Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Impact of institutional betrayal and DARVO on the mental health of survivors of clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse
No full textClergy-perpetrated sexual abuse (CPSA) is a pervasive issue with profound psychological consequences for survivors. While existing research has documented the traumatic impact of CPSA, there is a significant gap in understanding how institutional responses to abuse disclosures affect survivors' mental health outcomes. This study aims to examine the relationships between experiences of DARVO (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender), institutional betrayal, and mental health outcomes among survivors of CPSA.
The research employs a cross-sectional, correlational design with a sample of 116 adult survivors of CPSA in the United States. Participants were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling, utilizing existing support networks and social media. Data will be collected online using validated self-report measures: the DARVO-LF, IBQ-2, PCL-5, DES-II, and NPSS scales. These instruments assess the experiences of DARVO, institutional betrayal, post-traumatic stress symptoms, dissociation, and psychological safety, respectively.
The study hypothesizes that higher scores on the DARVO and IBQ-2 scales will positively correlate with scores on the PCL-5 and DES-II and negatively correlate with scores on the NPSS. Where appropriate, data analysis will employ Pearson's r correlations or Spearman's rho. By quantifying the relationships between institutional betrayal, DARVO tactics, and mental health outcomes, this research aims to provide empirical evidence to support the development of more effective interventions, policies, and support services for CPSA survivors. The findings have the potential to bring up-to-date trauma-informed policies and practices within religious institutions, enhance clinical approaches for treating CPSA survivors, and contribute to broader efforts to prevent institutional betrayal and promote healing.
This study addresses a critical gap in the literature on CPSA and institutional betrayal, offering insights that can drive meaningful change in how religious organizations and society at large respond to and support survivors of clergy abuse
Racial trauma connects us, but our melanin heals us: Black mental health professionals’ experiences in counseling Black clients
No full textThe rise of racial injustice against Black Americans has adversely impacted their mental health, leading them to seek out Black mental health professionals at a rate that exceeds their availability (Edwards et al., 2019; Henderson, 2020; Ladipo, 2008; Sharara et al., 2021; Whaley, 2001). Black mental health professionals are tasked to address the racial trauma of their Black clients while simultaneously processing their experiences of racial injustice as Black people who are also experiencing racism. However, little research is available that explores how Black mental health professionals process their racial trauma and those of their clients, how they provide culturally relevant therapy to meet their Black client's needs, and their use of self-disclosure to address racial injustice with their Black clients. To explore these areas, this qualitative study used hermeneutic phenomenology as a theoretical framework and thematic analysis to interpret the data of 9 licensed Black mental health professionals. From the results, eight themes emerged with several subthemes. Theme 1: Racial Battle Fatigue (emotional, psychological, and physiological impacts of repeated experiences of racism), Theme 2: Engaging in Wellness Practices (that targeted mind/body connection and healing in community), Theme 3: Supervision, Theme 4: Shared Cultural Understanding, Theme 5: Engaging in Practices that Decolonize Mental Health (engaging in collectivist healing strategies, addressing historical and systemic racism, and engaging in advocacy), Theme 6: Racial Identity Development, Theme 7: Navigating Self Disclosure (managing conflict with self-disclosing and managing countertransference) and Theme 8: Direct versus Indirect Self Disclosure. These research findings align with previous studies that highlight the impact of racial trauma on Black people's mental health and its influence on their racial identity development. These findings highlight the need for programs and spaces that support Black mental health professionals in processing experiences of racial trauma in the workplace, as well as the inclusion of culturally aligned practices in clinical training for mental health providers
Developing a situational judgment test for school-based agricultural education teachers
No full textEffective teaching is an elusive and multidimensional task (Farrell, 2015; Stronge et al., 2011). For more than four decades, American Education has endeavored to define effective teaching. The 1983 “Nation at Risk” (NAR) report prompted educational policy changes aimed at enhancing teacher quality through professional development and teacher preparation, with the goal of improving student achievement (National Commission on Excellence in Education [NCEE], 1983). Although teachers have the most significant impact on a students future success (Chetty et al., 2014), evaluating teachers effectiveness based on student educational gains is a narrow metric and does not address the complex realities that effective teachers face (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017; Goe et al., 2009; Little et al., 2008). A performance-based test can assess an individual’s ability to perform real-world job tasks (Darling-Hammond, 1994; Jones, 1979; Mohammadpour & Maroofi, 2023). The purpose of the study was to develop a valid and reliable performance-based evaluation instrument to measure teaching effectiveness for comprehensive SBAE programs, aligning with the recommendations of Little et al. (2009). One overarching research objective guided this study: Develop a valid and reliable performance-based instrument to evaluate the essential components of effective teaching in a comprehensive SBAE program. The situational judgment test methodology was used to construct a valid and reliable performance-based instrument through a four-phase process (Peus et al., 2013). Phase One: The Development of Job-Based Situations, and Phase Two: Situation Consensus and Item Response Development, will focus on situation and response development attributes (Campion et al., 2013; Peus et al., 2013). Phase Three: Situational Response Key Development, aligning with key development attributes, while Phase Four: SJT for effective SBAE teaching instrument initial development and validation. Generative AI was effective in developing realistic job-based situations, with the 14 retained situations representing the essential components of effective SBAE teaching. The developed and piloted instrument was found to be a valid and reliable measure for evaluating the human capital of SBAE teachers. Recommendations include the use of the ETI_SBAE_SJT with pre-service, early-career, and alternatively certified SBAE teachers as a more robust measure for effective teaching and supporting specific human capital needs
Social support and friendship quality across contexts: Exploring digital versus in-person relationships of emerging adults
No full textThe social lives of college students have expanded over the 21st century to include online spaces. Little is known about the importance of social relationships occurring online versus offline (i.e., in face-to-face situations). Prior research shows social support as generally strongly related to well-being. Social support is also found to be a motivator to use social media to connect with others. Intersecting social media use, well-being, and friendship quality provides insight into modern connections. In the present research, we hypothesized offline friendship quality will be more strongly related to wellbeing measures than online (i.e., connections through technology) friendship quality. We also hypothesized that men and women would differ in amount of offline and online social support and overall well-being. Men and women are also anticipated to differ in how social media use. Finally, we hypothesized participants to report more offline than online social interaction. Using Qualtrics to compile online questionnaires, we assessed online and offline social support, wellbeing (i.e., life satisfaction, loneliness, and perceived stress), and time spent interacting online and offline within the last two weeks. Using the Department of Psychology SONA systems, we recruited 237 participants (93 men, 149 women, 2 other). Results indicated partial support for the hypotheses. Social media usage was supported as a significant predictor for perceived stress, but not for loneliness and life satisfaction. Social support of a particular online friend was not related to well-being, but social support from a particular offline friend was. Unexpectedly, there were fewer gender differences than hypothesized. Usage of social media platforms showed the most variation between men and women. Women reported higher levels of stress than men. Lastly, we confirmed the hypothesis that women and men spend more time in offline than online social interactions
Synthesis of MgFe layered double hydroxides for water treatment
No full textWater resource pollution due to eutrophication and harmful algal blooms is a continuously increasing concern for the entire planet, due to the impact on human and animal health and collapsing aquatic ecosystems. A major contributor to the algal blooms is excess plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate in the water. This nutrient pollution can lead to eutrophication and can become very costly and challenging to manage. A sorbent material based on magnesium–iron layered double hydroxides (MgFe LDHs) with varying molar ratios was synthesized to capture essential plant nutrients.
This LDH has the formula [Mᴵᴵ₁₋ₓMᴵᴵᴵₓ(OH)₂]ˣ⁺·[Aⁿ⁻ₓ/ₙ·mH₂O]ˣ⁻. A MgᴵᴵFeᴵᴵᴵ LDH with varying Mg/Fe molar ratios was synthesized by co-precipitation method and its calcined product was obtained by heating Mg-Fe LDH at 500 °C. The approach of this synthesis is environmentally friendly, as it generates no waste and recycles plant nutrients. The preparation of the layered double hydroxides involved combining a solution of an inexpensive, abundant metal salt with sodium hydroxide, which resulted in the formation of a precipitate, followed by aging the precipitate at room temperature. The resulting layered double hydroxides and supernatant were then separated through centrifugation and thoroughly washed with ultrapure water. The best LDH based on capacity has the metal molar ratio of 5:1 with the maximum uptake capacity for nitrate at 135 ppm and for phosphate 81.4 ppm. The equilibrium isotherms of NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻ was studied and the results are well described by the Langmuir model. The absorption kinetics for NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻ were also studied
Design of an experimental infrastructure for the measurement of reversing valve losses in low-GWP heat pumps and initial tests
No full textA reversing valve allows the heat pump to switch between heating and cooling modes by reversing the direction of refrigerant flow between the indoor and outdoor units' coils. Incorporating a reversing valve in the system negatively impacts system performance in both AC and HP mode due to pressure drop, heat transfer, and internal refrigerant leakage.
Internal heat transfer is a major issue for cold climates, where it affects heating performance substantially. Most legacy research in this area only considers reversing valve performance under cooling conditions with fixed-speed compressors and outdated refrigerants. Legacy models are therefore too inaccurate for simulation-based optimization of variable-speed cold-climate heat pumps using low-GWP refrigerants.
A new experimental infrastructure has been developed to comprehensively measure the performance of reversing valves in heat pumps. This thesis includes the first experimental results from this setup, testing a current generation of reversing valves. These tests, using refrigerant R410A for a 4-ton heat pump revealed larger losses on the discharge side during heating mode than for cooling mode. Local conduction along contacting copper tubes was minimal, as expected, confirming that surface conduction through the valve body dominates thermal losses. The maximum discharge heat loss is 1.3% of the heating capacity for indoor saturation temperature of 108.5°F, outdoor saturation temperature of 41.9°F, with compressor speed of 3,600 RPM. The maximum pressure losses for the tested conditions were 1.28 PSID on the low pressure side and 0.59 PSID on the high pressure side. Refrigerant leakage is assessed through an alternative experimental setup and found negligible for the tested reversing valve.
Further work should include switching the setup over to R454B, as well as investigating the variance between reversing valves of same make and model prior to and after a break-in period to simulate multiple years of usage in the field
Black women in the romance genre: An integrated analysis of diversity in the Shondaland universe
No full textThis aim of this thesis is to examine the representation of Black women in the romance genre, along with how different networks like ABC and Fox and production company’s like Shondaland approach casting and characterizing Black women. This thesis uses the following approach: (1) It will update the historical context of Black women’s representation in film, television, and media, by referencing the treatment of Black women dating back to slavery in the United States. (2) It will contextualize and analyze the different tropes and “controlling images” of Black women in televisual romance narratives. The goal is to see if the romance genre presents alternative depictions or if the genre demonstrates the same patterns as other stereotypical tropes used throughout history, a step that requires engaging with Patricia Hill Collins work on the “controlling images” of Black women. (3) Finally, it will examine Black women’s reception and interpretations of Shondaland content like Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Bridgerton, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, to discover how such women feel about different works within the romance genre, and to show how there may be different interpretations based on how Black female audiences view the status quo in society. The objective of the research is to update the studies and scholarship discussed throughout the work while applying some of their insights to an underrepresented genre and underrepresented demographic. Combining the approaches above allows for the conversation to spotlight the different avenues that go into making complex media representations for and about Black women. As a demographic, Black women have been overlooked and underrepresented for far too long. So, analyzing the industry, Shondaland, the content Shondaland makes, and how audiences receive the content will allow Black women to display themselves as cultural readers and co-producers to narratives that include Black women’s experiences, whether it be through protests and push back on social media or creating media entities that cater to the Black female demographic. Overall, the goal of this thesis is to center Black women in the conversation of the romantic genre, while dismantling stereotypes and depictions that hold Black women back, not only in entertainment, but in society as well
Polyamorous and gender diverse: An investigation of partner-seeking in politically conservative states
No full textIndividuals who are both transgender/gender diverse (TGD) and polyamorous must navigate a host of challenges in seeking intimate partners. Previous research has largely conceptualized queer sexualities from a risk-based framework, focusing on STI-prevention efforts and largely targeting cisgender gay and bisexual men, with intimate experiences outside of this scope largely ignored. Additionally, sex positivity has long been neglected in psychological research, with few studies investigating how LGBTQ+ communities navigate sex and dating. Partner support is a significant mental health resource, shown to buffer effects of stressful events and increase resilience. Therefore, there exists a critical need to investigate the mechanisms underlying partner-seeking, particularly for TGD polyamorous populations, who must face physical and mental health disparities in the face of minority stress. This is especially true in politically conservative U.S. states, wherein legislation is openly hostile to these communities. This study explores the intimate partner-seeking experiences of TGD polyamorous people living in five of the most politically conservative states in the U.S., as determined by the 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI). Using a constructivist grounded theory (CGT) informed by sex positivity, ten TGD polyamorous participants completed two hour-long interviews surrounding topics related to intimate partner-seeking in their state of residence. Interview data was transcribed and thematically coded consistent with CGT. From the lived experiences participants shared, results emerged in the three primary areas: defining identities, negotiating safety and self-expression and value-based relationship philosophies. These theoretical codes contributed to an understanding of a) participant livelihoods ground in day-to-day existence as multiply marginalized people within the environment of a politically conservative state and b) a working knowledge of the self, management of multiple partnerships, and guiding values. Findings provide essential knowledge regarding the intersection of two identities not previously investigated in the literature, informing health care and advocacy efforts
Measuring disordered eating and body manipulation efforts among trans adults: Development of the trans disordered eating scale
No full textTransgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse (TGD) individuals are at an increased risk for disordered eating (DE) relative to cisgender individuals. Although eating disorders are diagnosed using standardized criteria, behaviors and cognitions underlying diagnostic criteria may look different for TGD individuals due to community-specific factors such as coping with discrimination, minority stress, and gender dysphoria. Such population-specific experiences necessitate nuanced, tailored measurement of DE symptoms, but currently available measures are not designed to measure symptoms among TGD people and demonstrate poor psychometric properties when used with this community. To assess the multifaceted nature of DE among TGD individuals and provide a more accurate measure of the severity and function of symptoms, the Trans Disordered Eating Scale (TDES) was developed. In Study One, 67 initial items were developed through consultation with a panel of experts. A sample of 665 community-based TGD adults with a variety of intersecting identities completed the initial items. Exploratory factor analyses resulted in a four-factor solution that accounted for 70.06% of variance. Study Two was completed by 243 TGD adults. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a second-order hierarchical model with 15 items spread across four latent factors and all four latent factors loading onto a general “Gender Related Disordered Eating” factor, χ2(86) = 249.81 (p < .001), RMSEA = 0.09, SRMR = 0.07, NFI = .90, CFI = .92. The final scale contains 18 items: five items in the “Disordered Exercise Behaviors” subscale, four items in the "Gender Related Body Dissatisfaction” subscale, three items in the "Gender Related Weight Goals” subscale, three items in the "Response to Social Pressures” subscale, and three clinical indicator items that differentiate dissatisfaction driven by weight versus gender. The TDES also showed strong convergent and predictive validity, offering further support for the measure. The TDES provides more accurate measurement of DE and unique insight into motivating factors behind DE among TGD individuals. It may be used in both clinical and research settings and is a major contribution to future research and clinical work, as accurate measurement is key to early intervention, improved treatment, and lifesaving care
Exploration and exercise of contextually concerned commonplacing
No full textThis project tracks the practice of commonplacing from its Lockean origin to its evolutionary form of modernity as an act of intellectual and social resistance and preservation, and applies these dynamic characteristics to an included commonplace book exampled within the pages of my work