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Childhood Maltreatment and Academic Outcomes in College
Full text linkIndividuals face numerous challenges throughout their lifetimes, and for many this may lead to problematic academic outcomes. More specifically, a history of childhood maltreatment impacts biological and cognitive processes, which can affect levels of academic engagement, perceived academic stress, school connectedness, and overall academic performance. This study investigates the relationship between college students’ self-reported childhood maltreatment and GPA, and seeks to determine if academic engagement (AE), perceived academic stress (PAS), and school connectedness (SC) mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and GPA. It was hypothesized that there is a significant relationship between childhood maltreatment and GPA, and that separately, academic engagement, perceived academic stress, and school connectedness will partially mediate the relationship. To test the hypotheses, data was collected from online self-report surveys completed by college students to assess childhood maltreatment, perceived academic stress, school connectedness, and academic engagement (N = 309). The results found that the relationship between childhood maltreatment and GPA was not significant but childhood maltreatment was related to SC, AE, and PAS. Additionally, in models that did not control for the variance explained by the other hypothesized mediators, childhood maltreatment had significant indirect effects on GPA through AE and PAS, but not SC; however, when accounting for other mediators in the model, the individual indirect effects through each specific mediator were not significant. Finally, AE, PAS, and SC together mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and GPA. This study establishes that experiences of maltreatment during childhood can negatively impact academic performance in college by decreasing academic engagement and increasing perceived academic stress
A Job Analysis and Performance Appraisal System for Virtual, Clinical Positions at a Start-Up Mental Health Agency
No full textThe purpose of this project was to do a job analysis and performance appraisal system for clinical positions in a start-up virtual mental health agency in Houston, Texas. Five subject matter experts were interviewed, and the information gathered was used to create tasks for virtual clinicians. These tasks were then turned into a Qualtrics survey that measured the criticality of each task. This Qualtrics survey was given to five different subject matter experts who gave scores ranging from most important to least important tasks. The resulting task scores were combined with O*net(i.e., onet.org) work information and the Association of Social Work Board's knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to create a job description, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other attributes (KSAOs) for the clinical position, and a structured interview for the clinical position. The job analysis information was then used to create a developmental performance appraisal system to appraise the clinician's work in the agency
Examining the Influence of Social Capital on Early College and Dual Credit Traditional High School Underrepresented Students Enrolled in College Courses
No full textThere have been multiple studies discussing the success and perceptions of students in early colleges and dual credit, showing their views on how ECHS or dual credit has helped them in college readiness. Despite the success of these programs, various factors impact student success, such as early colleges struggling to adapt to the high rigor and expectations of college courses. Dual credit traditional high school underrepresented students are also faced with drawbacks such as issues with their credits and grades. This study examined the influence of social capital on early college and dual credit traditional high school underrepresented students enrolled in college courses. The purpose of this study is to examine the social capital of early college and dual credit traditional high school underrepresented students and their perceptions regarding college readiness and their high school experiences. This study examined student perceptions in the areas of attitude towards college, academic achievement, teacher expectations and interactions, college prepation, school wide support, guidance and counseling, and parent engagement. Data were collected from a purposeful sample of seniors in early college and dual credit across five high schools. 154 students across five high schools responded to the survey and complete the open-ended questions. Of the 154 students, 20 completed interviews, which consisted of 10 early college and 10 dual credit students. The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant difference between both early college and dual credit students in the areas of school wide support, teacher expectations and interactions, and guidance and counseling. The interview revealed differences between early college and dual credit students in support from AVID classes
Attachment Theory and Sex Ed: Exploring Hispanic/Latina Mother’s Confidence and Expectations When Discussing Sexual Health with Their Daughters
No full textEffective and open communication about sexual and reproductive health can have
a positive effect on the health outcomes of Hispanic/Latina youth; however, parents face
numerous barriers when attempting to engage in such communication. Given that
maternal figures are frequently the primary educators in sexual health matters, this study
seeks to examine the internal processes associated with mothers' intentions to discuss
sex-related topics with their daughters. A digital flyer was used to recruit 79 Hispanic/
Latina mothers to complete a survey on this topic. Results indicate mothers who reported
a high level of avoidance related to attachment tend to have lower levels of self-efficacy,
while mothers who reported a high level of anxiety related to attachment are more likely
to experience lower levels of positive emotions and cognitions when it comes to their
expectations about the outcome of conversations with their daughters. The results of this
study indicate that the attachment dimensions play a significant role in parental intentions
to engage in sexual health conversations. Specifically, it is crucial to focus on enhancing
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self-efficacy and fostering a sense of responsibility among mothers in educating their
daughters about sexual and reproductive health. By prioritizing these factors, efforts to
increase maternal engagement in sexual health conversations can be more effective and
potentially result in better sexual health outcomes for Hispanic/ Latina youth
Sabes Quién Soy y De Dónde Vengo: Latino Newcomer Perspectives on Their Migration Journey and Perceived Impact on Their Learning Experiences and Acculturation to U.S. High Schools
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine Latino newcomer student perspectives on their migration experiences and their perceptions of the impact migration has on their learning and acculturation to U.S. high schools. The participants for this study were three Latino adults who attended high school as newcomers: enrolling within three years of arriving in the United States. A qualitative narrative inquiry design was utilized for this study. A narrative research inquiry design focuses on learning about people’s experiences through individual accounts of stories from their own perspectives, memories, and social interactions (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000). Participant narratives demonstrate that our immigrant students continue to have high educational aspirations despite their legal status and the educational inequities they experience when they enroll in U.S. schools. Their willingness to share their journey and experiences demonstrates that our newcomers' stories are worth retelling, not only to share their culture, memories, and traditions, but as a form of healing, growth, and survival. Their accounts stress the importance of establishing support systems to navigate social networks, lack of connection to a nurturing family and community. Above all, participant narratives indicate the desire and need for newcomers to feel seen and heard, so they have a sense of belonging
Psychophysiological correlates of Morbid Curiosity
No full textMorbid curiosity is the interest or attentiveness to uncomfortable content (Scrivner, 2021). Very little research has investigated the psychological and physiological underpinnings of morbid curiosity. The current study investigated the psychophysiological correlates of morbid curiosity with the use of heart rate variability (HRV), self-reported morbid curiosity, and a morbid curiosity induction. Aim 1A investigated if there was a relationship between HRV and self-reported morbid curiosity. It was hypothesized that morbid curiosity would be correlated with HRV at rest and HRV during the completion of a self-reported morbid curiosity assessment (i.e., Morbid Curiosity Scale). Aim 1B assessed the relationship between heart rate variability and induced morbid curiosity using the morbid curiosity induction task. It was hypothesized that HRV would increase when participants engaged in a morbid curiosity task (i.e., watching a true crime documentary), as compared to a neutral condition (i.e., watching a neutral documentary) or at baseline (i.e., rest). Aim 2 investigated the relationship between the induced morbid curiosity, participants' curiosity ratings, and learning. It was hypothesized that HRV and participant's curiosity ratings during the morbid curiosity condition would be a significant predictor of learning, as measured immediately after the morbid curiosity induction and approximately one week later (Aim 2). No significant correlations were found between self-reported morbid curiosity and HRV (Aim 1A). For the Morbid Curiosity Induction Task, there was a significant increase in HRV during the neutral condition (i.e., watching neutral documentary) as compared to baseline (i.e., at rest), but no difference between the morbid curiosity condition (i.e., watching true crime documentary) and the other conditions (Aim 1B). HRV and participant's curiosity ratings were not found to be significant predictors of learning in either the in-lab learning assessment or in the learning assessment (memory recall task) that was administered a week later (Aim 2). The results of this study suggest that there is no significant relationship between HRV and self-reported morbid curiosity, and no relationship between induced morbid curiosity and learning. This works highlights the importance of better understanding the concept morbid curiosity and to better understand the relationship between morbid curiosity and psychophysiological processing
A 5HT2A Inverse Agonist Reverses Nicotine Withdrawal Effects on Sleep Stages
No full textSleep disturbances are common in nicotine withdrawal, increasing risk for relapse to smoking. This study determined if the selective 5-HT2A serotonin receptor inverse agonist MDL 100907 (volinanserin) can increase time spent in restorative NREM sleep and reduce sleep fragmentation. All surgery was conducted under isoflurane anesthesia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 34) were implanted with EEG and EMG electrodes and with osmotic minipumps continuously infusing either 9 mg/kg/day s.c. nicotine bitartrate in saline or saline alone. After 7 days, pumps were removed to induce spontaneous nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Seventeen hours post-pump removal the rats were injected i.p. with 1 mg/kg MDL 100907 (volinanserin) in a vehicle of saline/DMSO/Tween80 or with a vehicle alone, 17 hours post-pump removal. The three treatment groups were: Saline infusion-Vehicle injection (n = 14), Nicotine infusion-Vehicle injection (n = 11) and Nicotine infusion-MDL injection 100907 (n = 9). Rats were monitored during peak withdrawal (18 to 22 hours post-pump removal) within the sleep-intensive, lights-on cycle. The EEG and EMG waves were scored by SleepSign software for the time spent in and number of separate bouts of Wake, NREM and REM. For accuracy, the resulting tracings were also scored manually under blind conditions. A one-way ANOVA revealed that nicotine withdrawal in the absence of volinanserin or (MDL100907) increased the average number of sleep bouts, decreased the percent time spent in NREM sleep, and increased EEG spectral band power across the spectrum. These findings are consistent with existing research on the effects of nicotine withdrawal on sleep. The nicotine withdrawal effect on average number of bouts, percent time spent in NREM sleep, and EEG spectral band power, was reduced by the injection of MDL100907. Inactivating 5HT2A receptors may favor NREM sleep and reduce sleep fragmentation, reversing the disruptive effects of nicotine withdrawal
Floating Treatment Wetlands: A Pilot-Study of the Effects on Urban Catchments in a Subtropical Environment
Full text linkStormwater runoff from developed land is one of the leading causes of water pollution. Heavy metals, nutrients, oil and grease, suspended sediments, and bacteria represent some of the more common pollutants that end up in urban waterways from stormwater runoff. Current technologies to reduce pollutants like traditional water treatment facilities are expensive and require land development. Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are a novel technology that have been shown to reduce stormwater pollutants and enhance water quality of surface waters. FTWs are artificially created islands with (preferably native) wetland plants, grown hydroponically, where the roots are suspended in the water column. These roots act as a physical filter of suspended sediments and as the mechanism for pollutant uptake by the plants. The benefit of FTWs is that they can be retrofitted to existing urban catchment sites such as stormwater detention ponds or other impaired
perennial lentic waterbodies. In 2020, the Environmental Institute of Houston in partnership with the Harris County Flood Control District, initiated a pilot-study which examined the potential for FTWs to reduce pollutants of concern in two ponds which received stormwater runoff from the University of Houston – Clear Lake campus, located in the Armand Bayou watershed in Harris County, Texas. Three types of modular FTWs were constructed and evaluated based on selected water quality criteria, as well as durability, ease of construction, and required maintenance. This study also compared the treatment efficiency of DIY FTWs and of two understudied species of wetland vegetation. Overall results showed that the FTWs reduced bacteria and suspended sediments, improving the treatment potential of the stormwater catchments, but nutrients were not removed at the expected levels as there was not a significant difference in removal with and without the FTWs. This pilot-scale study provided many lessons on design, construction, and needed maintenance
A case study of teacher and administrator perceptions of the implementation of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model and its influence on student achievement in science and on levels of English language acquisition
Full text linkRecognizing the underperformance of emergent bilingual students, when compared to the academic achievement of their English-speaking peers, is a current and vital topic of discussion and research in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the perceptions of fifth-grade science teachers and school district administrators of the implementation of the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model and its influence on the student achievement of emergent bilinguals in science and on levels of English language acquisition. Two theoretical frameworks were used to ground the study and enhance understanding: Cummins (1984, 2000) theory of language acquisition and Vygotsky’s (1986) social constructivist perspective. The research questions explored: 1) What were the teachers’ perspectives of their implementation of the SIOP model in fifth-grade science? and 2) What were the administrators’ perspectives of the implementation of the SIOP model in fifth-grade science? A purposeful sampling of the participants, fifth-grade science teachers and school and district administrators, were interviewed to provide a more in-depth understanding about classroom implementation of the SIOP model with emergent bilingual students. A constant comparative analysis was used to analyze that teacher focus group and administrator interview data to yield emergent themes. Drawing from the data, the teachers voiced a strong need to integrate the instructional support received in science with the SIOP model, time to purposefully plan with these two components in mind, and vertically align accountability in teaching science. Time for follow-up to reflect on effective teaching practices with EB students was also valued. Data from the administrator interviews resulted in initiating a needs assessment with their teachers to glean areas of improvement needed in science with EB students, coordinating support between teachers and content specialists, and providing additional professional development for teaching growth in the SIOP model. With the knowledge of the lag in academic achievement of EB students in comparison to their non-EB peers, especially in the area of science learning, teachers may advocate on a deeper level about the specific professional development and instructional supports that are needed to address the diverse learning needs of EB students
Mythmaking in the Borderlands: Visibility of Social and Physical Environments Through Visual Media in El Paso, 1910-1920
No full textThis thesis examines the role of visual media (postcards, photographs, pamphlets) in shaping public perceptions of the different migrant and social groups that made El Paso, Texas their home both before and during the Mexican Revolution, between the years 1900 and 1920. In the latter half of this period, migration from several groups to the city reached a peak, thanks in part to the efforts of the city’s government to attract Caucasian migrants through various forms of visual media. This thesis demonstrates the intentional enforcement of racial and gendered stereotypes in El Paso by the comparative analysis of visual media dating to the relevant period, as well as through written accounts and secondary literature. The visual media published publicly and privately reflected the explicit intent of the city’s enforcement of acceptable social and racial norms during a period of increasing uncertainty due to the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution. Promotional materials, in the forms of visual and written media, presented an optimistic vision of the city’s landscapes in order to attract Caucasian American and European migrants