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Postcard Featuring Ladies Room, circa 1909
No full textMabel Thompson and Lehma Buman\u27s room. A woman sits on the left, the foot of a bed is seen at right.https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/archives_images_seminary/1113/thumbnail.jp
Rewriting the Narrative: Applications and Effectiveness of Narrative Therapy in Clinical Practice.
No full textNarrative Therapy (NT) is a framework developed in 1990 by Micheal White and David Epston with the goal of better serving marginalized populations. NT empowers individuals to reinterpret their lived experiences by centering on personal narratives and the construction of meaning. Although there is expansive writing about NT, this has primarily focused on theoretical papers, case studies, and qualitative research rather than quantitative, empirical findings. As such, the efficacy of NT as a stand-alone approach, its comparison to other therapeutic orientations (e.g., cognitive and behavioral therapy), and its efficacy with specific psychological issues (e.g., depression) is largely unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis. Preliminary results of this meta-analysis will be discussed in light of the efficacy of NT relative to other therapies as well as the use of NT interventions among presenting disorders
Narrative therapy for individuals with nicotine addiction
No full textThe purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of using narrative therapy to help reduce substance use within individuals. This qualitative and longitudinal study will include 20 pre-interviewed participants in their early 30s. The twenty participants will be divided into two groups based on similar patterns. Interviews will be structured into ten weekly, one-hour individual sessions, focusing on externalization, Re-authoring, and meaning-making. Additionally, they will participate in a total of five bi-weekly group therapy sessions to expand their personal narratives connecting to their tobacco usage. Implementing these Narrative Therapy interventions will help decrease the urge to use tobacco. This will indicate that Narrative Therapy has effective results and can lead to a reduction in tobacco use within individuals
The role of influencer credibility in orthorexia nervosa tendencies among TikTok users
No full textOrthorexia Nervosa (ON) is an unhealthy obsession with “clean” eating, often associated with increased social media use and frequent exposure to health, diet, and fitness content. TikTok users engage with such content more than users on other platforms and tend to report higher ON tendencies. This study examines whether perceived influencer credibility—specifically trustworthiness, expertise, and attractiveness—predicts ON tendencies among young adult TikTok users. We will recruit 366 participants (ages 18–30) and conduct a multiple regression analysis. Findings may inform platform guidelines, support digital literacy programs, and guide early interventions targeting disordered eating shaped by social media exposure
Prevention of Sex Trafficking in the Youth Population
No full textPrevention of Sex Trafficking in the Youth Population
Introduction
This quarter, a group of six nursing students partnered with an organization that provides compassionate support and resources to individuals who have experienced or are currently involved in the sex trade. This organization offers emergency services, trauma-informed care, and long-term recovery pathways focusing on safety, dignity, and empowerment. The student group was given the opportunity to develop a prevention-focused booklet that would be used to raise awareness about the early warning signs of sex trafficking and teach adults how to protect youth before exploitation occurs. Adolescents are being targeted and recruited at young ages through subtle and manipulative tactics, particularly online, and many of the adults in their lives may not have the tools or information to recognize and respond to these risks effectively (Real Escape from the Sex Trade, 2024). By offering clear, evidence-based content in a supportive and accessible format, the booklet aims to fill that gap and help invested adults become early protectors and advocates for vulnerable youth.
Sex trafficking is a widespread issue, with an estimated 2,000–3,000 individuals exploited each night in the greater Seattle and King County area. Over half of those impacted are also experiencing homelessness or housing instability, significantly increasing their vulnerability to exploitation (Real Escape from the Sex Trade, 2024). One organization actively working to combat this crisis was founded in 2009 by women with backgrounds in sexual assault and homeless youth services. Recognizing a lack of survivor-specific care, the organization began engaging directly with individuals experiencing exploitation. In response, they developed a trauma-informed model that offers emergency shelter, advocacy, behavioral health services, housing, and economic empowerment, all aimed at creating safe and sustainable pathways out of the sex trade.
To better understand the context surrounding this issue, a group of nursing students conducted a community windshield survey along Aurora Avenue and Rainier Avenue, two diversely populated and high-traffic corridors for sex trade in Seattle. While exploring, the students observed many unhoused individuals, untreated mental illness, and drug use. These factors increase vulnerability to exploitation, including sex trafficking. One study of 250 female street-based sex workers in Baltimore found that women who entered the sex trade before the age of 18 were 4.54 times more likely to experience homelessness (Footer et al., 2020). Additionally, the same study found “49.6% of women who entered below the age of 18 reported the need for basic necessities, such as food and housing” (Footer et al., 2020). Building on both their windshield survey and conversations with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Survivor Services at the partner organization, the nursing students identified prevention of sex trafficking as a critical area of focus.
Activities with Rationale
Both the organization and student group felt passionately about the long-term impact of stopping exploitation before it starts. Focusing on primary prevention is an important way to reduce the prevalence of sex trafficking. According to Greenbaum (2020), primary prevention methods should be implemented at multiple levels, including educating professionals on what human trafficking is, its risks, and common recruiting strategies used by traffickers. Educating professionals within schools and other community-based organizations plays a crucial role in raising awareness about trafficking vulnerabilities. Prevention is most effective when it addresses individual, relational, and community-level risk factors (Baird & Connolly, 2021)
With this goal in mind, the students developed a prevention-focused booklet that equips caring adults with practical tools to recognize vulnerability, build trust, and support at-risk youth before exploitation can occur. Due to school counselor\u27s daily interactions with adolescents, they may be particularly effective in recognizing risks among vulnerable children (Litam & Lam, 2021). The primary target group for sex trafficking exploitation is vulnerable teenage youth, with the average age of exploitation being fourteen years old (Real Escape from the Sex Trade, 2021). Therefore, educating adults involved in the teenagers\u27 lives poses the greatest potential to protect these young people.
Using resources from the partnered organization and other scholarly articles, the booklet was created in an easy-to-read and concise format. The booklet aims to educate on early warning signs and risk factors, how to empower adolescents to protect themselves and others, and what to do if a parent, teacher, or counselor suspects a child is being coerced. The students’ approach was further shaped by reviewing letters from survivors, many of whom described entering the sex trade at a young age due to unmet emotional needs, such as a lack of love or belonging. These stories reinforced the importance of early intervention.
Outcomes
The primary goal of the sex trafficking education booklet was to increase awareness of warning signs, available interventions, and prevention strategies among parents, teachers, and school counselors. By doing so, the nursing students aimed to raise awareness surrounding sex trafficking and educate those who may not recognize the signs. The students developed a comprehensive thirty-eight-page booklet designed to be presented in schools to the target audience. The students encountered limitations due to the lack of face-to-face interactions with clients at the partnered organization. However, they were able to obtain written feedback through questions they developed and distributed. Time constraints also posed a challenge, preventing them from presenting at schools that were open to having them display their educational booklet. Despite these barriers, they have provided the booklet to their partner organization, enabling them to continue the initiative and help raise awareness about sex trafficking within educational institutions. Through these presentations, the goal is to empower the audience to create safe and supportive environments for youth, ultimately reducing the number of individuals who fall victim to sex trafficking. By focusing on prevention, the students have taken the first step in breaking the cycle.
Conclusion
In partnership with the agency, the nursing students successfully created a booklet to raise awareness about sex trafficking. By providing adults with the knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to exploitation risks early, the project supports safer environments for youth. It also serves as a foundation for ongoing advocacy and education by disrupting the cycle of trafficking before it begins. Despite the limited outreach during this phase, the process provided a strong foundation for future presentations and community engagement. The booklet will act as a primary prevention tool in raising awareness and enabling prevention against sex trafficking.
References
Baird, K., & Connolly, J. (2021). Recruitment and entrapment pathways of minors into sex trafficking in Canada and the United States: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211025241
Footer, K. H. A., White, R. H., Park, J. N., Decker, M. R., Lutnick, A., & Sherman, S. G. (2020). Entry to Sex Trade and Long-Term Vulnerabilities of Female Sex Workers Who Enter the Sex Trade Before the Age of Eighteen. Journal of Urban Health, 97(3), 406–417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-019-00410-z
Greenbaum, J. (2020). A public health approach to global child sex trafficking. Annual Review of Public Health, 41, 481–497. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094335
Litam, S. D. A., & Lam, E. T. C. (2021). Sex trafficking beliefs in counselors: Establishing the need for human trafficking training in counselor education programs. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 43(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-020-09408-8
Real Escape from the Sex Trade. (2021). Annual Report 2021. https://iwantrest.com/annual-report/home
Real Escape from the Sex Trade. (2024). REST: Real Escape from the Sex Trade. https://iwantrest.com
BLOOD AND METTLE: THE EFFECTS OF CIVIL UNREST ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY
Full text linkCivil unrest is a global phenomenon that often emerges through a combination of grievances and opportunity sparking change. Civil unrest is often used as a tool by the populace to initiate political, societal, or economic transformation. Economic mobility or the belief in it is a key contributor to mitigating individuals’ level of grievances. This paper uses lagged panel analysis to investigate the question of how civil unrest affects economic mobility beyond the time of unrest. Civil unrest is associated with changes in economic mobility, varying between positive and negative associations based on the type of unrest. Analysis was conducted using the Cross-National Time-Series data set, World Bank GNI per capita data set, and World Inequality Database over the period of 1981 to 2012. Nine unrest variables were used to run the regressions: anti-government demonstrations, assassinations, general strikes, government crisis, guerilla warfare, purges, revolutions, riots, and a weighted index combining all eight variables along with a novel economic mobility index made up of change in proportion of income held by the bottom 50% of the population, change in proportion of income held by the top 10% of the population and change in GNI per capita. Five unrest variables were statistically significant. General strikes were negatively associated with change in the proportion of income held by the bottom 50% while guerilla warfare and the weighted conflict index were positively correlated with change in GNI per capita. Revolutions and assassinations were both negatively and positively associated with changes in economic mobility over time. These findings suggest that only specific types of civil unrest, particularly those that strongly destabilize institutions and government are associated with changes in economic mobility
Functional and cultural values of shame: A motivator to seek help for suicidal ideation
Full text linkSuicide is a global issue with rates continuing to rise despite decades of research and prevention efforts. The role of shame in the development of suicidal ideation, especially within non-Western contexts, remains underexplored. This mixed-methods study explored the relationships among shame, suicidal ideation, and help-seeking intentions in a Taiwanese sample, focusing on four culturally distinct Mandarin terms for shame—diu lian, can kui, xiu kui, and xiu chi. A total of 101 participants who has experiences of suicide-related thoughts or behaviors responded to an online survey. Quantitative analyses revealed that all shame terms were strongly correlated with suicidal ideation, and that help-seeking intention significantly moderated the relationship between shame and suicidal ideation. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses illustrated the dual role of shame, as a risk factor contributing to suicidal thoughts through mechanisms such as perceived failure, loss of status, feelings of inadequacy, and threatens to social identity, and as a potential protective factor motivating reparative help-seeking when individuals felt understood. Participants also identified stigma, fears of burdening others, and fears of judgments from others or themselves as barriers to seeking help, while normalizing conversations around suicide was seen as supportive. These findings underscore the limitations of directly translating Western measures of shame, and highlight the need for culturally grounded suicide prevention efforts that recognize shame’s complex functions. It also emphasizes the need for interventions that normalize help-seeking behaviors, reduce stigma, and foster environments where individuals feel supported in addressing their feelings of shame and thoughts of suicide. Future research should focus on developing context-sensitive measures, examining actual help-seeking behaviors, and addressing methodological issues to enhance validity and applicability
Culture in Action: The Role of School Culture on Educational Policy Implementation and Teacher Commitment
Full text linkThis research proposal examines the mediating role of school culture in the relationship between educational policy implementation and teacher commitment. Teachers are the primary focus of this study as they are often underrepresented in educational research, despite being the cornerstone of effective learning environments. Using a mediation model, this study seeks to explore how policy-driven changes influence teachers\u27 professional commitment through shifts in school culture. The findings aim to provide insights for policymakers and educators, advocating for teacher-centric approaches in policy development to support sustainable school improvement such as teacher training and curriculum standardization
Belief-Driven Resilience: How Self-Affirmation Perceptions Impact Coping Mechanisms in the Gig Economy
Full text linkDo gig economy workers\u27 beliefs about self-affirmation effectiveness moderate the relationship between self-threat and coping strategy preference
The Role of Influencer Credibility In Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies Among Young Adult TikTok Users
Full text linkOrthorexia Nervosa (ON) is an unhealthy obsession with “clean” eating and has been increasingly linked to social media use, particularly frequent exposure to health, diet, and fitness content. TikTok, known for its algorithm-driven engagement and short-form videos, exposes users to this type of content more than other platforms and has been associated with higher ON tendencies among young adults. This study examines whether perceived influencer credibility, measured by trustworthiness, expertise, and attractiveness, predicts ON tendencies among young adult TikTok users. We will recruit 366 participants (ages 18–30) and conduct a multiple regression analysis. Findings may inform platform policies, strengthen digital literacy programs, and support mental health clinicians in understanding how influencer content contributes to disordered eating patterns