Fathers’ Footprints: The Role Of The Father-Son Relationship In Shaping Men’S Experience And Expression Of Anger In Egypt, Lydia E. Wassef

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

In many Egyptian families, the father holds a central position as an authority figure, a protector, and a provider, yet often remains emotionally reserved and relationally distant. The emotional legacy of paternal acceptance or rejection extends into adulthood, shaping patterns of emotional regulation. Particularly, the father-son relationship plays a fundamental role in shaping men’s experiences and expressions of anger. Within cultural contexts discouraging vulnerability and associating masculinity with strength and emotional restraint, anger may become one of the few socially acceptable modes of emotional expression for men. This study positions these dynamics within the cultural context of fatherhood in …

Examining Professional Self-Doubt And Professional Quality Of Life Among Licensed Professional Counselors In Texas, Celia A. Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Texas frequently navigate emotionally demanding work, including high caseloads, complex client needs, and sustained exposure to client distress. Over time, these professional demands can contribute to stress, emotional fatigue, and job strain, increasing vulnerability to burnout and reducing professional quality of life (Bardhoshi & Um, 2021; Maor & Hemi, 2021; McCarthy et al., 2010; Thompson et al., 2014). This quantitative research study examined the professional quality of life of LPCs in Texas using the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) based on gender, ethnicity, age, licensure type, years of experience, does work setting induce compassion …

The Association Between Acceptance Of Illness And Quality Of Life Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients In Egypt, Terivina Ayad Naguib Ayad

Theses and Dissertations

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common connective tissue autoimmune disease that has multidimensional impact on the patients’ daily functioning and quality of life. Due to the long- lasting incurable nature of RA, psychosocial adaptation to living with it becomes inevitable. Literature indicates that acceptance of illness as an appraisal of the disease and personal attitude towards it is related to better quality of life. The present study aims at investigating the relationship between disease acceptance and quality of life among rheumatoid arthritis patients in Egypt. This study also investigates the association of selected socio-demographic and disease related variables with quality of …

Family- And Cultural-Level Influences For Latine Adolescent Nicotine Use: A Qualitative Study Informing Prevention, Cindy M. Hernandez Castro

Theses and Dissertations

Early tobacco use among Latine adolescents represents a critical public health concern, with 23.8% reporting current use and exceeding rates among other racial/ethnic groups (Birdsey et al., 2023; Gaddy et al., 2022). This early initiation elevates risks for nicotine dependence and related morbidity in adulthood (Tsao et al., 2023). Guided by Structural Ecosystems Theory (Szapocznik & Coatsworth, 1999) and contemporary grounded theory analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Charmaz, 2006; Noble & Mitchell, 2016), this study examined multilevel influences on nicotine-related attitudes among Latine youth, including: (1) familial factors (i.e., parental monitoring, caregiver-youth communication), (2) cultural dynamics (i.e., cultural values and …

Social And Community Determinants Of Alcohol Use Among Hispanic/Latino College Students: The Role Of Early Adversity And Drinking Motives, Isis A. Garcia-Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Background. Alcohol use remains one of the most prevalent health-risk behaviors among college students in the United States and is associated with a range of academic, physical, and psychological consequences. Hispanic/Latino college students navigate complex social and cultural environments that may influence alcohol use behaviors, including exposure to early-life adversity, sociopolitical stressors, and culturally grounded sources of resilience. Guided by the Healthy People 2030 Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework, this study examined how social and community context factors relate to alcohol use among Hispanic/Latino college students and whether drinking motives function as a psychological mechanism linking social experiences to …

Social Media, Masculine Body Ideals, And The Drive For Muscularity: A Serial Mediation Model Across Sexual Identities, Sean P. Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

Body image concerns among men are increasingly prevalent yet remain understudied compared to women’s experiences. Drawing on objectification theory, the present study examines the relationship between social media influence and men’s drive for muscularity through a serial mediation model. Specifically, the present study investigates whether the internalization of masculine body ideals and engagement in body surveillance behaviors mediate the link between social media influence and the drive for muscularity. Furthermore, the present study model attempts to explore how these processes differ across sexual identities, given evidence that sexual minority men face distinct sociocultural pressures regarding appearance. Adult male-identifying social media …

Building Resilience And Academic Belonging Through An Educational Intervention For Latine Families, Britney Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

Latine students continue to experience disparities in college persistence and completion despite the growing rate of enrollment in higher education. Previous research has focused on the importance of family involvement, culturally responsive programming, and the sense of belonging for Latine students. However, continued research is needed to better understand how family-centered programs support both Latine youths’ sense of belonging and their perceived preparedness for college. This study focuses on how participation in the Juntos Para Una Mejor Educación program relates to Latine youths’ sense of belonging and perceived preparedness for college, as well as how family expectations shape these outcomes. …

Emotion Regulation Difficulties And Substance Use: The Role Of Conscientiousness, Caitlyn M. Donnelly

Theses and Dissertations

Difficulties in emotion regulation have been consistently linked to substance use among college students. However, individual differences may influence this relationship. Conscientiousness, a personality trait characterized by self-control, planning, and goal-directed behavior, has been proposed as a potential protective factor. The present study examined associations among difficulties in emotion regulation, conscientiousness, and substance use behaviors, as well as whether conscientiousness moderates the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and substance use. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design, data was collected from college students recruited through a university participant pool. Participants completed self-report measures of emotion regulation difficulties, conscientiousness, and substance use …

The Effects Of A Work-Strengths Affirmation Intervention On Death Anxiety: Meaning And Self-Esteem As Mediators, Begüm Orhan

Theses and Dissertations

Death anxiety is a transdiagnostic construct and a universally experienced existential fear that has been linked to a wide range of psychological difficulties, including anxiety, depression, and impaired well-being. Despite its widespread impact, empirical research on targeted interventions for death anxiety remains limited. The present study aimed to address this gap by developing and evaluating an online, single-session, theory-based (i.e., Terror Management Theory, positive psychology) intervention focused on affirming personal strengths in the context of one's work. The intervention was designed to target work-strengths (i.e., leadership, adaptability)—an intersection of positive and vocational psychology.

College students from a large Midwestern university …

Parental Behavior, Attachment, And Sibling Outcomes In Asd Families, Bridget W. Mwaura

Theses and Dissertations

Neurotypical siblings of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience unique challenges, including increased familial stress and differences in parental treatment, which may affect the sibling bond. Grounded in the Attachment Theory and Siblings Embedded Systems Framework, this study examined relationships among attachment security, parenting behaviors and sibling relationship quality. It was hypothesized that secure parental attachment and helpful parenting behaviors would predict greater sibling closeness and lower conflict, and that attachment security would mediate the relationship between parenting behaviors and sibling relationship quality. Results from a sample of emerging adults (N=91) partially supported these hypotheses. Bivariate …

Positive Body Image In Postpartum Women: A Psychometric Evaluation Of The Body Appreciation Scale-2 And A Phenomenological Exploration, Taylor Vashro

Theses and Dissertations

Postpartum women appear particularly vulnerable to body dissatisfaction due to the rapid physiological, emotional, and environmental changes that occur across the perinatal experience (Baskin et al., 2021; Nippert et al., 2021). Recent studies have demonstrated the experience of both negative and positive body image during postpartum (Rodgers et al., 2024; Watson et al., 2016). However, there is limited research regarding the measurement and exploration of positive body image in postpartum women. The current study aimed to: 1) evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), a widely used measure of positive body image in postpartum …

The Impact Of Positive Psychology Use Upon Gls Outcomes For People With Chronic Pain Syndromes, Timothy Michael Curtis

Theses and Dissertations

The essence of being human is realized by our discovery of meaningful purpose throughout each important stage of our lives. If we perceive that we lack this meaningful purpose in our lives, it could become a distressful source of suffering to our sense of well-being emotionally, cognitively and perhaps, spiritually. A strong indicator of well-being comes from a good evaluation we ascertain as to how well we believe outcomes in our lives are consistent with our goals and values, which is also known as satisfaction with life. Research findings indicate that the more someone experiences repeated negative life events, the …

Finding Meaning In Loss: The Role Of Attachment Styles, Coping Strategies, And Resilience, Salma Seyam

Theses and Dissertations

Grief is a deeply personal yet universal experience impacted by personal, social, and cultural factors. The present study examines how attachment styles, coping mechanisms, and resilience impact both grief intensity and the ability to find meaning after a loss, within an Egyptian sample. While previous studies have explored the experience of grief, few have looked at these factors within a Middle Eastern cultural context. A total of 140 bereaved Egyptians who experienced the loss of a loved one within the past three years completed standardized measures assessing grief intensity (Prolonged Grief Disorder-Revised; PG-13-R), coping strategies (Brief COPE), meaning-making (Grief and …

The Mindful Way: A Mindfulness Psychoeducational Group For Latinx College Students, Karen A. Morales

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have extensively studied mindfulness as a promising intervention that can aid college students in managing stressors. Unfortunately, researchers have underrepresented minority populations like Latinx college students in mindfulness literature. The Mindful Way (TMW) is a culturally responsive psychoeducational group program that aims to close the gap in the literature. The pre-test and post-test of TMW program measures student’s tendency to practice mindfulness, their personal and academic resilience, degree of self-compassion, emotion regulation skills, problematic alcohol consumption, and symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, before and after participating in the program. The hypothesis of the present study is …

Designing A Genetics-Based Bibliotherapy Model For Children With Inborn Errors Of Metabolism, Kaitlyn Abagail Gmitro

Theses and Dissertations

Bibliotherapy is a psychotherapy technique utilized to teach individuals about concepts through the use of literature and the arts. The primary aim of this research was to examine how a bibliotherapy model could be applied to improve diet and treatment adherence for people affected with Inborn Errors of Metabolism. Prior to this research, no paper has proposed a tailored bibliotherapy approach for genetic conditions. Through analysis of the caregiver-child relationship and disclosure process and the perceived support needs of both caregivers and providers caring for children with IEMS, our goal was to propose a bibliotherapy model to improve adherence and …

Navigating Acculturation: Opportunities, Challenges, And Community Support For African Immigrants In The U.S., Sharitah Nalule

Theses and Dissertations

African immigrants in the United States encounter complex acculturation challenges that are often shaped by systemic barriers such as language exclusion, financial insecurity, limited employment access, and time-restricted support services. This qualitative study explores how African immigrants experience the acculturation process and how community-based programs support or fall short in supporting their acculturation. Semi-structured individual interviews with Somali immigrants and community practitioners in the Midwest. While most African immigrant narratives reflect the experiences of Somali immigrants, practitioners provide insight into the broader African immigrant population based on their work with diverse African immigrant clients. Findings revealed three central themes: (1) …

Cultural Identity In Mental Health Services And Helpseeking Behaviours Among African International Students, Mark Ofosu Asirifi

Theses and Dissertations

Acculturation stress impacts international students’ psychological well-being and academic success, yet research on African students remains limited. For African international students, this stress is intensified by cultural stigma surrounding mental health services, deterring help-seeking due to fears of judgment and ostracization. This identity negotiation complicates their willingness to access support, reinforcing cultural barriers to mental health care. This study explores how cultural identity shapes the mental health perceptions and help-seeking behaviors of African international students in the United States. Grounded in the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) and the Health Belief Model (HBM), the research examines how acculturative stress, stigma, …

The Effects Of Schema Therapy On Shame In Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Annette Ibarra Skeen

Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent in the United States and worldwide. Despite the deleterious effects of IPV on personal and societal wellness, there is limited research on effective interventions for IPV victims. Among the detrimental effects of IPV on mental health, shame is a common emotion experienced by IPV victims. Shame can contribute to an array of mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicidality. Using a multiple baseline, singe case design, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of Schema Therapy (ST) on shame on IPV victims. Based …

Hyperreality Ain’T Really Real: Postmodernity, Social Media, & Blackness, Micah White

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the interplay between postmodernity, social media, and African American identity formation through focus group analysis and Grounded Theory methodology. The research investigates how social media’s postmodern features—fragmentation, hyperreality, commodification, and context collapse—shape identity development among African Americans, who historically navigate cultural disruption and systemic racism. Data from semi-structured interviews with two generational focus groups revealed that participants engaged in sophisticated identity curation to balance authenticity and protection in racially charged digital spaces. Key findings highlight the tension between empowerment and marginalization, as social media served as both a platform for racial affirmation and a source of …

Radical Hope Amid Generational Oppression And Puerto Rican Well-Being, Natalia Gomez Giuliani

Theses and Dissertations

Oppressive systems (e.g., colonialism, racism, capitalism) create a disparate distribution of power that, through various mechanisms, negatively impacts the health and well-being of members of the oppressed group. Boricuas have experienced over 500 years of oppression, with the island currently maintaining a colonial relationship with the United States. As these adverse effects of oppression are identified, the need for protective factors (e.g., hope) has emerged. This study explored how islander Boricuas practice radical hope, understand their history of oppression and resistance, and how they perceived it to impact their overall well-being. Utilizing a phenomenological qualitative approach, I conducted 15 semi-structured …

The Role Of Hope In Recovery From Sexual Assault For Hispanic Women, Esmeralda Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

Despite a growing amount of academic literature, there is a lack of research examining the levels of hope in Hispanic women recovering from sexual assault trauma. This quantitative survey investigates hope in Hispanic women healing from sexual assault trauma. The Miller Hope Scale (MHS) examines the variations and correlations between degrees of hope and demographic, personal, and self-advocacy factors. The research employs the Trauma Symptom Checklist—40 to investigate the correlation between levels of hope and trauma among women who have undergone sexual assault. Ninety-one Hispanic women from a crisis center in the U.S. were recruited for the study. Descriptive statistics, …

Emotion Regulation From A Virtue Perspective: Applications For Individuals With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Maria Eugenia Palomo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the contributory effect of Virtues in differentiating one’s ability to regulate emotion. Convenience sampling will be utilized to obtain a total of 102 participants who had adverse childhood experiences. Participants will be recruited via collaboration with local behavioral counseling agencies. Two behavioral health counseling agencies located in Hidalgo County, including Corazon Consulting, Inc. and A Better Tomorrow, LLC, have agreed to be part of the present study. The research packets used in this study consisted of two parts: 1) a demographic information form, and 2) a research questionnaire that includes three instruments …

Sustainability Of Military Values Post Military Service: A Quantitative Study, Jennifer Ann Jazinski

Theses and Dissertations

Military-to-civilian transitioning represents a multidimensional process of adjustment, encompassing mental and physical health, basic physiological needs, practical (e.g., employment), and cultural domains. The intent of this study is to examine the sustainability of military values (e.g., duty, integrity, ethics, honor, courage, and loyalty) post-military service and to identify whether reported levels of sustained military values impact veterans’ reported level of Quality of Life (QoL). This study will assess the impacts demographic variables (e.g., gender, ethnicity, relationship status, age, number of children, highest level of education, student status, employment status, comfort with finances, living status, county of residence). and military service …

Psychosocial Impact Of Assistive Technology On Veterans With Disabilities In Higher Education, Maricela Rosales

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation study was to examine the psychosocial impact of assistive technology (AT) on veterans with disabilities in higher education. A current problem is that there is a research and knowledge gap in the AT needs of student veterans with disabilities living in South Texas, as well as in the psychosocial impact that AT for everyday life activities has on the quality of life of student veterans with disabilities who live with functional limitations. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine the psychosocial impact variables with participants from higher education institutions via online and in-person surveys. …

Licensed Professional Counselors In Texas: The Role Of Stigma In Seeking Counseling Services, Raquel C. Vasquez

Theses and Dissertations

The literature on stigma has revealed this attribute as a deterrent to seeking mental health services. This study encompassed an investigation of the impact of self-stigma and public stigma on the intentions to seek mental health services of Texas Licensed Professional Counselors. A survey was sent via email, social media platforms associated with Licensed Professional Counselors, and snowball sampling to recruit participants. The participants (N = 99) completed self-report measures about self-stigma, public stigma, social desirability characteristics, and attitudes towards seeking mental health help. The results indicated that neither self-stigma nor public stigma was a deterrent to seeking mental health …

Understanding The Relationship Between Perceived Childhood Experiences And Relationship With God, Remaz Bahaa

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explores the relationship between perceived childhood experiences and one’s current relationship with God in an Egyptian Muslim sample. While such relationship has been researched in Western contexts, there is a notable gap in understanding these dynamics within Muslim Middle Eastern cultures. In this study, 180 participants, brought up in Muslim households, were given the following questionnaires: both versions of the Parental Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) referring to the father and mother, Attachment to God Inventory (AGI), and Images of God (LAMBI Scale). The results presented the internal consistency of both the AGI and LAMBI scales with the …

The Psychological Significance Of Cultural And Religious Values Among The Arab Population, Michel Sherif Mikhail

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Values, which are the guiding principles and beliefs of our lives, have an influence over one’s psychological health. This study aims to investigate how Schwartz’s four higher-order values (conservation, openness to change, self-transcendence, and self-enhancement) and religious values influence psychological health among the Arab population. Methods: A total of 1,023 respondent from nine Arab countries aged 18 to 71 filled an online survey with measures of the following constructs: Schwartz’s four higher-order values (Portrait Value Questionnaire-21), religious values (Sahin’s Index of Islamic Moral Values), and general psychological health (General Health Questionnaire-28). Results: Two models of multiple regression were …

Variability In Perceptions Of Complementary Health Approaches Among Graduate Student Trainees, Delaney C. Bilodeau

Theses and Dissertations

Complementary Health Approaches (CHAs) encompass a diverse range of practices which are often used both independently and alongside conventional medical treatments. Understanding how graduate students training in different fields perceive CHAs is important because these professional trainees will go on to occupy roles as healthcare practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and consumers. This study used sequential rank agreement methods (Ekstrøm, Gerds, & Jensen, 2019) to investigate variations in perceptions of CHAs in a sample of graduate students (N = 416) from 140 possible training programs. Ratings of CHA familiarity, perceptions of CHA legitimacy, and willingness to recommend CHAs were compared …

Evaluating The Role Of Interoceptive Awareness In Insomnia And Across The Sleep Health Spectrum, Lara Lobrutto

Theses and Dissertations

Interoceptive awareness, characterized by a non-judgmental and trusting attitude towards body sensations, is an understudied construct that is implicated in sleep and health outcomes. Interoceptive awareness is cultivated via contemplative and mindfulness-based practices. Given that it may be utilized to reduce pre-sleep arousal, which is a key mechanism in insomnia, interoceptive awareness is posited to be a protective factor for sleep health. A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate university students (N = 420) in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States to assess the association between interoceptive awareness and sleep outcomes. Participants received a survey link and completed …

The Cultural Adaptation Of An Eating Disorders Assessment Tool For South Asian American Women, Neha J. Goel

Theses and Dissertations

South Asians (SAs) are less likely to be screened, referred, and treated for eating disorders (EDs), although they experience these serious health conditions at rates similar to those of their White counterparts. Available ED assessment tools do not adequately capture cultural nuances in the presentation of eating psychopathology in SAs. Thus, the current study culturally adapted the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) to enhance its validity, applicability, and cultural relevance for SA women living in the US. During the cultural adaptation phase, the principal investigator consulted with participant experts (N=24) and research experts (n=4) to create the …