Multicultural Psychology Commons^™

Corazón De Nopal, Alma De Monarca: The Invisible Workforce, Vanessa Estrada Garza

McNair Summer Research Program

In many parts of the United States, Day Laborers, people who work for a daily wage, congregate in front of home improvement stores in the hopes that the customers buying materials are also in need of labor. Day laborers, who are mostly Latino men, experience a plethora of adversities (e.g., wage theft, discrimination based on status or race, on-site injuries). However, it is also important to understand day laborers’ experiences within the current sociopolitical climate (Fernandez-Esquer et al., 2022; Ramirez, 2011; Ordoñez, 2015; Walter et al., 2004). At times the stories and humanity of these individuals outside of their labor …

A Poetic Call For And A Reflection And Commentary On Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, And Compassion, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Finding a published poem I had written as a teenager, titled “The Heavens Weep.” this article uses that poem as the basis for a commentary that reflects on the state of the world today (2026),  As a commentary, the article uses the poetic and metaphoric words in the poem as a relevant "reality check" for what is still going on today.  In essence, the commentary is about a call for Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, and Compassion, or what I call Archetypal Energies, Higher Vibrational Energies that operate deep within our individual and collective psyches to creatively urge us to "see" …

Sense Of Safety And Quality Of Life Among Immigrants, Rachel Gomez

McNair Scholars Research

This study examined the relationship between sense of safety and quality of life among Hispanic/Latinx immigrant communities. The study sought to determine whether perceived sense of safety was associated with quality of life and whether differences existed based on immigration status, gender, and age. A quantitative, non-experimental survey design was used with a convenience sample of 33 first- and second-generation Hispanic immigrants from Arkansas. Participants completed a survey combining the Immigrant Enforcement Fear Scale and the 10-Item Well-being Instrument, which were translated into Spanish to increase accessibility. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and independent-samples t-tests with an alpha …

Exploring Primary Care Providers’ Compassionate Care And Their Evidence-Based Practice With Death, Grief, And Loss: Patient Experience And Perspective, Kathryn Krzykala

Dissertations

Research on primary care providers’ (PCPs) education regarding Death, Grief, and Loss (DGL) remains limited. Specifically, data is lacking regarding patients' perceptions and opinions on what they need and expect from their PCPs regarding grief and loss. This exploratory mixed-method study comprised 146 participants who had experienced death and non-death loss. It examined participants' perceptions of 1) PCP compassion, 2) PCP utilization of evidence-based grief and loss practices, 3) their own level of comfort discussing DGL with their PCPs during medical visits, and 4) their personal grief and loss experiences. The findings revealed that PCPs' grief-informed evidence-based treatment, as reflected …

Life Sustaining Well-Being Practices And Physiological Health Among Black Men, Dakota W. Cintron, Monique N. Golden, Jennifer M. Boylan, Julia K. Boehm, Tomiko Yoneda, Hebi Wang, Erik M. Hines, James L. Moore Iii

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective

To identify culturally grounded well-being practices among Black men in midlife and examine their associations with physiological health.

Methods

Analyzing data from the 2004–2005 Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, we examined, 116 open-ended responses to the question, “What do you do to make your life go well?” Network topic modeling identified six topics: (1) interpersonal kindness and positive mindset; (2) caring for children; (3) practicing spirituality and faith; (4) maintaining social connections and well-being; (5) avoiding stress; and (6) meaningful work and daily activities. Topic scores, reflecting participants’ tendency to discuss these themes, predicted allostatic load and …

Barriers And Bridges: Exploring Factors That Shape Mental Health Service Utilization In Rural America, Margaret Wiwuga

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Despite disproportionately higher suicide mortality rates and comparable prevalence of mental illness across urban and rural communities in the United States, rural populations across the nation experience significantly lower access to and utilization of mental health services, naturally leading to worse comprehensive outcomes. This literature review examines multifaceted factors shaping mental health service use in rural America, taking note of both barrier and enabling factors that impede or enable these unique populations’ willingness and ability to access and use mental health services. Ten articles published prior to September 9, 2025, were selected from the James Madison University Libraries’ Psychology and …

Attitudes Toward Menstruation In Transgender/Nonbinary Menstruators, Destiny J. Pacchelli

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the unique experiences and attitudes that transgender and/or nonbinary (TNB) menstruators have related to menstruation. Participants (n = 103) were 19 to 60-year-old Americans who identified as TNB and have menstruated, and whose primary language is English. They were recruited through Prolific and asked to describe their first period and how their gender identity influenced their feelings toward menstruation. Additionally, participants responded to quantitative questions related to menstrual symptoms, attitudes, beliefs, and emotions, body image, well-being, and demographic questions to determine family culture at childhood and now. TNB menstruators reported …

Who Will Grow Our Food In The Future? Factors Influencing A-State Agricultural Student’S Intentions To Enter Production Agriculture, Kamana Kafle

Create@State

The future of agriculture depends on what motivates today’s student to pursue careers in production agriculture. This study identifies key drivers of career intention among College of Agricultural students at A-State using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The model explained a substantial 74.2% of the variance in agricultural career intention. Results revealed that Career Planning was the strongest positive predictor, followed by Attitude Towards Agriculture and Perceived Value. Interestingly, factors such as Perceived Behavioral Control, Subjective Norms, and access to Facilities …

A Proposal To Examine Naturally Occurring Mindfulness And Correctional Officer Stress And Burnout, Anthony M. Nasrallah

Undergraduate Theses

Correctional officers (COs) work in institutions characterized by high interpersonal demand, safety risk, and organizational complexity; as a result, they experience elevated rates of occupational stress, burnout, and mental-health disorders relative to the general workforce. At the same time, research in allied helping professions demonstrates that mindfulness and related contemplative practices can reduce stress and improve emotion regulation and well-being. However, little is known about whether COs’ own, pre-existing informal mindfulness practices are associated with lower on-the-job stress or burnout rather than formal training courses. This review integrates findings from qualitative studies, quantitative analyses, and systematic reviews to show what …

Impact Of Childhood Trauma On Perceptions Of Health: Examining The Role Of Religiosity As A Protective Factor Among Black And African American Adults, Patrice Penrose

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Purpose: Childhood trauma has detrimental immediate and lifelong impacts on health. Black and African Americans experience higher rates of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) than the general population. Religiosity, a common coping mechanism for many who experience trauma, could serve to moderate the impacts. This study examines whether the importance of religion buffers against the impact of childhood exposure to PTEs on adult perceptions of health and assesses whether social support and/or coping mediate the relationship between religiosity and perceived health.

Method: This study analyzed data from 2,537 Black and African American participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to …

Unveiling Othering Experiences In Multiethnic Families: Narratives Of Identity And Belonging Among White/Hispanoamerican Women, Maria-Esther Wood

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of multiethnic Hispanoamerican women as they navigate identity, belonging, and familial othering within the context of multiethnic family systems. Using qualitative narrative inquiry, the study centres the voices of nine women residing in Ontario, each with one white parent and one Hispanoamerican parent, ranging in age from 19 to 65. Guided by Dewey’s three-dimensional model of narrative analysis, the research explores how personal stories reflect broader patterns of othering and belonging, the central research question asks: What specific forms of othering related to identity and belonging—inclusive of discrimination and racist treatment—do multiethnic Hispanoamerican women …

Exploring The Impact Of Inpatient Mental Health Care On Adolescents, Alexandria M. Mckahan

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Adolescent psychiatric hospitalizations continue to rise, yet there is limited research on which daily practices inside inpatient units genuinely support engagement and recovery. This project examined how structure, staff tone, and therapeutic programming influence adolescents’ participation and emotional stability within a real inpatient setting. The study focused on three questions: how structured routines affect recovery, what challenges staff face when supporting adolescents with complex needs, and how adolescents’ engagement patterns reflect their perception of care. Using a mixed-methods case study at Mesa Springs Behavioral Health Hospital, I conducted approximately twenty field observations, semi-structured staff interviews, and descriptive engagement tracking across …

Associations Between Individual And Structural Level Discrimination And Psychological And Physiological Stress Indicators During Pregnancy, Özlü Aran, Melissa Nevarez-Brewster, Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, Julia Dmitrieva, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

In the United States (U.S.) pervasive health disparities in prenatal care disproportionately impact marginalized individuals. The present study investigates whether discrimination at the individual and structural levels are associated with indicators of psychological and physiological stress among pregnant Latinx people living in the U.S., including both U.S. and foreign-born individuals. Pregnant participants (n = 109) reported on birthplace, lifetime experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination, perceived levels of stress, acculturation, social support, and provided residential address data and hair samples for cortisol analysis. Regression analysis revealed that individual level discrimination was linked to higher psychological stress during pregnancy ( …

A Religious Etiology Of Genito-Pelvic Pain And Pain With Penetration, Emily L. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Pelvic pain during penetration (PPDP) has been described using various diagnostic terms, including vaginismus, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia. The most recent and comprehensive classification is Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) which is characterized by psychological distress associated with pain during or in anticipation of vaginal penetration (DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). The etiology of PPDP is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and relational factors. Religious and cultural influences may play a significant role in shaping individuals’ experiences of sexual pain. This study investigated the etiology of PPDP in relation to the religious influences among women raised in Judeo-Christian …

Cross-Cultural Data On Romantic Love And Mate Preferences From 117,293 Participants Across 175 Countries, Marta Kowal, Piotr Sorokowski, Biljana Gjoneska, Katarzyna Pisanski, Gerit Pfuhl, Leonardo Aguilar, Steve M.J. Janssen, Benjamin Gelbart, Patrícia Arriaga, Jan Antfolk, Katarina Zvončáková, Linda H. Lidborg, Jorge Contreras-Garduño, Mikhail V. Kozlov, Taciano L. Milfont, Marco A.C. Varella, Valerija Križanić, Mahmoud Boussena, Tina Kavčič, Diana Ribeiro Da Silva, Brahim Hamdaoui, Fatima Zahra Sahli, Karlijn Massar, Eliane Deschrijver, Tatsunori Ishii, Hakan Cetinkaya, Oksana Senyk, Farida Guemaz, Koen Ponnet, Yahya Don, Dušana Šakan, Gyesook Yoo, Ravit Nussinson, Joaquín Ungaretti, Ali R. Can, Izzet Duyar, Jiří Čeněk, Joao Carneiro, Norbert Meskó, Luca Kozma, Ellen K. Nyhus, Mona Vintila, Oulmann Zerhouni, Farid Pazhoohi, Maja Zupančič, Sinem Söylemez, Austin H.-E. Wang, Marietta Papadatou-Pastou, Irena Pavela Banai, Pavol Prokop, Mohd Sofian Omar Fauzee, Reza Afhami, Jean C. Natividade, Roberto Baiocco, Mara Morelli, Toivo Aavik, Ezgi Toplu-Demirtaş, Singha Tulyakul, Anna Wlodarczyk, Razleh Chegeni, Anabela C. Santos, Dmitry Grigoryev, Dmitrii Dubrov, Dimitri Chubinidze, Gözde Ikizer, Nana Burduli, Johanna Czamanski-Cohen, Rizwana Amin, Petros Roussos, Evgeniya Hristova, Rūta Sargautytė, Ekaterine Pirtskhalava, Tenuunjargal Avirmed, Arooj Najmussaqib, Abdelilah Charyate, Shagufta Batool, Tatiana Volkodav, Yoshihiko Kunisato, Yuki Yamada, Asako Toyama, Mariia Perun, Seda Dural, Tetyana Mandzyk, Anna Studzinska, Ognen Spasovski, Felipe E. García, Caterina Grano, Merve Boğa, Mehmet Koyuncu, Sangeeta Singh, Ju Hee Park, Derya Atamtürk, Samuel Lins, Martin Pírko, David Lacko, Balazs Aczel, Ferenc Kocsor, Ádám Putz, Tobias Otterbring, Pavol Kačmár, Efisio Manunta, Théo Besson, Nasim Ghahraman Moharrampour, Çağlar Solak, Ignacio Estevan, Merve Topcu Bulut, Nicolas Kervyn, Moises Mebarak, Jackson G. Lu, Nejc Plohl, Bojan Musil, Adil Samekin, Kirill G. Miroshnik, Clément Cornec, Isabella Giammusso, Ulf-Dietrich Reips, Maria Rosa Miccoli, Miriam Parise, Sabrina Stöckli, Tiago Marot, Sibele D. Aquino, Amanda Londero-Santos, Antonio Chirumbolo, Aybegum Memisoglu-Sanli, Jaroslava V. Valentova, Cemre Karaarslan, Ivana Hromatko, Kevin S. Kertechian, Ogeday Çoker, Matheus F. F. Ribeiro, Carlota Batres, Ilker Dalgar, Stephanie J. Eder, Katarina Mišetić, Marios Argyrides, Vita Mikuličiūtė, Silvia Mari, Elisabeth Oberzaucher, Kathrin Masuch, Alan D. A. Mattiassi, Salma Samir Omar, Elena Piccinelli, Eda Ermagan Caglar, Diogo Lamela, David A. Frederick, Aleksander Kobylarek, Ma. Criselda T. Pacquing, Marc Eric Santos Reyes, Marcos Zumárraga-Espinosa, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Talía Gómez Yepes, Edgardo Etchezahar, Katarzyna Galasinska, Jan P. Röer, Ayşegül Şahin, Miguel Landa-Blanco, Arkadiusz Urbanek, Chee-Seng Tan, Rita Castro, Ksenija Cunichina, Anna Krasnodębska, Daniel Conroy-Beam, Franciszek Ostaszewski, Izabela Chałatkiewicz, Beatriz Abad-Villaverde, Bastien Trémolière, Alexios Arvanitis, Gulmira Topanova, Wiliam J. Chopik, Grace Akello, Ariela F. Pagani, Silvia Donato, Peter Fedor, Tomasz Frackowiak, Simon Ozer, Marlon Mayorga-Lascano, Farah Khan, Maryanne L. Fisher, Princess Lovella G. Maturan, Tatiana Semenovskikh, Sanjana Dutt, William Tamayo-Agudelo, Gulnara Ismukhanova, Laith Al-Shawaf, Luisa Angelucci, Adam Bode, Sercan Balım, Jovi C. Dacanay, Chiemezie S. Atama, Kai A. D. Morgan Campbell, Tchilissila A. Simões, Barış Özener, Paula Błauciak, Filipe Prazeres

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Psychological studies on close relationships have often overlooked cultural diversity, dynamic processes, and potentially universal principles that shape intimate partnerships. To address the limited generalizability of previous research and advance our understanding of romantic love experiences, mate preferences, and physical attractiveness, we conducted a large-scale cross-cultural survey study on these topics. A total of 404 researchers collected data in 45 languages from April to August 2021, involving 117,293 participants from 175 countries. Aside from standard demographic questions, the survey included valuable information on variables relevant to romantic relationships: intimate, passionate, and committed love within romantic relationships, physical-attractiveness enhancing behaviors, gender …

Do Resiliency And Coping Skills Moderate The Relationship Between Mood Disorders And Parenting Styles Due To Parental Relationship Distress?, Tiffany Burks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parental relationship dynamics such as intimate partner violence (IPV), interpersonal distress (IPD), and parental alienation (PA) can significantly affect both mental health and parenting practices. This study examined whether personal strengths, specifically resilience and problem-focused coping, could help buffer these negative outcomes. Correlational analyses showed that IPV, IPD, and PA were positively associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. IPV and PA were also negatively associated with the use of an authoritative parenting style. In contrast, resilience and problem-focused coping were linked to fewer mood-related symptoms and greater use of authoritative parenting. Multiple regression analyses revealed that IPV significantly predicted …

Self-Compassion Around The World: Measurement Invariance Of The Short Form Of The Self-Compassion Scale (Scs-Sf) Across 65 Nations, 40 Languages, Gender Identities, And Age Groups, Viren Swami, Ulrich S. Tran, Martin Voracek, Toivo Aavik, Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar, Sulaiman Olanrewaju Adebayo, Reza Afhami, Oli Ahmed, Annie Aimé, Marwan Akel, Hussam Al Halbusi, George Alexias, Khawla F. Ali, Nursel Alp-Dal, Anas B. Alsalhani, Sara Álvarez‑Solas, Ana Carolina Soares Amaral, Sonny Andrianto, Trefor Aspden, Marios Argyrides, John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta, Stephen Atkin, Olusola Ayandele, Migle Baceviciene, Radvan Bahbouh, Andrea Ballesio, David Barron, Ashleigh Bellard, Sóley Sesselja Bender, Kerime Derya Beydaǧ, Gorana Birovljević, Marie-Ève Blackburn, Teresita Borja-Alvarez, Joanna Borowiec, Miroslava Bozogáňová, Solfrid Bratland-Sanda, Matthew H. E. M. Browning, Anna Brytek-Matera, Marina Burakova, Yeliz Çakır‑Koçak, Pablo Camacho, Vittorio Emanuele Camilleri, Valentina Cazzato, Silvia Cerea, Apitchaya Chaiwutikornwanich, Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon, Tim Chambers, Qing-Wei Chen, Xin Chen, Chin-Lung Chien, Phatthanakit Chobthamkit, Bovornpot Choompunuch, Emilio J. Compte, Jennifer Corrigan, Getrude Cosmas, Richard G. Cowden, Kamila Czepczor-Bernat, Marcin Czub, Wanderson Roberto Da Silva, Mahboubeh Dadfar, Kaedi Dalley, Lionel Dany, Jesus Alfonsn D. Datu, Pedro Henrique Berbert De Carvalho, Gabriel Lins De Holanda Coelho, Avila Odia S. De Jesus, Sonia Harzallah Debbabi, Sandesh Dhakal, Francesca Di Bernardo, Donka D. Dimitrova, Jacinthe Dion, Barnaby Dixson, Stacey M. Donofrio, Marius Drysch, Hongfei Du, Angel M. Dzhambov, Claire El-Jor, Violeta Enea, Mehmet Eskin, Farinaz Farbod, Lorleen Farrugia, Leonie Fian, Maryanne L. Fisher, Michał Folwarczny, David A. Frederick, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Adrian Furnham, Antonio Alías García, Shulamit Geller, Marta Ghisi, Alireza Ghorbani, Maria Angeles Gomez Martinez, Sarah Gradidge, Sylvie Graf, Caterina Grano, Gyöngyvér Gyene, Souheil Hallit, Motasem Hamdan, Jonathan E. Handelzalts, Paul H. P. Hanel, Steven R. Hawks, Issa Hekmati, Mai Helmy, Tetiana Hill, Farah Hina, Geraldine Holenweger, Martina Hřebíčková, Olasupo Augustine Ijabadeniyi, Asma Imam, Başak İnce, Natalia Irrazabal, Rasa Jankauskiene, Ding-Yu Jiang, Micaela Jiménez-Borja, Verónica Jiménez-Borja, Evan M. Johnson, Veljko Jovanović, Marija Jović, Marko Jović, Alessandra Costa Pereira Junqueira, Lisa-Marie Kahle, Adam Kantanista, Ahmet Karakiraz, Ayşe Nur Karkin, Erich Kasten, Salam Khatib, Nuannut Khieowan, Patricia Joseph Kimong, Litza Kiropoulos, Joshua Knittel, Neena Kohli, Miriam Koprivnik, Aituar Kospakov, Magdalena Król-Zielińska, Isabel Krug, Garry Kuan, Yee Cheng Kueh, Omar Kujan, Miljana Kukić, Sanjay Kumar, Vipul Kumar, Nishtha Lamba, Mary Anne Lauri, Maria Fernanda Laus, Liza April Leblanc, Hyejoo J. Lee, Małgorzata Lipowska, Mariusz Lipowski, Caterina Lombardo, Andrea Lukács, Christophe Maïano, Sadia Malik, Mandar Manjary, Lidia Márquez Baldó, Martha Martinez-Banfi, Karlijn Massar, Camilla Matera, Olivia Mcanirlin, Moises Mebarak, Anwar Mechri, Juliana Fernandes Filgueiras Meireles, Norbert Mesko, Jacqueline Mills, Maya Miyairi, Ritu Modi, Adriana Modrzejewska, Justyna Modrzejewska, Kate E. Mulgrew, Taryn A. Myers, Hikari Namatame, Mohammad Zakaria Nassani, Amanda Nerini, Félix Neto, Joana Neto, Angela Nogueira Neves, Siu-Kuen Ng, Devi Nithiya, Jiaqing O, Sahar Obeid, Camila Oda-Montecinos, Peter Olamakinde Olapegba, Tosin Tunrayo Olonisakin, Salma Samir Omar, Brynja Örlygsdóttir, Emrah Özsoy, Tobias Otterbring, Sabine Pahl, Maria Serena Panasiti, Yonguk Park, Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary, Tatiana Pethö, Nadezhda Petrova, Jakob Pietschnig, Sadaf Pourmahmoud, Vishnunarayan Girishan Prabhu, Vita Poštuvan, Pavol Prokop, Virginia L. Ramseyer Winter, Magdalena Razmus, Taotao Ru, Mirjana Rupar, Reza N. Sahlan, Mohammad Salah Hassan, Anđela Šalov, Saphal Sapkota, Jacob Owusu Sarfo, Yoko Sawamiya, Katrin Schaefer, Michael Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Veya Seekis, Kerim Selvi, Mehdi Sharifi, Anita Shrivastava, Rumana Ferdousi Siddique, Valdimar Sigurdsson, Vineta Silkane, Ana Šimunić, Govind Singh, Alena Slezáčková, Christine Sundgot-Borgen, Gill Ten Hoor, Passagorn Tevichapong, Arun Tipandjan, Jennifer Todd, Constantinos Togas, Fernando Tonini, Juan Camilo Tovar-Castro, Lisa Katrine Jepsen Trangsrud, Pankaj Tripathi, Otilia Tudorel, Tracy L. Tylka, Anar Uyzbayeva, Zahir Vally, Edmunds Vanags, Luis Diego Vega, Aitor Vicente-Arruebarrena, Jose Vidal-Mollón, Roosevelt Vilar, Hyxia Villegas, Mona Vintilă, Christoph Wallner, Mathew J. Misiur, Simon Whitebridge, Sonja Windhager, Kah Yan Wong, Eric Kenson Yau, Yuko Yamamiya, Victoria Wai Lan Yeung, Marcelo Callegari Zanetti, Magdalena Zawisza, Nadine Zeeni, Martina Zvaríková, Stefan Stieger

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives

The 12-item Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS–SF) is a widely used instrument for the assessment of self-compassion. To date, there have been few examinations of this instrument’s psychometric properties, particularly across nations and languages. Therefore, we used data from the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS) to assess measurement invariance of the SCS–SF across nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups.

Methods

Participants (N = 56,968) from 65 nations completed the SCS–SF in 40 languages. Using these data, we tested various hypothesised models of the SCS–SF in the total sample and, using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, tested for invariance …

Psychological Treatment Behind The Walls:Insights From The Inside, Rogelio Serrano

Psychology Division Scholarship

Repeated eras of mass incarceration, criminalization of marginalized communities, and substance use policies have created a revolving door of justice involved populations. The ever-increasing prison population has repeatedly become the largest contingency of mental health clientele for an overburdened mental health system. Those who work with formerly incarcerated individuals in the community often don’t know the unique set of challenges faced by practitioners within the system. Increased understanding and coordination of care can offer opportunities for sustained recovery and reduced levels of recidivism. In this presentation participants will learn about the unique insights on mental health treatment that can be …

Assessing Middle Eastern American Attitudes Towards Substance Use Disorders, Hazem Alata, Hussein Bazzi, Saleh Al-Juburi, Angie Achkar, Liam Browning, Nicole Oska, Adam Chaban, Arash Javanbakht

Medical Student Research Symposium

Assessing Middle Eastern American Attitudes Towards Substance Use Disorders

Introduction:

Substance use disorders (SUD) among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations remain largely understudied, despite evidence of high prevalence rates and lower rates of treatment engagement. Unique cultural conceptualizations and beliefs surrounding substance use disorders may perpetuate stigma, further contributing to disparities in access to and utilization of treatment services. This study aims to explore the attitudes and perspectives of individuals from MENA communities regarding substance use disorders, with the goal of identifying and addressing barriers to treatment.

Methods:

An anonymous bilingual Qualtrics survey was administered, gathering responses from …

Maintaining Well-Being: Coping Strategies For Prolonged Traumatic Experiences From The Stories Of Ukrainian Educators During The Wartime, Natalya Rakevich

Educational Studies Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological study aimed to better understand how and whether educators can maintain well-being during prolonged trauma. This study examines the experiences of Ukrainian educators living in non-occupied territories during wartime. The following research questions guided the study: What coping strategies do educators use to take care of themselves? What coping strategies do educators use with their students? How do educators perceive mindfulness and storytelling? A conceptual framework was created to better understand the topics of stress, trauma, being, well-being, surviving, suffering, and coping mechanisms through a literature review. Data collection occurred in February and March 2024, two years …

Emotional Display Rules Of Deaf Culture, Nicholas M. Gala, Lawrence Pick

JADARA

Emotional display rules refer to the expression of culturally prescribed and socially acceptable emotions across different people and situations (Wu & Schulz, 2020). The display rules among hearing adults across several cultures are well defined and depend on the type of emotion, the individuals involved in the exchange, and the situation. Regarding Deaf culture in the United States, this minoritized group may follow unique display rules (Hosie et al., 2000), but there has been almost no research conducted with this population and the existing studies have focused on youth. The present study explores perceived emotional expressions among a sample of …

Measuring Intersectional Strength And Stigma Among Racially Minoritized Gender Diverse Young Adults, Joseph Carter

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Racially minoritized transgender and gender expansive young adults (RMTGEYA; aged 18-26) experience mental health inequities due to intersectional, multilevel stigma. RMTGEYA communities embody intersectional strength and resilience that can mitigate the impact of stigma. Understanding and capturing strength and stigma factors to address these inequities has significant implications for clinical science research and practice. There is, however, a complete absence of instruments that are validated to do so. Objective: The goal of this study is to conduct a three-phase, mixed methods study that centers intersectional and community engaged methods of psychometric development for a measure that captures daily experiences …

Reclaiming Healing Spaces: A Phenomenological Study On The Transformative Power Of Outdoor Therapy From The Lived Experiences Of Black Clinicians Working With Black Clients, Lynn Murphy

Dissertations

This phenomenological study involved assessing the experiences of Black therapists who engaged Black clients in outdoor therapeutic contexts. The study was founded on the existing literature that shows the quality of the therapeutic relationship is pivotal for client retention and the Western standards that have historically favored treatment within indoor environments. To contextualize this research, a comprehensive literature review was commenced, covering topics such as the decolonization of therapy, the historical and present-day relationship between Blacks and the outdoors in the United States, sedentary lifestyles, the psychological benefits of time spent in nature, various types of outdoor therapy, and the …

Archetypal Energies And Global Mental Health, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

As a keynote speaker at the Global Mental Health Conference 2024, held at Sophia University, Costa Mesa, CA, in-person and virtually, August 16-18, 2024, my topic was "Archetypal Energies As A Framework for Self-Empowerment and Well Being". The theme of this 2024 global conference was: Enlightened Minds, Compassionate Hearts, and Embodied Wisdom. To supplement my keynote address, I wrote this blog article titled "Archetypal Energies and Global Mental Health".

Examining The Association Between Parental Attachment, Fictive Kin Bonds, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Emotional Distress, And Subjective Well-Being Among Black Americans, Roxanne Watts

Dissertations

Secure attachment with parents predicts less emotional distress and greater subjective well-being across the lifespan. One mechanism by which parental attachment supports mental health outcomes is through psychological needs satisfaction (PNS). In addition to the attachment to parents, relationships with fictive kin caregivers are prevalent and important among Black families. The present study investigated the association between parental attachment, fictive kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction and mental health outcomes (i.e., emotional distress and subjective well-being) in a sample of Black American adults. Two hundred twenty-three (N = 223) participants completed measures of parental attachment, fictive-kin bonds, psychological needs satisfaction …

Training In Trauma-Responsive And Anti-Racist Telehealth: A Model For Behavioral Health Clinicians And Providers, Ritchie Rubio

Psychology Division Scholarship

Telehealth's uptake in behavioral health services has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many clinicians continue to lack focused training in providing trauma-informed and culturally-responsive telehealth care. This article outlines a model curriculum that was created to instruct and coach behavioral health providers in California on how to integrate anti-racist and trauma-responsive techniques into telehealth. Topics like evidence-based trauma therapies, racial/ ethnic trauma, marginalized communities, digital divide, and provider selfcare were all covered in the nine-part curriculum. Every three-hour session included evidence-informed didactic content, telehealth skills practice, and concrete planning for implementation. Trauma-responsive frameworks such as the tri-phasic model …

Cultural And Structural Barriers Of Utilizing Mental Health Services In A School-Based Setting For Latinx Populations, Silvia Lozano, Bridgette Guadalupe Calderon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative research study aimed to reduce mental health service disparities in Latinx communities and helps fill in the gap by addressing cultural and structural barriers to utilizing MHS in a school-based setting for Latinx youth. There is limited research regarding Latinx parents’ perspectives and the reservations they have on utilizing school-based mental health services (MHS) for their children. This study identified six important themes: cultural factors, trust and rapport, reservations, access and awareness, parental involvement and challenges, and school-based resources. Implications for school districts are that they can use these findings to increase early intervention mental behavioral health programs …

Impact Of Emotional Intelligence On Client Satisfaction In Project Management, Mousami Berawala

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates the correlation between emotional intelligence (EI) and client satisfaction in project management. It is guided by the central research question: Is emotional intelligence linked to client satisfaction? To explore this, the research is structured around Practice of EI on Leadership and Junior level and impact on client satisfaction, the impact of varying work environments, including remote, hybrid, office-based, and site-based settings, on project outcomes post-pandemic; differences in EI practices across countries and the effect of diverse work cultures; the comparison of EI application across different fields, with a focus on work-life balance and industry-specific practices in banking, …

At The Intersection Of Religion, Spirituality, And Clinical Psychology: A Conversation With Two Jewish Psychologists, Robert A. Demayo, David A. Levy

Psychology Division Scholarship

This article presents a dialogue between two Jewish psychologists who share their respective personal and professional journeys on how spirituality and religious affiliation impacts their work as clinicians. They address the following questions: How would you identify your cultural background with respect to your religious or spiritual history and identity? How do you manage the competing demands of respecting both individual cultural identity and group cultural identity? How did your early experiences with Judaism influence your professional practice? What were your earliest academic influences on the question of spirituality in psychology? How have religion and spirituality manifested in your clinical …

Cascades Ecopsychology Conference, July 24-27

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

No abstract provided.