification of …

Do Males Use Ai Tools Differently Than Female Students When Conducting Social Science Research?, Marsha A. Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, applied, relational study aimed to explore how male graduate students used AI tools differently from female graduate students when conducting social science research. The sample for the study was collected using the Prolific application. The inclusion criteria were that participants had to be adults aged 18 years or older, English-speaking, graduated between 2020 and 2024, social science majors, and had utilized AI tools in their research. The study’s total sample consisted of 210 participants, which were disaggregated into 50% female and 50% male participants. T-test, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between multiple …

The Moral Identity Of School Shooters As Perceived By Impacted Community Members: A Qualitative Study, Danielle Caprice Rand

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study investigated the moral identity of school shooters as perceived by impacted community members. The existing literature lacks agreement on the root cause of school shootings and has been unable to provide a unified identification of school shooters. Discussed throughout school shooter research was the lack of a moral identity in school shooters. Further, research on moral identity has not covered one specialized group of individuals: school shooters. Moral identity, the mien of an individual’s moral thoughts and behaviors, was researched as a potential predictor of school shootings. This study employed a case study research design and used …

Leaving The Cockpit: Understanding The Military-To-Civilian Transition Experience Of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces Aviation Veterans, Robert D. Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the military-to-civilian (MTC) transition experiences of U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) veterans through a hermeneutic phenomenological approach supported by reflexive thematic analysis (RTA). ARSOA aviators operate in a demanding environment that requires advanced technical proficiency, exceptional cognitive agility, and the capacity to shift between complex tasks rapidly. They possess elite-level skills in target acquisition, decision making under pressure, and processing high volumes of information, capabilities that extend well beyond those typically expected of conventional military pilots. Thirteen former ARSOA aviators, crew chiefs, and flight medics who had separated within the past five years participated in semi-structured …

A Phenomenological Qualitative Study: The Lived Experiences Of Women Diagnosed With Substance Use Disorders And The Stigma Associated With Their Disorder, Emily E. Fitzgerald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of women with the stigma of being diagnosed with substance use disorders within the Northeastern United States. Women diagnosed with substance use disorders who experience significant barriers to recovery were defined as a vulnerable population that experiences significant adversities and hardships navigating stigma and the wellness process. Substance use disorders have been a rising public health issue that affect millions of Americans across the United States, and societal and self-perceived stigma have continued to mitigate recovery efforts and individuals’ access to treatment and healthcare. This study focused …

The Problem Of Stigma: Equipping The Christian Church By Exploring An Integrated Response, Charles Mcgannon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has shown stigma to be a significant barrier to help-seeking and effective functioning in every domain of human life. Current research has shown that attempts to enact a solution to this problem have largely failed and, in some cases, have made the problem worse. With an integrated approach incorporating the biblical perspective and supportive scientific insights, effective solutions were explored while helping to connect the Christian and scientific communities toward common goals of removing barriers for help-seekers and reducing stigma and its effects on human lives. For the current qualitative study, 10 leaders within the Christian Church were interviewed …

Understanding Workplace Stigma And Coping Strategies Among Those Living With Chronic Migraine In The Construction Industry, Brian T. Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although a neurological condition, the cause of migraines is poorly understood. The problem is that the factors contributing to the stress and stigma associated with chronic migraine in the construction workplace are not well known. To address this problem, this qualitative case study explored what factors contribute to the stress and stigma associated with chronic migraine in the workplace in the specific context of the construction industry. The study asked the following: (a) How do workers living with chronic migraines experience and navigate associated migraine stigma in their workplace (e.g., cultural norms and disclosure)?, (b) What do workers living with …

A Journeys End: A Phenomenological Approach To End-Term Buyer-Supplier Relationship Performance Management, James M. Capps

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The incumbent research study examines the lived work experiences of buyer-side buyer-supplier relationship managers as they seek to optimize supplier performance while navigating the end-term buyer-supplier relationship. While contemporary literature has explored several topics on supplier performance management and end-term, buyer supplier relationships separately, no research has explored detailing the experiences of supplier relationship managers within this phenomenon. Utilizing a qualitative, phenomenological design with hermeneutical analysis, the incumbent study utilizes multi-stage random sampling techniques to recruit sample participants (N=7) in various industries. Research participants were interviewed on their lived experiences navigating end-term buyer-supplier relationships and how they optimized supplier performance …

Exploring The Relationship Between Depression And Implicit Bias In The Courtroom, Mary Nicole Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of people with depression as they participated in the juror experience to understand the relationship between depression, implicit biases, and the impacts on juror decision-making. Ten adults with depression participated in the experiment which consisted of being presented with a mock assault case vignette, responding to interview questions, and then being presented with new information about the defendant’s mental health condition, after which additional interview questions were asked. Three research questions guided the study, and they sought to understand if there were shared patterns in the decision-making process, in perceptions of culpability, and …

Predictors Of Self-Efficacy In Single Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Melissa L. Constable

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Single mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face significant difficulties. Challenges faced by these women have notable impacts on their psychological well-being and subsequently their families. Self-efficacy is a key construct to understanding psychological well-being and potentially a key area of intervention for these mothers. This study examined the factors of health care alliance, perceived social supports, and religious coping on maternal self-efficacy in 87 single mothers of children with autism. Findings from a regression analysis suggested that these variables have predictive power regarding maternal self-efficacy, F (4, 82) = 3.721, p =.008. Though when analyzed individually,© no …

The Relationship Between Morality, Perceptions Of Self And Others, And Purpose In Life: A Moderation Analysis, Ashley Burgess Leininger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Morality is an understudied construct in psychological research, despite its fundamental role in shaping human behavior and self-perception. This quantitative study examined whether purpose in life moderated the relationship between morality and perceptions of the self and others. Two hypotheses were tested, H1: There will be a relationship between morality and perception of self and others; H2: Purpose in life will moderate the relationship between morality and perception of self and others. Ninety-one individuals recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk completed the Purpose in Life scale (PIL), Moral Foundation Questionnaire (MFQ30), Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Collective Self-Esteem Scale …

Divine Grace In Human Flourishing Amid Suffering, Sutjipto Utomo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Human flourishing is as potent as it is intricate. There is a need in the Christian context for a model of human flourishing among other available models. This current qualitative study seeks to gather insights into human flourishing amid suffering among Methodist clergy in Indonesia. The phenomenological approach delved into the essence of encountering the grace of the Lord and flourishing amid the adversities in their ministry. The purposeful sampling was carried out, and fifteen clergy participated in the semi-structured interviews. Their responses helped with gaining insights into the themes of God’s grace, suffering, and human flourishing amid suffering. The …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Adults With Personality Disorders Arising From Childhood Trauma: Understanding The Connection Between Childhood Trauma And The Development Of Personality Disorders In Adulthood, Patricia Osei Sarpong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma is one of the key factors that influences the development of personality disorders in adults. Even though there is a wealth of quantitative evidence linking early trauma to later mental health issues, there is still a great deal of uncertainty about the lived experiences of persons who had experienced such trauma and gone on to develop personality disorders. By examining these individual accounts, this study aimed to contribute to a more thorough understanding of the ways in which childhood trauma impacted personality development and contributed to the onset of personality disorders. In this study, 20 individuals, aged 20 …

Rumination As A Moderator In The Relationship Between Divine Forgiveness And Forgiveness Of Self In Older Adults, Christopher R. Giles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A growing body of research supports empirical evidence that the ability to self-forgive benefits mental, emotional, and physical health. Recent literature has documented the predictive relationship between divine forgiveness and self-forgiveness. However, little attention has been given to the cognitive processes that may influence this relationship. Furthermore, research on forgiveness has largely overlooked the older adult population, despite forgiveness being shown to be a developmental construct. This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between offense-specific divine forgiveness, rumination, and self-forgiveness in individuals aged 60 and older. Data were collected from 101 participants through an anonymous online survey utilizing previously validated …

Adults With Learning Disabilities Navigating The Transition From School To Work, Shatrece L. Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of adults with learning disabilities when transitioning from academics to the workplace, with an emphasis on emotional intelligence. The two research questions asked how adults with learning disabilities described their lived experiences and experiences of emotions and emotional regulation in their transition from academic environments to the professional workplace. The theory guiding this study was the emotional intelligence theory developed by Salovey and Mayer, which was used as a determinant in building relationships and upholding social interactions. The sample consisted of 13 adults with learning disabilities working at …

How Personality Type Can Inform Strategic Discipleship, Jonathan Andrew Cline Ii

Masters Theses

Despite many Americans growing up in the church, there is a wide disparity gap in how many of those Christians are heading down a path of greater intimacy with God. Rather than this gap being a result of lackluster desire for something more, research shows that the disconnect stems from a lack of understanding in how to connect with God beyond the theories and philosophies individuals have acquired in church. Churches and discipleship programs, therefore, should consider developing strategies for spiritual development informed by the range of personality types based on Jung’s psychological types. Each person has a God-given way …

Cyberbullying And Academic Outcomes: Investigating The Mediating Role Of Hookup Site Usage Among Senior High School Students, Rubby Aku Ameh, David Asumadu-Boateng, Jefferson Sigfred Seyaram Bansa, Harry Adjetey Ashong

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The proliferation of digital communication technologies has reshaped adolescent interactions, with social media and hookup apps becoming common spaces for connection and exposure to online risks. This study explores the link between cyberbullying via hookup apps and its effects on academic performance and psychosocial well-being among senior high school students in Ghana. Drawing on Social Learning Theory and General Strain Theory, it examines how online victimization influences emotional health and academic outcomes. A mixed methods approach combined survey data from 300 participants with interviews involving 40 students, parents, and school counsellors. Results show 31.7% of students experienced cyberbullying on platforms …

Interdisciplinary Co-Teaching And Community-Engaged Learning: Integrating Community Case Studies To Teach Ethics, Justice, And Grassroots Leadership, Ziwei Qi, Lori E. Kniffin, Sammuel Byer (Rob)

Leadership Faculty Publications

This paper serves as a teaching report examining an interdisciplinary, co-taught course at a rural, regional state university designed to promote ethics, justice, and grassroots leadership through community-engaged learning (CEL). Faculty from criminal justice, philosophy, and leadership studies co-developed and taught the course using Socratic dialogue and reflective journaling to help students analyze community challenges from multiple disciplinary angles. Students also engaged in training on positionality, power dynamics, and cultural humility, incorporating their reflections into final reports to deepen ethical engagement. Regular faculty collaboration aligned teaching strategies across disciplines, while a case study presentation and analysis allowed community partners to …

Rest Easy, Applied Researcher: Latent Profile Analysis Is For You, Matthew A. Ng, Chelsea A. Lenoble, Allen Shorey, Abigale Gregory, Mark Kateli

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Adult-Child Caregivers’ Fear And Coping Regarding The Risk Of Inheriting Alzheimer’S Disease, Rebecca Anne Ledbetter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caring for elderly parents with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses two major challenges for adult-child caregivers: the tasks involved in taking care of ailing parents and also potentially living in fear of developing the same disease. This research examined how caregivers with such fear regard their vulnerability to AD and how they manage the stress that comes with caregiving for someone with a disease they dread developing themselves. This grounded theory study employed the appraisal theory of emotions and the theory of moods as frameworks and aimed to establish awareness regarding coping strategies that adult-child caregivers have about caretaking and their …

The Relationship Of Organizational Health Safety Efforts Specific To Covid-19 And Perceived Organizational Support On Affective Organizational Commitment, Suzzee Meusel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When health safety efforts for COVID-19 are perceived negatively, the implementation of health safety efforts by employers may not be effective and are therefore likely to fail in protecting employee health, such as in the agriculture industry. Guided by social exchange theory, organizational support theory, and the theory of organizational commitment, this quantitative correlational study involved examining relationships between organizational health safety efforts specific to COVID-19 (OHSE-C19), perceived organizational support (POS), and affective organizational commitment (AOC) among poultry hatchery employees. The study entailed analyzing survey and opinion poll data from 90 participants from two poultry hatcheries in Iowa and Pennsylvania, …

Conscious Control: A Case Study On Self-Monitoring And Interventions In Maladaptive Daydreaming, Caleb Chan

McNair Research Journal SJSU

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a persistent mental activity

characterized by immersive, excessive daydreaming that disrupts daily

life. This study examines the effectiveness of self-regulation strategies

in managing MD, including cognitive techniques, behavioral

adjustments, technology-assisted cues, and environmental

modifications. Using a single-subject ABA design, each intervention

phase lasted one week, with MD episodes tracked through self-reported

diaries and EEG monitoring. The results demonstrated that cognitive

reframing and task switching produced the most sustained reductions in

MD episodes, while technology-assisted cues had diminishing

effectiveness over time due to adaptation. Environmental modifications,

particularly workspace reorganization, con- tributed to long-term

improvements, while lighting adjustments …

Exploring The Moderating Effect Of Boundary Management Strategy In A Remote Work Environment, Brandon M. Vasquez

Master's Theses

Remote work has evolved significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to influence employee experiences in both positive and negative ways. Managing the separation between work and personal life is of importance. More specifically, using a boundary management strategy of segmentation may be more effective than an integration strategy because those who separate the two domains of work and family/personal life may be less prone to conflict in their lives. The present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of boundary management strategy on the relationship between remote work and job satisfaction, work-life balance, and well-being. Specifically, it was …