Community Psychology Commons^™

Dbg Detroit’S Approach To Meaningful Youth Assessment, Amanda Case, Keenan Cain, Garrett Simmons Jr, Messiah Bethel, Jamarion Berry, Skylar Burkhardt, Mikaela Westrick

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

In this four-paper symposium, high school youth researchers from DBG Detroit, a comprehensive youth enrichment program in Detroit, will share the organization’s culturally- and contextually- relevant evaluation processes and outcomes with particular attention to how DBG designed and continues to refine their assessment efforts to support youth outcomes.

Critical Consciousness, Community, And Systemic Change: Uplifting The Mental Health And Resilience Factors Of Black Trans Women, Matthew J. Kasopsky Ma, Ncc, Imani S. Linton M.Ed, Sharon L. Bowman Ph.D., Hspp, Abpp, Lmhc

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Black trans women face systemic barriers to mental health care, often ignored by traditional counseling models. This roundtable explores developing critical consciousness in psychology, supporting community resilience, and advocating for systemic change. Discussion centers on affirming, trauma-informed care that depathologizes experiences and fosters joy, strength, and self-determination.

Crossing The Chasm: Engaging Black Men Survivors Of Gun Violence In Mental Health Services, Erin Major, Celina Thomas, Charlotte Healy, Amy Vanderstoep, Joseph B Richardson, Thomas M Scalea, Melike N Harfouche

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Despite being high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, Black men survivors of gun violence, and particularly young men aged 18-24, seldom participate in mental health services after injury. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to participation in mental health services for this population.

METHODS: Over a 2-year period, 1 hour-long focus group was conducted with three counselors of the local hospital-based violence intervention program and 21 individual, semistructured in-depth interviews were held with Black men who were hospitalized for a firearm-related injury. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded using open coding and grounded …

A Qualitative Approach To Identifying Obstacles To Mental Healthcare In The Rio Grande Valley From The Perspective Of Mental Healthcare Professionals., Shania M. Linder, Cristian Botello, Raquel Villarreal, Nelda Rodriguez, Mario Gil, Dayana Zamora

Research Symposium

Background: There are many factors that prevent members of the Hispanic/Latino community from accessing mental health resources. This is important to investigate because there is a lack of knowledge on why residents of the Rio Grande Valley, an underserved region of South Texas, are unable to access and/or utilize mental health resources.

Methods: A focus group session was held at a mental health counseling clinic in Cameron County, Texas on February 1, 2024. The participants consisted of mental health professionals, such as two mental health clinicians, a clinical counselor, two school counselors, a licensed professional counselor supervisor, and a …

An Agent-Based Modeling Framework For Evaluating The Linkage Between Disaster Facility Damage And Mental Health, Emily S. Reeves

Theses and Dissertations

This research establishes a novel agent-based modeling framework to establish the linkage between disaster-induced facility damage and mental health outcomes and the evaluation of treatment methods within the civilian and USAF mental health spheres. The study models the degradation and recovery of agent mental health using simulated data and evaluates the efficacy of three distinct treatment approaches through statistical methods. The methodology integrate agent-based modeling with resilient engineering concepts to simulate mental health resilience curves based on vulnerability, exposure, and facility damage. Agents’ mental health indices were tracked through phases of degradation, stagnation, and recovery based on the three treatments …

“But How Do I Start?” A Beginner’S Guide To Your First Qualitative Project, Jason B. Whiting Phd, Bria Nicole Davies

The Qualitative Report

Many new qualitative researchers feel overwhelmed and struggle to find direction in existing books and articles about qualitative methodology. Qualitative methods have a long history that includes different philosophies, practices, and methods, and there are endless ways to interpret and use these tools within these traditions. This article introduces basic qualitative methods with the intent to guide a first-time researcher through a first social science research project, such as a thesis or dissertation. It frames the process as a five-step journey with guidelines to follow and additional resources that can be accessed related to each phase. Although the craft of …

Reflections On Using A Strength-Based Culturally Sensitive Community Psychology Approach To Promoting Sexual Health Of Egyptian Women And Girls, Salma Elhabashi, Farida Elrefaie, Zeina M. Shahine

The Undergraduate Research Journal

Navigating the intricate landscape of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) poses considerable challenges, especially within societies where the discourse is shaped by deeply rooted traditions and cultural norms. This paper examines a research project aimed at addressing the critical gap in dialogue surrounding women's SRH in Egypt. Adopting a community psychology framework, this project has two components: a mother-daughter communication guidebook and a comprehensive needs assessment survey. The guidebook was designed to facilitate discussions during the critical transitional phase of puberty, and the needs assessment survey aimed to understand the distinct needs of Egyptian women using a strengths-based approach. By …

The Effect Of Voir Dire Variations On Juror Disclosures, Joshua A. Haby

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

Voir dire, sometimes referred to as jury selection, is the legal process the court uses to pursue an impartial jury. The presiding judge controls many aspects of how voir dire proceeds. In deciding voir dire variations, the judge presumably engages in a calculus weighing factors like the goal of voir dire, time, and specific trial needs to determine appropriate procedures. Certain procedures are considered expansive and others limited. Where expansive procedures provide more information from jurors, they may take longer; limited procedures may be more expeditious but limit access to information from jurors (Hans and Jehle, 2003; Mize, Hannaford-Agor, and …

Investigating The Risk And Protective Factors Of Internet Addiction Among Adolescents Through The Lens Of Cognitive Behavioral Theory: A Cross-Sectional Study, Noura Shaltout

Theses and Dissertations

—Introduction: The Internet has become a central part of modern life, enhancing education, providing means of global communication, and facilitating access to information and entertainment. However, an attendant risk of excessive Internet use is becoming unconsciously addicted to virtual online activities, especially when large tech companies design their products in a way that makes them addictive to users. These companies have the tools and knowledge that allow them to manipulate and transform the behavior of their target audience. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential risk and protective factors for Internet addiction among adolescents. Methodology: This cross-sectional study employed …

Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Asian American Adults: Prevalence, Cultural Barriers, And Mental Health Implications, Kruti S. Chaliawala, Liliana Rojas-Guyler

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Childhood sexual abuse represents a significant public health concern, particularly within minority populations, where adversities and complications are prevalent but understudied. This study aims to investigate the mental health of Asian American childhood sexual abuse survivors and explore the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse among Asian adults. A secondary analysis of the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data was conducted, including a final sample of 1,894 Asian adults (0.16% of the total sample size of N = 401,958). Among these participants, 16.8% (n = 1,894) reported experiencing CSA. The most common forms of abuse were inappropriate touching …

Respuesta A Una Crítica Política Y A Un Ataque Personal Contra Un Informe De Las Naciones Unidas Que Presenta Nueva Evidencia Sobre La Prostitución Como Causa Y Consecuencia De La Violencia Contra Las Mujeres Y Las Niñas, Reem Alsalem

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Reem Alsalem, Relatora Especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre la violencia contra las mujeres y las niñas, sus causas y consecuencias, responde a las acusaciones falsas y infundadas y a los ataques personales sobre su informe sobre Prostitución y Violencia contra la Mujer, presentado ante la 56ª sesión del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra, 2024. Presenté nueva evidencia sobre la relación entre la violencia contra las mujeres y las niñas y la prostitución. Utilizando el derecho de los derechos humanos, el informe describe la prostitución como un sistema de abuso, explotación y violencia contra las …

Beauty Comes With A Price: But How Much Is It Worth It, Fabliha Afia

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The global skincare market, valued at 104.24 billion dollars in the year 2022, is very heterogeneous, ranging from prestige brands to more drugstore types. Even when the same key ingredients are present, the latter often sells for much higher due to branding and packaging and the aura of prestige created. This capstone project entitled "Beauty comes with a price: but how much is it worth?" investigates if such higher costs are justified due to superior quality or are driven by non-functional factors. It systematically compared the high-end versus drugstore skincare products in categories like sunscreens, serums, and exfoliants with respect …

The Role Of Social Support In Protecting Against Perinatal Depression Among Egyptian Women, Radwa Raafat Abdelshafi

Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal Depression (PND) is a global public health issue affecting many women as they transition to motherhood, and carrying detrimental consequences for both mothers and infants. Research in low and middle-income countries shows higher PND prevalence rates than in high-income and Western countries. In addition, social support has been shown to strongly protect or reduce the impact of PND. This study aimed to address a gap in research on PND in Egypt, and to build an understanding of the social support ecological system of new mothers. A survey was conducted with 81 first-time middle-class mothers living in Greater Cairo between …

Neighborhood Social Processes And Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms: The Intervening Role Of Neighborhood Self-Efficacy, Kristen A. Berg

Faculty Scholarship

Via observational data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods collected between 1994 and 2001, this study examined the degree to which neighborhood disorder, collective efficacy, and youth-centered institutional resources are directly associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms across time, and the mediating role of adolescents'neighborhood self-efficacy. Latent variable structural equation models were estimated among an unweighted representative sample of 1448 adolescents (59% male, mean age 15.19), across 79 neighborhoods in Chicago, to examine the direct effects of neighborhood disorder, collective efficacy, and availability of youth-centered resources at baseline (measured at timepoint 1; reported by an independent sample of …

Predictors Of Mental Health Clinic Staff Self-Efficacy In Recognizing And Responding To Suicide Risk, Hannah Ritz

Theses and Dissertations

Staff self-efficacy is critical to suicide prevention, yet its predictors within Zero Suicide initiatives are not well understood. Among 1,038 CCBHC staff, perceived organizational support, response-focused training, and lower suicide myth endorsement most strongly predicted self-efficacy. Clinical role and prior experiences contributed modestly, highlighting multilevel influences on workforce readiness.

Shadows Of Discrimination: Impacts Of Ambient Discrimination On Queer People In The United States, Kayla A. Dufour

Psychology | Senior Theses

People identifying as LGBTQIA2S+ in the United States experience victimization, direct discrimination, and violence at a rate of 2 to 4 times higher than their heterosexual counterparts (Bender & Lauritsen, 2021), leading to higher levels of psychological pain and suicidal ideation, with up to 50% of LGBTQIA2S+ people having suicidal thoughts in their lifetimes. Those who experience ambient discrimination, such as witnessing or being made aware of discriminatory behavior of someone other than oneself in your group, have higher levels of psychological pain, PTSD, and substance use (Peterson et al., 2019). The goal of the present study is to gain …

Examining The Impact Of A Mobile-Delivered Brief Intervention On Substance Coping Motives Among A Sample Of Interpersonal Trauma Survivors With Heavy Alcohol Use, Lily Milam

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Brief interventions (BIs) aim to reduce risky alcohol use but show limited effectiveness for interpersonal trauma (IPT) survivors, who may use alcohol to cope with trauma-related issues. BIs typically do not target coping-related motivations or include effective emotion regulation strategies, which may improve outcomes for at-risk groups like IPT survivors. Additionally, digital interventions often struggle with low engagement. This study examined a trauma-informed and peer-supported BI to reduce coping-related drinking motives in heavy drinking young adults and assess its effectiveness compared to a standard BI and assessment only condition. Participants (N=133, 79.2% Female, 91.2% White, M age=19.77) with a lifetime …

Sights And Sounds Of Veteran Identity: The Use Of Photovoice Technique And Lyric Analysis In A Community-Based Participatory Action Research Framework, Stephanie Jett Ph.D., Laurie Peebles

Academic Affairs

Researchers often attempt to define what it means to be a Veteran; however, there is a dearth of research where that question is directly asked of Veterans. Instead, a traditional approach to research is taken where the experimenter defines the variables and asks the participants to provide responses without being included in the research process or reaping any direct benefit from participation. We assert that in order to better understand this unique population, it is vital that we elevate their voices by employing more qualitative, community-based participatory action research (CbPAR) models where Veterans are empowered to use their voices to …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

Exploring The Effects Of Resource Salience On Perceptions Of Social Support And Belongingness In Undergraduate Students, Arya C. Johnson, Karen Z. Naufel

Honors College Theses

In recent years, mental health has been a rising concern among college students (Worsley et al., 2022). One method to mitigate stress and raise levels of mental health is social support, which is support derived from relationships or the environment (Zee & Bolger, 2019). Social support presents in different forms, such as visible social support, or support directly given to and acknowledged by the recipient, and invisible social support, or support indirectly given to and unacknowledged by the recipient. Another method to mitigate stress is belongingness, which is the feeling that one is an intrinsic part of their environment (Hagerty …