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From Victim to Offender: How Childhood Sexual Abuse Shapes Cognitive Distortions, Attachment, and Emotional Regulation in Male Perpetrators
Get PDFThis systematic literature review examines how early traumatic experiences, particularly childhood sexual abuse (CSA), influence the development of cognitive distortions, attachment styles, and emotional regulation in individuals who later become sexual offenders. The focus is primarily on male perpetrators, aiming to address gaps in understanding the differences between genders in the path from victimization to offending. The final 20 selected studies highlighted themes related to cognitive distortions, attachment styles, and emotional regulation. The findings suggest that early trauma can lead to harmful beliefs that justify abusive behavior, insecure attachment patterns, and emotional dysregulation. These factors appear to create a cycle where unresolved trauma in CSA victims contribute to offending behavior. This review highlights the need for trauma-informed interventions that directly address these patterns of thinking and emotional regulation. Understanding these connections is crucial for improving prevention and rehabilitation efforts for male offenders. Future research should further explore how gender influences these pathways to better guide clinical practices and policies.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1036/thumbnail.jp
The Lasting Impacts of Corporal Punishment: A Systematic Review of of Long-Term, Adult Outcomes
Get PDFExtensive research has shown that corporal punishment is associated with negative childhood outcomes, which can significantly influence the transition into adulthood and shape long-term challenges. While establishing direct causation remains challenging, identifying correlations between corporal punishment and various adult outcomes provides insight into its lasting effects. This systematic literature review examines the non-behavioral consequences of corporal punishment in adulthood, focusing on key domains such as interpersonal relationships, socioeconomic mobility, employment, educational attainment, and legal involvement. By synthesizing recent peer-reviewed studies, this review aims to deepen the understanding of how corporal punishment experienced during childhood impacts long-term stability and quality of life through adulthood.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1040/thumbnail.jp
Access and Barriers to Mental Health Care in Correctional Facilities
Get PDFIncarcerated individuals represent one of the most vulnerable populations. People in prison often grapple with mental health issues, social factors, and other challenges. Without proper mental health treatment and resources, incarcerated individuals may struggle throughout their sentence and during their reintegration into society. To support this growing population, prisons must offer mental health services for their residents (Solbakken & R. Wynn, 2023; Cunha et al., 2023). The current systematic literature review analyzed twenty empirical articles to examine the mental health services available within the prison system, as well as the accessibility and barriers encountered. The lack of services is frequently attributed to stigma, staff shortages, and insufficient resources (Cunha et al., 2023; Hoke, 2015). The results provide recommendations on how to improve barriers and access to mental health care for incarcerated individuals.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1047/thumbnail.jp
One Drop of Blood, Two Drops of Hate: The Science Behind Racism
Get PDFThis project invesitages how science has been used in service of racism and how racism and scientific inquiry are intertwined, causing how we think of race to be thought of as a biological component of identity instead of a social one.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1064/thumbnail.jp
The Legalization of Sports Gambling and Its Unspoken Long Term Consequences
Get PDFLegalized online gambling has increased the amount of problematic gamblers, due to companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel advertising their product, and the governments in US and Canada having a liberation point of view when it comes to people’s free will to gamble. This paper covers the rise of sports betting since its legalization, and how it impacts various demographics of people in order to understand the limits of sports betting and to not be persuaded to gamble irresponsibly by outside influences.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1070/thumbnail.jp
BRAVE: Breathing, Risk-taking, Anxiety, and Vagal Enhancement
Get PDFAnxiety is closely linked to decision-making, particularly in risk-taking contexts. Slow paced breathing has been shown to affect heart rate variability as well as emotional regulation. This study investigates the impact of slow paced breathing on anxiety and decision making through a two-session experimental design. Participants complete both a control and a breathing session. In each session, they first rate their current emotions and watch a relaxing video to measure baseline HRV. In the breathing session, participants then engaged in several minutes of box breathing before completing the Iowa Gambling Task. This task is used to measure risky decision-making. In the control session, they proceed directly to the Iowa Gambling Task following the baseline data collection. We expect to find that slow paced breathing increases heart rate variability, reduces anxiety, and leads to better decision making in the Iowa Gambling Task. The findings from this study will highlight the potential importance of slow paced breathing as an intervention for anxiety regulation and risk-related decision making.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1080/thumbnail.jp
Is Multitasking Possible?
Get PDFThis study investigated the effects of multitasking on reaction time and task performance. 20 Undergraduate Merrimack students from Merrimack College participated, completing a Flanker Task with an added distractor. In Experiment 1, participants verbally indicated seeing a red dot while responding to stimuli by pressing keys. In Experiment 2, participants raised their right hand upon hearing a buzzer while completing the same task. Reaction times and responses were recorded using SuperLab with millisecond precision. The hypothesis was that multitasking between two tasks is ineffective, expecting performance to decline with added cognitive or physical demands. Results show increased reaction times and errors in the presence of distractors, supporting the hypothesis that the human brain struggles to effectively manage simultaneous tasks.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1085/thumbnail.jp
The Circadian Advantage: Time Zone Effects on NBA Team Performance
Get PDFThis project aims to explore the influence of circadian rhythm changes on NBA team performance. We will examine how time zone differences affect team stats such as points scored, rebounds secured, fouls committed and most importantly wins and losses. Using the HoopR package in R, data was gathered for every team box score from 2005-2023 excluding the 2020 season. This data was cleaned, wrangled and processed before exploring patterns and themes. Each team box score was separated into 7 groups where each group represents the time zone difference from where their home timezone is to the timezone in which the game was played. For example, a team with EST timezone traveling to a team with PST timezone will have a timezone difference of -3. A dataset of 43,482 game data will be used to compare team performance by timezone difference using 28 different team statistics. Statistical methods such as two-sample tests, ANOVA and regression analysis will be used to assess the relationship between timezone difference and team success. Data visualizations will be used to illustrate significant trends and patterns within the data. These findings can be used for basketball teams to strategize in ways that may combat disadvantages related to circadian rhythm changes. It can also help schedule makers prioritize more fair competition by adjusting travel logistics and game times.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1113/thumbnail.jp
Addressing Youths’ Sexual Health: Policy Recommendations for Education, Prevention, and Treatment of STDs/STIs
Get PDFSexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a global burden with high prevalence among college-age students. The CDC reports individuals aged 15 to 24 account for nearly half of STD cases annually despite only representing 25% of the sexually active population (CDC, 2023). This subpopulation is often characterized by greater sexual experimentation, inconsistent use of prevention methods, and limited access to sexual health resources, yielding a heightened risk of acquiring an STD or STI.
STDs and STIs produce acute symptoms and chronic health impacts: infertility, cancer, and birth defects (Yale Medicine, 2025). It is critical to provide access to STI/STD education, prevention, and treatment services for youth. Identifying gaps in resource availability and developing policy recommendations for increased accessibility will allow individuals to make informed choices and reduce the likelihood of irreversible outcomes.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1119/thumbnail.jp
Merrimack College Strength & Conditioning: Restructuring the Program
Get PDFGraduate fellowship programs serve as critical platforms for experiential learning, skill development, and career readiness. However, their efficacy often hinges on the structural and operational soundness of their host institutions. This paper proposes a comprehensive reform of graduate fellowship site structures by integrating a strategic staffing model, a streamlined program framework, and an actionable implementation plan. Drawing from contemporary theories in organizational development, educational leadership, and applied supervision, this research outlines a replicable model that aligns fellow duties with institutional priorities and individual growth goals. The paper concludes with practical applications for academic and professional settings, advocating for ongoing assessment and reflective practice as pillars of sustainability.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/rcac_2025_posters/1155/thumbnail.jp