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    MMPI-3 Indicators of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in Post-9/11 Veterans

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    Suicide remains a serious concern among post-9/11 U.S. military veterans, highlighting the need for effective tools to identify those at risk. This study examined whether the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3), a commonly used psychological test, can help assess suicide risk in this population. I analyzed responses from 189 post-9/11 veterans, a group largely reflective of the current veteran population, who completed the MMPI-3 and other measures looking at their mental health and history of suicidal thoughts or attempts. I focused on the MMPI-3’s Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) scale, along with other MMPI-3 scales that measure internalizing symptoms (such as depression and anxiety) and externalizing traits (such as impulsivity and aggression). Veterans who reported suicidal thoughts or past attempts scored higher on the SUI scale than those who did not. The SUI scale also helped distinguish between veterans with suicidal thoughts and those who had attempted suicide. Internalizing scales were more helpful in identifying veterans with suicidal thoughts, while externalizing scales helped distinguish those who had acted on these thoughts. The SUI scale showed strong connections with other well-established measures of suicidal thinking and self-harm. It also added unique value beyond other MMPI-3 scales when predicting suicide-related experiences. These findings suggest that the MMPI-3—especially the SUI scale—can play a useful role in identifying suicide risk in veterans. It may help mental health professionals better understand both emotional distress and behavioral risk factors that contribute to suicide, improving prevention and intervention efforts

    Beyond the Game: Educating Youth Coaches in Sport Psychology and Psychological Skills Training

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    This paper presents the development of a manualized program designed to train youth sport coaches to implement a psychological skills training (PST) program that enhances both athletic performance and mental health. Rooted in sport psychology and coaching expertise, this program introduces a novel approach to addressing youth mental health challenges through upstream intervention. With many young athletes facing mental health struggles and traditional efforts in schools and communities showing limited success, this program equips coaches to teach essential psychological skills such as goal setting, adaptive thinking, confidence, and emotional regulation. By integrating these skills into sports practices and presenting them as performance enhancement techniques, the author hypothesizes this approach will lead to higher levels of engagement and consistent use of these skills, which extend far beyond the playing surface. The project addresses the gap in structured, coach-led PST programs for youth athletes and provides an evidence-based framework to empower coaches to support both performance and mental health, contributing to a more holistic approach to athlete development

    Rats With Wings: The Villainization of the Pigeon and its Portrayal in Modern Art and Literature

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    For millennia, humans have had an increasingly intimate relationship with pigeons. These birds have been called a wide range of names and served a myriad of purposes alongside their human handlers; however, since the populations of feral rock pigeons have increased in American cities, the general public has ascribed a negative connotation to the pigeons that they were once closely associated with. The increasing populations of pigeons along with their decreasing perceived usefulness to humanity has led to a sharp decline in their image. This thesis aims to examine how the pigeon became so loathed after it was coveted for so much of history, the reason behind the pigeon’s ability to cause such a massive upset among urban populations, and the greater implications that the human-pigeon relationship has for the way humanity exists and interacts with the world. Through an analysis of the art and literature surrounding these time periods, this thesis looks to compare human attitudes between doves and pigeons, considering that both of these birds belong to the same family, but have such a sharp contrast in their acceptance among humans. These different points of analysis can shed light on the changing perceptions of pigeons as well as the behavior of humans towards animals on a subconscious level that many may not consider when interacting with wildlife

    Body Composition and Self-Image: Exploring the Impact on Exercise Motivation and Behavior

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    This study examines how self-perception and body composition (body fat percentage, lean mass, etc.) influence psychological and behavioral outcomes among college students. The research explores how body composition metrics are related to psychological factors such as stress management, enjoyment of physical activity, and leisure activity, and how appearance scores, as a reflection of self-perception, influence these outcomes. Drawing on a sample of 100 undergraduates from Eastern Kentucky University, data were collected through self-reported surveys measuring body satisfaction, exercise frequency, and motivational factors, alongside objective body composition metrics. Statistical analyses revealed that higher appearance scores were associated with better stress management (r = 0.378, p \u3c .001) and greater enjoyment of physical activity (r = 0.331, p \u3c .001), but not with leisure activity (r = 0.104, p = 0.162). Higher body fat percentage was linked to lower stress management and enjoyment, while greater lean mass correlated positively with leisure activity. These findings highlight the role of self-perception and body composition in shaping psychological well-being and behavior. The results suggest that fostering a positive self-image and healthy body composition could enhance mental well-being and promote physical activity. This research contributes to the broader conversation about mental health and exercise motivation, offering insights for healthcare providers, fitness professionals, and educators working to support student wellness

    Exploring the Potentials of AI in Modern Warfare: Observations of the Russian- Ukraine War

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    This thesis explores the impact artificial intelligence is having and could potentially have in the future by examining at how artificial intelligence is being used by both sides in the Russian-Ukraine war

    Observations from the Void: A Lament for Earth

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    The Earth is a world full of art and many different forms of expression. Puppetry is a medium that has been used for hundreds, or even thousands, of years as a way to breathe life into objects. Through the use of both shadow and hand puppets a performance was created to follow the script of a written poetry collection. This collection of poetry was written from the perspective of an alien observer as they watch Earth from light-years away to determine if they are a threat to the universe. To figure this out they look at various aspects of humanity such as the human response to love and death. Though originally fueled by hatred for these beings, as the alien continues to observe their feelings soon cause question in their mind. As the alien watches on the more they feel towards humanity, the more the weight of the decision they must make weighs on them. When the time for their final decision arrives, their decision remains a mystery to the audience. Through a blending of multiple influences from various forms of media such as music, literature, and more, the final result is a delicately crafted collection of poetry looking to see what makes us human

    Health Amongst Pilots, Becoming Aware and Solving the Problems: A Quantitative and Qualitative Narrative Analysis of Pilots

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    Pilots of all calibers from commercial to cargo are one of the world\u27s leading factors to economic growth, political dominance, and personal satisfaction amongst individuals, so why is there not more health opportunities for this group of workers? There is hardly any mention of a pilot\u27s physical health, most of the articles when posted are based around a pilots mental health, with little to no concern for their physical health. This could primarily be due to the fact that airline pilots have a fear of being at risk of losing their medical license. Meanwhile others are in search of information about medical care and withhold/misrepresent their medical information to avoid documentation. Each year pilots are diagnosed with a multitude of health related issues that come with this lifestyle. Spanning from cardiovascular disease (CVD), to circadian rhythm disruption, obesity, and even diabetes. The overarching question that has guided this research is “what health related issues come with having a sedentary job, and how can pilots specifically, take more control over their health and learn better ways to live?” The research revealed that if more pilots had access to healthy living and learned about their health while in school or during training, there is a higher chance they might take their well-being more seriously, instead of hiding their issues to pass their medical examination each year. These health issues were broken down and organized into four categories: circadian disruption, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes

    Understanding and the Perceived Value Of Contemporary Pain Neuroscience Education Among Occupational Therapy Students

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    Chronic pain is a leading cause of global disability, yet occupational therapy education often lacks sufficient coverage of multidisciplinary pain management approaches. The purposes of this study were to 1) determine the level of understanding of contemporary pain neuroscience in occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of instructional techniques to improve their knowledge of contemporary pain neuroscience; and 3) explore their perceptions of pain neuroscience and its implications for their future roles. This pre-post test within-subject experimental design study, involving 39 OTD students, assessed the impact and perceptions of a two-hour pain education module. The revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (rNPQ) and the Concept of Pain Inventory for Adults (COPI-Adult) were used to assess knowledge about pain and Likert and open-ended survey questions captured participant perceptions. Qualitative data analysis of the two open-ended questions included coding and theme development. Median COPI-Adult scores and median rNPQ scores increased (p \u3c 0.001). Interest in learning about pain increased (p \u3c 0.001). Perceived usefulness of information increased (p = 0.016). Two main themes emerged from the open-ended questions: Personal and Professional Formation and Approach to Patient Care. Findings indicate that OTD students initially had limited understanding of contemporary pain neuroscience, but even brief instruction significantly improved knowledge. Students expressed increased interest, confidence in applying pain neuroscience education, and anticipated using this knowledge to validate patient experiences, reframe pain perceptions, and support improved quality of life in future clinical practice. This study\u27s single-university design and lack of long-term follow-up limit generalizability and understanding of sustained clinical impact

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